“Dirk Powell is a badass. To the bone. He is, in addition to being the greatest old-time banjo player alive, a graduate student of both mountain and Cajun fiddle styles, and diatonic button accordion. He is a singer, songwriter, producer, recording engineer and, all in all, an artist of unique vision and unbending integrity. As far as I can tell there is no genre of American roots music that Dirk doesn’t understand, no primordial mode he can’t master, no polyrhythmic code he can’t crack.” - Steve Earle
LATEST NEWS!
Hey everyone! As predicted, we had a fabulous sold-out show at the Beacon Theatre in NYC a few nights ago! It was a thrill to be there, as always. I have so many good memories of performing there with Joan Baez and the Great High Mountain tour and others. Now there are more, with Rhiannon and this killer band. We’re heading into three in a row, here, MD, PA, OH, then to Knoxville for the legendary Big Ears Festival. Some European summer plans are taking a firmer shape, so check that out in the TOUR section and hopefully we’ll cross paths in some lovely corner of the globe! I’ll be including links to more vidoes from the duo show with Amelia Powell at Deep End Sessions soon, but for now enjoy this one, playing some of Amelia’s family songs, The Balfa Waltz and Mon Vieux Wagon.
“When I Wait For You is so absorbing it could only come from that rare combination of technical brilliance and joy of collaboration that Dirk Powell has in abundance.”
— Folk Radio UK
“Steve Earle has called fiddler, guitarist, and banjo player Dirk Powell an “artist of unique vision and unbending integrity” while Joan Baez has said he possesses “an overdose of talent.” You may well be offering similar plaudits after listening to this lilting Americana/folk release.”
— Americana Highways
“Instead of women being objects and victims, the women in Powell’s songs are the ones with the power and are fully realized humans, active participants in the stories being told.”
— No Depression
Dirk’s latest album, When I Wait for You, is available on Vertical Records, in the U.K and Europe, and Compass Records in the U.S and Canada. Co-produced by Donald Shaw, featuring original material recorded in Louisiana and Scotland with special guests Mike McGoldrick, John McCusker, Sara Watkins, Rhiannon Giddens, Amelia & Sophie Powell, and many more!
I Ain’t Playing Pretty Polly -Single and Video out now!
Check out Dirk’s video for ‘I Ain’t Playing Pretty Polly’