Chris Swayn started playing live gigs around 1989 at the tender age of 21. Frankston’s Pier Hotel saw his start with his mate Cam. The two blended a love of songs from the 50s and 60s with songs of the day. Armed with two acoustic guitars, some self-belief and limited skills, they somehow worked steadily from then on, performing for over five years.
Chris then ventured into a heavier sounding band, The Sitch. They wrote a lot of their own material but fleshed out shows with Led Zeppelin and Cream covers. They recorded an EP around the year 2000, ‘Sea Shanty Extravaganza’, and then Chris’ family and work took centre stage for a while.
Chris worked as a music teacher as his family grew with three splendid children entering the world. Two of them, in later years, would grow to be musicians themselves and perform with Chris as The Swayn Train.
In 2003 he formed The Warrains with like-minded musical neighbours; their band name borrowed from the street where they resided on the Mornington Peninsula. They blended all their influences into an acoustic/folk/reggae/country band, with the lyrics of many of their songs coming from Chris’ poet father, Barry.
Since then, The Warrains have continued to perform over a thousand live shows at weddings, wineries, pubs, parties and local festivals. Over that time they have released four original albums and an EP. The line-up has changed many times over the past 20 or so years but for the last twelve years The Warrains have played mostly as a duo with Chris and Kelly Daymond.
Chris, while playing in The Warrains, continued to write and record his own material. He has two solo albums and two EPs, available on Bandcamp as well as another album which saw him collaborate with his brother Paddy.
In 2023 he commenced a new project with Trent Schneider at Trent’s Little Bird Studio in Blairgowrie. He wasn’t exactly sure what direction the project would take in the beginning. The idea was to write when the inspiration arose with no fixed style in mind and see where the process ended up.
In 2025 Chris and Trent realised that there were a few punk songs that required their own space so they formed Asteroids Addiction and released the You Can Dish It! EP.
January 2026 saw them consolidate the remaining songs into an album and invite other players in. Kelly Daymond added harmonies to a couple. Adam Bruechert drummed. John Edgar played bass and keys. Jenny Moser on violin. Harry Reed added saxophone and Nat Parker trumpet.
The album, titled Death and Taxes, has 13 tracks with a definite folk/country/blues feel. There’s a couple of heavier numbers but mostly the album contains thoughtful lyrics that continue the tradition of storytelling with acoustic guitar setting the scene for the band to embellish.
Death and Taxes is due to be released on November 28, 2026. Chris Swayn and the Forbidden Fruits will perform at Hickinbotham Winery to celebrate the launch with other shows to be announced in 2027.