Get swept away by Swift Silver’s big river of sound.

Named for one of the oldest Appalachian legends—the tale of John Swift and his lost silver mine—Swift Silver is the musical partnership of Anna Kline and John Looney. For 15 years, they’ve cultivated a sound drawn from a deep well of Southern soul, blues, and Appalachian roots music.

At the core of their work is a reverence for songwriting. Anchored by Anna’s vivid lyrics and John’s masterful musicianship, Swift Silver crafts songs that stretch beyond genre and stay true to place. Their performances are known for their intimacy and electricity, seamless harmonies, and honest storytelling.

They have performed on major festival stages including MerleFest, Bristol Rhythm and Roots, Master Musicians Festival, Sleeping in the Woods Songwriter Festival, and CountryFest in Belgium, and appeared on the Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern. Songs from their self-titled album found a national audience via ESPN’s True South (Season 5), and the duo shared their sound abroad at Your Roots Are Showing 2025 in Killarney, Ireland.

Anna’s songs and poetry are featured in the Women of Appalachia Project (2025), she co-wrote “Last Mule in the Holler” with Montana Hobbs of The Local Honeys, and appeared on The Local Honeys’ The Gospel album and Don Rogers’ My Generation album. John has toured with John R. Miller and The Engine Lights, The Local Honeys, Darrin Hacquard, Tim Goodin, and Jeremy Short. He has appeared on studio recordings for John R. Miller, Wayne Graham, The Local Honeys, Carla Gover, and Paul Handelman.

Together, Anna and John recently served as faculty at Hindman Settlement School’s Appalachian Songwriters Weekend alongside Dale Ann Bradley and Nicolas Jamerson. Swift Silver is also a proud member of the Kentucky Arts Council Performing Arts Directory.

Swift Silver is not only a torchbearer of Kentucky's musical legacy but also a powerful voice in its evolution.

From the moment the listener presses play to the last track fade, Swift Silver celebrates the gospel of Southern sound. This is a collection of songs cultivated in the dim lights of listening rooms and local jams, regional festivals and road trips, alone in the woodshed, and crafted as an ensemble.

Swift Silver’s debut self-titled album marks a meaningful milestone for the pair: It is a 180° (re)turn to their musical roots: the redemptive strains of Southern gospel, the drawling tremolo of rhythm and blues, and the twang of the rural soul.

Swift Silver’s self-titled album exemplifies a new era of Southern rock and soul. They take their place among a (common)wealth of musical talent that continues to capture the nation’s attention.