Dirk & Amelia Powell
Tickets
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About
Dirk and Amelia Powell are a father and daughter duo with strong roots in the bayous of Louisiana and the mountains of Kentucky. Amelia’s grandfather, Dewey Balfa, was known as a premier Cajun fiddler and cultural ambassador. She grew up experiencing the deep center of that tradition while simultaneously exploring the old-time music of her Appalachian heritage with her father, Dirk, who learned banjo, fiddle, and guitar from his own grandfather, J.C. Hay. Amelia is known for her hard-driving guitar playing and soulful vocals. Dirk has been regarded as a “musician’s musician” for the last several decades. His solo recordings, with a focus on exploring the emotional depth of tradition, have proven very influential on younger generations. He’s been a frequent part of Transatlantic Sessions and toured with artists such as Joan Baez, Eric Clapton, Loretta Lynn, and Rhiannon Giddens. Together, Dirk and Amelia perform music of their heritage, write and craft original songs, and bring audiences the kind of soulful connection that comes from family playing together with trust, humour, and love.
Dirk Powell learned banjo from his grandfather in Eastern Kentucky, in a style they called "overhand" (otherwise known as clawhammer), and offers perspectives, techniques, and tunes from that tradition. He has spent a lot of time in North Carolina, too, and incorporated the hard-driving sounds of that area into his sound. In his class, he will get into details and approaches that allow the "overhand" motion to flow freely and powerfully, while putting some focus into ways to incorporate using "drop-thumb" on every string. Dirk has played banjo with artists such as Eric Clapton and Joan Baez. Steve Earle calls him "the greatest old-time banjo player alive today."
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Amelia Powell is a guitarist and singer with deep Louisiana roots, a lifelong familial love of old-time Appalachian music, and a commitment to original, expressive songs. She performs regularly with her father, Dirk Powell, and grew up immersed in the traditional Cajun music of her grandfather Dewey Balfa. She has toured internationally and shared the stage frequently with artists such as Joan Baez and Rhiannon Giddens. She’s appeared on the nationally syndicated radio show ETown, performed on TV in the US, Ireland, and Scotland, and been featured in films such as “Behold the Earth.” She makes her home in Louisiana where she performs on a regular basis with groups such as Les Amis du Teche.
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Dirk Powell learned banjo from his grandfather in Eastern Kentucky, in a style they called "overhand" (otherwise known as clawhammer), and offers perspectives, techniques, and tunes from that tradition. He has spent a lot of time in North Carolina, too, and incorporated the hard-driving sounds of that area into his sound. In his class, he will get into details and approaches that allow the "overhand" motion to flow freely and powerfully, while putting some focus into ways to incorporate using "drop-thumb" on every string. Dirk has played banjo with artists such as Eric Clapton and Joan Baez. Steve Earle calls him "the greatest old-time banjo player alive today."
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Amelia Powell is a guitarist and singer with deep Louisiana roots, a lifelong familial love of old-time Appalachian music, and a commitment to original, expressive songs. She performs regularly with her father, Dirk Powell, and grew up immersed in the traditional Cajun music of her grandfather Dewey Balfa. She has toured internationally and shared the stage frequently with artists such as Joan Baez and Rhiannon Giddens. She’s appeared on the nationally syndicated radio show ETown, performed on TV in the US, Ireland, and Scotland, and been featured in films such as “Behold the Earth.” She makes her home in Louisiana where she performs on a regular basis with groups such as Les Amis du Teche.
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