Dirty Catfish Brass Band’s (DCBB) aim is to inspire, create and instigate – but, mostly, they just want you on your feet.
Catch this big, brash band when they play Banff’s Wild Bill’s Saloon on Aug. 3.
Undeniably tight, yet reckless as hell, the band deals in powerful phrasing and performances drenched with rhythm. Invoking the sounds of the New Orleans brass tradition, the 10-piece collective dares to re-imagine the streets of a prairie city as one that is hot, alive, and brimming with soul.
Based in Winnipeg, the crew strives to surprise, challenge, tickle and pay homage to the New Orleans tradition by giving it a new audience in an unsuspecting locale. In true Louisiana tradition, these boys stick to the spontaneity of festivals, alleyway performances and all around late nights. The band doesn’t ask permission to play, and the crowd certainly doesn’t ask them to stop.
Formed in the fall of 2011, DCBB has become a constant at festivals and venues within Winnipeg and the surrounding area, performing at The TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival (2012-15), Winnipeg Fringe Festival (2012-15), Festival du Voyager (2012, 2014), Dauphin’s Countryfest (2014), Winnipeg Folk Festival (2013, 2015), Trout Forest Music Festival (2015), Harvest Moon Festival (2015), and Prairie Wind Music Festival (2014) .
DCBB has shared the stage with the likes of Five Alarm Funk, Delhi 2 Dublin, ALFA, The Bros. Landreth and JP Hoe and were featured at the 2013 Winnipeg Folk Festival joining night headliners Galactic, for their final encore.
As a horn section, the band has been featured on recordings including Steve Bell’s Pilgrimage (2014), ALFA’s Harmattan (2014), Murray Pulver’s Guest List (2015), and Don Amero’s Refined (2015). In 2014 they teamed up with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to perform at all home games for the 2014 and 2015 CFL seasons.
As individuals, the members of DCBB perform regularly with The Ron Paley Big Band, Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, Danny Kramer Dance Band, Moses Mayes, The Solutions, Dr. Hotbottom, Winnipeg Jazz Collective, The Big Dig! Band, The Bros. Landreth, and Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.
These highly trained musicians collectively hold 12 university degrees, having studied at McGill University, University of Toronto, Humber College, University of Manitoba, Brandon University, Virginia Tech, University of Southern California, New England Conservatory, School for Improvised Music, University of Miami and the Banff Centre.
DCBB’s first release Brass Riot (2014), a nine-song collection, has gained radio play across North American college radio stations, CBC Radio, and is a prime example of the group’s diverse background.
