Artist description Troubador

Music Style Americana w/Celtic & Reggae Influences

Musical Influences Joni Mitchell, The Watersons, Van Morrison

Similar Artists Wilco, The Waterboys

Artist History Kenny Dread dropped out of music school as a young man and joined the Washington D.C. alternative scene. He recorded go-go anthem “D.C. Groove” with Static Disruptors in 1982 and toured the East Coast with Outrage until 1987. Outrage brought the funk to new-wave clubs like CBGB’s and Danceteria and gotgreat write-ups in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and London style journal The Face. During the mid-eighties Kenny toured with legendary vocalist H.R., lead singer of the Bad Brains, and appeared on four H.R. albums released by Southern California punk indie SST Records. The years spent playing bass and electric guitar with H.R. earned Kenny a stage name and confirmed the connection between charismatic music, spirituality, and travel. During this period Kenny also produced records for D.C. punk and reggae groups and performed with reggae godfather Ras Michael and the Sons of Negus. Kenny Dread stayed in London after H.R.’s 1989 European tour, recorded with X-Ray Spex singer Poly Styrene, and then formed American expat rock band The Immigrants in Aix-en-Provence, France. This escapist fantasy provided much in the way of fine wines but little in terms of financial renumeration. An era of travel and study followed, including journeys to Morocco and Israel and extended visits to the West of Ireland, compelling Kenny to develop his singing and songwriting in a more acoustic setting. Based in Chicago since 1996, Kenny Dread recorded his debut solo CD “Powderhorn” in 1997 with performances by Levi Chen on electric guitar and chinese harp, Windham Hill harpist Lisa Lynne, Solar Tribe guitar guru Ramsey Gouda, and singer/guitarist Joel B. of Minneapolis folk-jazz modernists Blume.

Group Members Kenny Dread

Instruments Singing, Guitar, Harmonica, Chinese Harp, Mandolin

Albums Powderhorn CD

Press Reviews Dread is a talented musician with strong material like the Celtic flavored “Dublin” and the mysterious “The Dark Country”. “Billy the Kid”, a unique take on the legendary outlaw’s demise, stands out as the best of Dread’s tuneful acoustic adventures.Terence Flamm Illinois Entertainer Review of Powderhorn CD 7/98

Location Chicago, IL - USA

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