“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!
Hello everyone! Please check the TOUR page for exciting updates. This new year, 2025, has already proved itself to be full of music and beauty and connection! We had an amazing trip to Ireland and Scotland, sharing all kinds of music and writing and hanging time with Rhiannon Giddens, and sharing the stage with our bandmates in Deux Familles and our good pals in I Draw Slow. Coming up in March I’ll be joining an amazing group of musicians to collaborate on Laura Cortese’s Acoustic Evenings, with shows all around Belgium and special workshops, before heading to the legendary Alaska Folk Festvial, where I have not been sine 1988! Starting in April, both Amelia and myself will be in Rhiannon’s band, with dear friends Justin Robinson, Jason Sypher, and Justin Harrington, bringing a lot of deep roots and branches to all y’all fine people. So much good already and much more to come!!
“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’