“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 good people! We’re moving into 2026 slowly but surely here in Lafayette, with lots of beautiful things on the horizon. This year will see the release of my album “Wake” on April 17th. Very excited to be connected to the fine folks at Last Music Company in connection with that release! It’s an album that’s dear to my heart and I’m grateful that it will be out in the world soon! The first single, “Down the Line”, will be out on March 27th. The year will find me and Amelia doing lots of duo shows, performing widely with Rhiannon Giddens , doing shows with Cedric Watson, Deux Familles, Caleb and Reeb, and many others. We had a blast at Folk Alliance and are looking forward to Mardi Gras and the way spring falls quickly on its heels here in La Louisiane. Good times
“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’