Rider was inspired to create DEEP DARK RIVER by the works of his close friend David Gold (Woods of Ypres). DEEP DARK RIVER's self-titled debut album is currently being recorded and is planned for a 2018 release featuring all original tracks. Rider has performed across Canada, USA and Europe with a variety of heavy metal groups such as Vesperia, Crimson Shadows, Woods of Ypres and SIG:AR:TYR . DEEP DARK RIVER's previously unleashed cover of Woods of Ypres' "Allure of The Earth" was in tribute of the memory of dear friend David Gold. The video was shot in Whitby, UK, Sherwood Forest, UK and Clarington, ON. For more info: http://deepdarkriver.com https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcWVQO3a8T-4Ug9gCACBGXA http://instagram.com/deepdarkriver http://facebook/com/deepdarkriver http://twitter.com/deepdarkriverca http://deepdarkriver.bandcamp.com Show Dates: Feb 10 - Bowmanville, ON @ Manantler Craft Brewery (An Evening With Deep Dark River) - info | DEEP DARK RIVER, the acoustic doom, folk, blues, ambient and soul side project from Vesperia's Morgan Rider has posted a new video covering DIO's "Holy Diver". Rider comments: "I had a lot of fun working on this one, I absolutely love Dio and wanted to create a blues version of one of their best known songs: Holy Diver! I might just do another Dio cover in the future! Watch "Holy Diver" at the following link or below: Watch "Allure of The Earth" at the following link: https://youtu.be/JBw9la99rcA Other cover videos by DEEP DARK RIVER can be viewed at the following links: Three Little Birds (Bob Marley) - https://youtu.be/tTpSk5_P3lk What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong) https://youtu.be/qoooEIp9goc Wayfaring Stranger (Johnny Cash) https://youtu.be/CP9fWJRbTyw |
Born in Toronto in 1989, singer, songsmith and multi-instrumentalist, Morgan Rider had his earliest imaginings of life as a musician while contending with a tumultuous childhood at home.
Often overhearing his mother – who is a trained operatic soprano – rehearsing in the kitchen, his love of music and his understanding of it began to blossom at an early age. His mornings and evenings were soon spent banging away on an old Dominion upright piano – made in the town he now resides – often to the displeasure of those around him.
Despite his ever changing family and residential climates, music remained an integral component to his maturity. In high school he would often skip class to sit in the woods to play guitar. It would also not be uncommon to see him braving a snowstorm with his guitar across his back to walk several kilometres to guitar lessons.
It is not hard to imagine that his main priority remained with music after high school, while most of his peers went on to office and factory jobs or the trades. As his freedom expanded, so too did his ambitions.
As Morgan cast his net further, he began to perform shows further distances away which began to create a small audience of peers and fans. He also began to book small shows and tours for local and out of town bands. It was not long before he was accommodating international artists.
With his expanding resources, knowledge and contacts, he began to tour his music domestically – often spending weeks or months in an old van – branching from coast to coast across Canada. In summer of 2011, Morgan was called upon by his longtime friend David Gold – who was the main songwriter and visionary of the band Woods of Ypres – to contribute his talents to Woods of Ypres for some live shows in the UK that winter. Being one of Morgan’s favourite bands, this was a sound decision for him. Unfortunately, it would not come to pass, as David died tragically months later.
Between 2012 and 2013, Morgan played his first international shows in the U.S.A. with SIG:AR:TYR and at Wacken Open Air in Germany with Crimson Shadows.
Since 2012, Morgan has performed, recorded and toured across North America, performing hundreds of gigs with a variety of heavy metal groups such as Vesperia, Crimson Shadows and SIG:AR:TYR. He also is the sole writer, engineer and visionary for his solo blues/ folk project, Deep Dark River.