Bluegrass Band
Make sure to pick up the September issue of Banjo NewsLetter…
Our own Mike Munford is on the cover!
“Mike Munford, the mega-talented banjo picker with Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen, will grace the September cover of Banjo NewsLetter. The issue will also feature an in-depth interview with Mike conducted by regular BNL contributor Ira Gitlin, a highly-regarded picker in his own right.”
We have a busy weekend ahead starting with a local show right in downtown Washington, DC. Hill Country BBQ is a fairly new venue/restaurant that features music 7 nights a week! We are honored to play this Friday night, August 19th at 9:30pm. Get your tickets HERE. They have killer BBQ!
Then we head to Philadelphia on Saturday, August 20th to play the 50th annual Philadelphia Folk Festival. We can’t wait to lay some hard driving music on them! Check their schedule HERE for when we play.
The final performance this weekend is at the Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival. Come on out and say howdy!
See you down the road…
We have posted a few times regarding a Dirty Kitchen Experience contest in conjunction with Music City Roots, Whole Foods, Blackstone Brewery and Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine. They have found a winner and announced it last Wednesday live on the show – Elaine and Cliff Seltzer in Nashville, TN. Frank met Cliff this past weekend at The Falcon Ridge Folk Festival.
HERE is a link to the video on Facebook with the announcement and live Skype session with Frank and HERE is a link to vote on what Frank should cook!
Cliff Seltzer and Frank at The Falcon Ridge Folk Festival
We just returned from the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival in Oak Hill, NY. What a great time we had hanging with friends, family, pickers and more! The positive responses we received were very humbling. We met a nice man and his friend from Italy – Paolo Ercoli and Christina. They told us they came all the way from the boot and across the pond just to hear our band… now that is awesome.
It’s no wonder that Grey Fox has such a great reputation. They are extremely organized, friendly and know how to treat everyone. We felt welcomed into their community. Much thanks to the Grey Fox staff for letting us be part of such an epic festival.
On friday we joined forces with our friends The Hillbenders at the dance tent after our main stage performance. The crowd grew and the dance floor was full of listeners. It was a blast making spontaneous music with those guys! Before long, we had to cut it short and head over to another stage where Frank cooked up some mean chile verde while Linzay Young from the Redstick Ramblers rendered some cajun cooking. FS&DK played a few tunes while it all bubbled in the pot. The crowd gathered and everyone got to eat and listen to some “cajungrass”. Check out the photos HERE.
Mike did a “Master’s” banjo workshop with Tony Trischka and JD Crowe for a huge crowd on Saturday after our second main stage set and Frank led a mandolin workshop for a group of 70 or so aspiring eight stringers at another workshop stage. It was great to have that kind of personal interaction and be able to talk about the thing we love most – MUSIC!
In short we got to hear some awesome music, catch up with some great people, pick some tunes with our friends The Infamous Stringdusters and share a wonderful weekend with music lovers of all kinds. Let’s do it again soon!
…is what WAMU’s Bluegrass Country coined it. A 10th anniversary celebration featuring Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen, The Boxcars and Steep Canyon Rangers. Our friends at The Bluegrass Blog just posted these videos today as well.
WAMU’s Katy Daley introduced FS&DK. Then the show kicked off with “Salad Bowl”, an original tune from Frank’s solo project, I am a Rambler. The next video is, “Together We’ll Fly” from FS&DK’s latest album – Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen.
Videos filmed by Todd Godbout… here’s his site.
We are also looking ahead to the Greyfox Music Festival in New York. It’s just around the corner. Not only will FS&DK be performing, but Frank will be cooking too!
Hello friends,
The summer season is upon us and we wanted to let you know about some exciting things going on this week and beyond.
Frank is known for his Dirty Kitchen Experiences, a musical and culinary event that brings food, friends and music together. This contest expands on what they have been doing successfully since the inception of the band and is now making this special event available to everyone through Music City Roots.
“If you like your Bluegrass a little eclectic, with ventures down the tributaries that feed the soul of Bluegrass, do check out Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen. I think they just might feed that spot you didn’t know was hungry.” - Tony Pires, Tone Gard
In our previous post we forgot to mention that the world famous Joe Craven sat in with us in Reno! We can’t wait for the next tour. Keep checking our schedule for the next time we will be in your area.
In collaboration with Music City Roots, Whole Foods and Blackstone Brewing Company , FS&DK is giving away a Dirty Kitchen Experience. Frank will cook a mean meal followed by a full band concert in your home! Click HERE for more details and rules, and HERE for a review of the last Dirty Kitchen Experience.
The International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) just sent out their first round of ballots on Friday. The IBMA supports the growth of the style of music we play. Please check out their website when you get a chance. If you are not a voting member, you can read how and why to become one HERE. It would be quite an honor for FS&DK to receive an award. Stop on by FACEBOOK if you want to listen.
Thanks for your consideration in the following:
Emerging Artist of the Year
Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen
Album of the Year
Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen
Song of the Year
“July You’re a Woman”
Gospel Recorded Performance
“Paul and Silas”
Recorded Event of the Year
“Tarred and Feathered” with John Cowan
“Endlessly” Missy Werner and Frank Solivan
Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year
“Line Drive” and “Ominous Anonymous”
Male Vocalist of the Year
Frank Solivan
Instrumental Performers of the Year
Mandolin and Fiddle – Frank Solivan
Banjo – Mike Munford
Guitar – Lincoln Meyers
Bass – Stefan Custodi
RECENT SUCCESSES
#1 played song on SiriusXM – “July You’re a Woman” – March, 2011
#1 song “Driftin Apart” – Orin Friesen’s Bluegrass Charts – May, 2011
#1 Bluegrass Album in Virginia – Roots Music Report
#4 Bluegrass Album Nationwide – Roots Music Report
#11 – Bluegrass Unlimited Top 15 Bluegrass Albums – May, 2011
#13 “Driftin’ Apart” Bluegrass Unlimited Top Singles – May, 2011
#26 “Driftin’ Apart” Bluegrass Music Profiles Hot Singles – May, 2011
2011 Official Showcase Artist at IBMA’s World of Bluegrass
New Bookings – 50th Anniversary Philadelphia Folk Fest, Greyfox and Wintergrass
Feature article in Bluegrass Music Profiles – July, 2011
2011 WAMMIE Award Nominee (Washington Area Music Awards)
2011 Folk Alliance Official Showcase Artist
**AND MORE**
FS & DK has just gotten back from doing 10 shows in Nevada and California. One of the shows was a Dirty Kitchen Experience hosted by Roger and Rosemary Siminoff. The night was magical for everyone!
Tony Pires, the creator of Tone Gards, wrote a lovely review on Mandolin Cafe. Tony says, “…how inspiring the whole show was. I was transported like I’ve not been in a while.” Read the whole thing HERE.
Frank and his wife, Leah Sturgis, a jewelry designer, were recently profiled by Pattie Cinelli in the April 2011 edition of Capitol Hill-area newspaper The Hill Rag. Here’s an excerpt from the article in which the pair talk about their work: “’It’s hard work, but we love it. It’s our passion.’ Frank said they’re not looking to get rich, just to make a steady sustainable living. Leah and Frank want to share their art with everyone. ‘We want to be inclusive and embrace all with open arms. Let’s have a good time, listen to music, eat good food and bring people together.’”
We are getting geared up for another tour. This time we are spreading ear candy around the west coast from northern Nevada to San Diego. Check our schedule out to see if we will be in your neck of the woods! In the mean time please enjoy this video of a couple of original instrumentals performed at the Corner Store in Washington DC.