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Freeman Dre and the Kitchen Party | |
---|---|
![]() Freeman Dre and the Kitchen Party performing at
The Dakota Tavern in Toronto, 2012 | |
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.
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
![]() |
Freeman Dre and the Kitchen Party | |
---|---|
![]() Freeman Dre and the Kitchen Party performing at
The Dakota Tavern in Toronto, 2012 | |
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.
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]