Dirk Powell brings Appalachian and Cajun roots to New Mexico stages

Residents of Bernalillo County will hear Dirk Powell perform in Santa Fe and Taos this month. The multi-instrumentalist is preparing for these appearances while working from his studio outside Lafayette, Louisiana. Powell has spent nearly his entire life playing music. He began on guitar as a small child and started piano lessons at age eight. His early education included classical pieces by Bach, which led him to seek out a harpsichord to match the original instrumentation.

Powell’s musical direction shifted permanently during his teenage years. He traveled from northeastern Ohio to eastern Kentucky to visit his grandfather, an amateur banjo and fiddle player. Powell described the experience as life-changing. He stopped playing classical music and embraced the Appalachian style. He viewed this transition as a direct hand-off of tradition from his grandfather to him. He also traveled by bus to meet his grandfather’s circle of friends, which provided a hands-on education in the region’s music.

At age 20, Powell encountered Cajun music through Dewey Balfa. He formed the group Balfa Toujours with Balfa’s daughter, Christine, whom he later married. Powell spent the first 20 years of his career building a bridge between older traditional musicians and younger generations. He aimed to show that traditional music remained relevant for expressing ballads, dance tunes, and love songs. He noted that traditional music often carried a stigma in the past, a perception that lessened somewhat after the success of the 2000 film O Brother Where Art Thou.

Powell released his new album, Wake, in 2026. It is his first solo effort since 2020. He designed the record to feel like a cohesive journey. He explored the various definitions of the word wake, including references to water, waking to the day, and honoring the dead. The final track, The Undertow, uses water imagery to address the cycle of life. Powell plays fiddle, electric and acoustic guitars, banjo, bass, accordion, mandolin, percussion, piano, and keyboards on the album. He layers these instruments to create a rich atmospheric sound.

The recording took place in a building Powell estimates was built in the 1850s. He left the old cypress-wood walls exposed to create an organic feel. He used vintage Neumann KM 54 microphones, which he credits for adding a unique warmth to the audio. The album features contributions from his daughters, Amelia and Sophie Powell. It also includes work by musicians he considers part of his chosen family, including Darrell Scott, Kai Welch, and Rhiannon Giddens. Powell has co-produced several albums for Giddens, a Grammy, MacArthur Grant, and Pulitzer Prize winner. He plans to tour and write with her again in 2027.

For his New Mexico shows, Powell will perform with Kelly Hunt. He produced Hunt’s last two records, including her recent release, Requiem for a Sleepless Night. His daughter Amelia sings harmony vocals on that album. Powell described Hunt’s combination of songwriting, instrumental skill, and vocal resonance as extremely rare. He said her voice is so resonant that it travels through the studio walls into the control room. Powell will not tour with Amelia for the upcoming New Mexico dates. He values the connection he shares with his family members and the musicians he chooses to share his energy with.