Freeman Dre and the Kitchen Party | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Origin | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
Genres | Rock and roll, folk rock, blues, Eastern European music, country, blues rock |
Years active | 2010-Present |
Members | Andre Flak Lonny Knapp James McKie Joe Ernewein Michael O'Grady Neil MacIntosh Terry Wilkins |
Past members | Charlie Crenshaw Marlon Chaplin |
Website | Official website |
Freeman Dre and the Kitchen Party is a folk rock band from Toronto, Canada.
Background
Freeman Dre and the Kitchen Party is helmed by bandleader and singer-songwriter Andre (Dre) Flak. The origins of the band come from house parties where Dre and Lonny would play music in Dre's kitchen.[1] The name "Kitchen Party" came from these parties, in the spirit of an east coast Kitchen Party or traditional Céilidh.[1] The Kitchen Party is also a member of Fedora Upside Down, a musical collective begun by Dre and Mark Marczyk of The Lemon Bucket Orkestra.[2][3] Fedora Upside Down has been described as a "motley assortment of cultural ambassadors" who spend "the summer taking over the city’s streets, parks, restaurants and bars with lively music and raucous dance parties."[4]
In early 2023, Dre suffered a severe brain injury and now draws inspiration from his recovery when writing music.[5]
Red Door, Second Floor
In 2010, the band released their debut album Red Door, Second Floor.[6] The name of the album referred to Dre's Parkdale apartment.[7] The album was produced by John Critchley[6] and was met with favorable reviews.[7] The album had rotation in Canada and in Britain on BBC radio.[8]
Freeman Dre won "Best Songwriter" in the 2010 Now magazine "Best of Toronto Reader's Poll".[9]
Old Town
In 2012, the band released their second album Old Town.[3] The themes of the album reflect Dre's Polish and Irish ancestry, and the immigrant experience in Toronto.[3] The album was produced by Dale Morningstar at The Gas Station studio on Toronto Island[9] and was met with favourable reviews.[10] The album was released at a party hosted at The Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto.[11]
In 2012, Freeman Dre was nominated a second time for "Best Songwriter" by Now magazine.[12]
During the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs, the band produced a song dedicated to the Toronto Maple Leafs entitled Go Leafs, Go!.[13] In 2013, the track "Whatever It Takes" off Old Town was used in a Season 3 episode of the Showcase series Lost Girl.[14]
Vodka/Pickle EP
On November 23, 2013, they released their first single from their new album titled Wickedness, which was met with positive reviews.[15] The single also features a B-side titled Apophenia. The single Wickedness was accompanied by a music video directed by Justin Friesen.[16]
On May 16, 2015 the band released the six song Vodka/Pickle EP.[17][18]
Reckless Good Intentions
The band began working on a third LP[1] titled Reckless Good Intentions originally scheduled to be released June, 2016.[19] Reckless Good Intentions was released June 9, 2017[20]
Discography
Albums
- 2010: Red Door, Second Floor, LP
- 2012: Old Town, LP
- 2015: Vodka/Pickle, EP
- 2017: Reckless Good Intentions, LP
Singles
- 2013: Wickedness
- 2014: Of All The People
- 2014: Never Went To Church Much
References
- 1 2 3 The art of the kitchen party | Orillia Packet and Times
- ↑ "Celebrating a year in the life of Fedora Upside-Down | Uma Nota". Archived from the original on 2013-11-13. Retrieved 2013-11-13.
- 1 2 3 "Old Town reflects on rich family history - Toronto article - News - MSN CA". Archived from the original on 2013-11-11. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
- ↑ "Eclectic mix of music can pop up anywhere | Metro". Archived from the original on 2012-04-15. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
- ↑ "freeman dre". freemandre.com. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
- 1 2 Freeman Dre and Kitchen Party - Red Door 2nd Floor • Folk & Country Reviews • exclaim.ca
- 1 2 Freeman Dre & The Kitchen Party - Red Door 2nd Floor | NOW Magazine
- ↑ BBC Radio 2 - Bob Harris Sunday, Farrah in session
- 1 2 Old Town | New Canadian Music
- ↑ Freeman Dre & The Kitchen Party - Old Town | NOW Magazine
- ↑ Radar: Tasty Thursdays, Freeman Dre and the Kitchen Party album release with Lemon Bucket Orkestra and Nick Teehan, Charles Bierk
- ↑ Freeman Dre - Ryan Thibault | Collective Arts Brewing
- ↑ "THE 20: Freeman Dre |". Archived from the original on 2013-11-11. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
- ↑ Lost Girl Music Season 3 - TV Show Music
- ↑ Audible/Visual Hoots: December 2nd Roundup | Grayowl Point
- ↑ Wickedness - Single | New Canadian Music
- ↑ "Freeman Dre & the Kitchen Party – Apophenia – Video".
- ↑ http://music.cbc.ca/#!/artists/Freeman-Dre-the-Kitchen-Party
- ↑ Freeman Dre and the Kitchen Party
- ↑ "Reckless Good Intentions, by Freeman Dre & The Kitchen Party". Freeman Dre & The Kitchen Party. Retrieved 2018-03-17.