Renowned blues rock musician Ross Harding set to release a deluxe version of his heavy blues rock
anthem, A Thousand Snakes which came out in March 2024.
The first official release since Ross Harding’s relocation to the UK from South Africa, this poignant
blues rock tune, A Thousand Snakes Deluxe Version, is a total reworking of the song, taking the
original delta blues influence and heavily leaning into a vintage production style that blends an old
school blues ethos with the stylistic devices of a modern blues and rock musician.
The song showcases Harding’s exceptional songwriting ability and versatility as an artist, where
listeners can expect a new sonic experience with heightened production quality that adds an additional
layer of depth and intensity to the already captivating sound.
Speaking about the new single, Ross Harding explained: “There’s a bit of a story behind the Deluxe
Version of “A Thousand Snakes“. It is the way I intended the original release to sound. The first idea,
to me, was a raw and stripped back guitar song, with a brooding and almost melancholic melody that
I weaved into the music. I think the song is extremely fluid, and organic, so when we started
rehearsing it as a trio blues rock band, naturally it took on a different form, influenced by overdriven
guitars, playing it live, and the hard rock / blues rock band that we are. That’s how the heavier,
harder-hitting version came to be.
Meanwhile, with the knowledge that I would be leaving South Africa to relocate in the UK, I went
back into the studio to record all the music that I intended to release, and the skeletal version of the
original idea remained. Upon listening to the song with fresh ears, I realized that I found some magic
in it, and something that the story would miss if I didn’t finish that version. So we really got stuck into
capturing all the right sounds, including acoustic guitars, resonators, new vocals, and essentially re-
recording every instrument to bring this version to life.”
A Thousand Snakes Deluxe Version also marks the first release of Harding’s upcoming EP, entitled
The Blood & The Blues – a potent demonstration of this artist’s deep musical universe, where he
channels raw emotion with a sophisticated stylistic approach, rooted in the blues, classic rock, and
hard rock.
To dovetail the new single announcement, Ross Harding is incredibly excited to confirm that
following his support slots in with fellow South African blues-rock guitarist Dan Patlansky in venues
such as Oran Mor in Glasgow and The Cluny, Newcastle, United Kingdom he will perform several
live dates including a solo acoustic set on Thursday 2 nd October 2024 opening for Planet Rock
favourite Jack J Hutchinson at The Black Heart, Camden, London, United Kingdom.
Following this show in the capital, The Ross Harding Band (Acoustic) will headline a very special
show on Sunday 2 nd February 2025 at Fulford Village Hall in Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom
courtesy of A500 Music. Full details are below with more live dates to be announced.
More new music will be released in the coming months with “A Thousand Snakes Deluxe Version“
just the beginning.
Ticket Link: https://www.ourblackheart.com/events/2024/10/2/jack-j-hutchinson
Sunday 2 nd February 2025 – A500 Music Presents The Ross Harding Band (Acoustic) with
special guest Luke James Williams, Fulford Village Hall, Fulford Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST11
9QT, United Kingdom. Ticket Price: £15.40 Each including fees (Tickets will be onsale on
Friday 16 th August 2024 at Midnight)
About
Ross Harding is an acclaimed Blues Rock Musician from Johannesburg, South Africa, currently based
in the UK.
As a songwriter and performing artist, he personifies rich, powerful vocal abilities with mesmerizing
guitar skills, gaining international industry recognition for his commanding blend of blues and rock
music, reminiscent of the classic rock, grunge & blues artists of the past.
A prolific performing artist, his versatile stage performances range from a deeply soulful solo acoustic
artist, to a high energy blues rocker, whose experience is that of an artist much older than he. A
seasoned touring musician, he has played hundreds of shows in clubs, festivals, and notable venues in
his decade-long professional career. Ross Harding continues to push boundaries in his redefining
approach to the blues rock genre.
“…a remarkable dark and moving depth…an experience that starts with his cracked, soulful and
incredibly emotive voice which has a surprising turn of range to it…With a crisp and clear
production, the subtleties of guitar and vocals are beautifully balanced…sometimes you just need to
go back to your musical roots, and it’s rather fantastic that it’s taken a gentleman half my age to
remind me of that fact.”
– SIMON BLACK (United Kingdom)
