By JOHN DALY
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Dirk Schwenk guides listeners through fresh waters of upbeat and nostalgic tracks with his newly released 7-track album, “Bring That Back.”
Dirk’s musical style is an unprecedented blend of the best rhythms of present-day singer-songwriters with the inventive harmonies listeners have been longing for. Whether that’s because his roots are deep in the legacy sounds of the Chesapeake Bay or because he’s creating a “new nostalgia,” is for the listener to determine. Those many local fans who follow Dirk and his crew will make the annual pilgrimage to watch him perform at the Annapolis Songwriters Festival next weekend.
“Bring That Back” was just released ahead of the Annapolis Songwriters Fest, an event that brings together musicians from the worlds of folk, Americana and rock. Dirk and his musical friends have put together a new record that’s geared towards the tastes of those folks – those who love the good times, and who want to hear their favorite players play their favorite tunes.
“Bring That Back” is the seventh album from Dirk, whose music covers a pretty wide range, from mellow and contemplative indie folk, to toe-tappin’ upbeat Bluegrass … and beyond.
Three tracks that stand out on the record are the opener “Sweet As Honey,” with its steady beat and devoted approach, the album closer, “Leave The Light On” which resounds for the hopefuls, and the title track, “Bring That Back,” an upbeat, banjo-leading and harmonious effort.
Dirk and his steady musical collaborators, particularly the multifaceted Ahren Buchheister and Kevin Pezzuti, deliver listeners from the doldrums gripping music’s mood today with pure, human-generated notes, riffs and lyrics, great vocals and catchy hooks.
Listen to ‘Bring That Back’ here:
‘Bring That Back’ Credits:
Sweet As Honey:
Dirk Schwenk – Vocals, Clap
Bryan McDowell – Fiddle/Guitars
Alex Lacquement – Stand Up Bass
Sam Guthridge – Banjo
Ahren Buchheister – Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Additional Banjo, Clap
Annie
Kevin Pezzuti – Bass/BGVs
John Thomakos – Drums
Dirk Schwenk – Guitars/Vocals
Ahren Buchheister – Mandolin
Dennis Wage – Keys
Dead Man’s Desk
Dirk Schwenk – Guitars/Vocals/Harp
Kevin Pezzuti – Bass/BGVs
Ahren Buchheister – Guitars/Keys
Bring That Back
Dirk Schwenk – Guitars/Vocals
Kevin Pezzuti – Bass/BGVs
Jen Byrne – Mandolin/BGVs
Larry Byrne – Banjo
Ahren Buchheister – Guitars
Hippie Chicks
Dirk Schwenk – Guitars/Vocals
Ahren Buchheister – Bass, Guitars/Keys
Jason Butcher – Drums
Hey Virginia
Dirk Schwenk – Guitars/Vocals
Kevin Pezzuti – Bass/BGVs
Ahren Buchheister – Pedal Steel/Guitars
Jason Butcher – Drums
Leave The Light On:
Dirk Schwenk – Guitars/Vocals
Dennis Wage – Organ/Keys
Graham Furniss – Bass
John Thomakos – Drums
Kevin Pezzuti – BGVs
“Bring That Back” is available on various platforms go here.
Check out Annapolis Songwriters Festival, Sept. 11-14 here.