Andrew Stratman & The Dirty Midwest {debuts} @ The Mission
ANDREW STRATMAN & THE DIRTY MIDWEST
Currently touring across the American Midwest and Gulf Coast, Andrew Stratman is taking the road by storm with his “husky, sandpaper voice, pulled-down backward baseball cap, black T-shirt, and [his] dream” (Jeff Pearlman, New York Times Best-Selling Author). Having recorded at Dog Den Studios with Nashville producer, Bill McDermott, in Fall 2014, Andrew Stratman & The Dirty Midwest is excited to begin the journey to becoming a household name. In addition to being the season for a new EP, Fall 2014 will also hold Andrew’s first New York Times interview and time in the writing studio with renown, two-time #1 Billboard R&B artist, Bubba Sparxx.
In Mid December, 2014 , Doctors found a “growth” on Andrew’s vocal chords, requiring imidiate surgery. Surgery went well,and Doctors cleared Andrew to return touring in early January,2015. Starting the new year out strong with a 27 day tour, covering 13 states, including Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Illinois. Upon returning home, Andrew met with surgeons for a follow up appointment, revealing sevear scaring and scabbing of the vocal chords. Andrew was put on 2 weeks of complete vocal rest, followed by 6 weeks of vocal therapy at Missouri University’s Childrens Hospital. Making tremendous progress Andrew was again released to return to touring. In Mid April, Andrew did several dates in Wisconsin, and Illinois, before returning to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, to kick off the 2015 “Just Broken Down” summer tour.
What began with a teenage boy receiving his first guitar to sound “Just like Waylon!”, has gone on to become a robust Red Dirt, Texas Country duo. Andrew digs deep into his rural Missouri upbringing to infuse his songs with the memory of jam sessions with Leona Williams, lost loves, and a bit of a bad boy attitude. Stratman has recently been featured as a Singer/Songwriter at Bobby’s Idle Hour Tavern of Nashville, TN.
With a range of musical influences spanning from the classic to the off-the-wall, you will find traces of Stoney LaRue, the Randy Rogers Band, Jason Boland, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings in Andrew Stratman & The Dirty Midwest, but you will also find a sound all their own- a sound inspired by country roads, leaving your worries behind on the stage, and fighting for what truly matters. “His name is Andrew Stratman, and he’s a twenty-seven year old country singer from Vienna, Missouri. […] Not long ago, he decided to chase his dream and pursue music. He’s decided to give it all he has with dreams of making it a career, and I like his odds” (Jeff Pearlman, 2014).
Andrew Stratman- Singer, Songwriter, Guitarist
Born in Missouri in 1987, Andrew Stratman received his first toy guitar and microphone before his first report card. After being taught guitar by a high-school teacher, Andrew poured much of his troublemaker reputation into his music. This reputation, Andrew now admits with a smile, was probably “somewhat deserved”.
Growing up the third of four children, Andrew comes from a solid, loving family that has been gracious enough to support him throughout his entire journey to becoming a professional musician. He recorded in Nashville, with Bill McDermott of Dog Den Studios in November 2014…
Will Darvill-Fidddle, Mandolin, Vocals
Will Darvill was born in Kailua, Hawaii in 1990, and spent the first 20 years of his life in Oswego, NY. After graduating from Oswego High School in 2009, he studied Psychology for Management at McGill University in Montreal, QC. Following his graduation from McGill, he moved to New Orleans, Louisiana and continued his professional music career.
In his years as a student in the Oswego school system, Will participated in school orchestras and district orchestras (All-County, All-State, Conference All-State, and All-Eastern), as well as pit orchestras for local musicals. As high school student, he co-founded the Oswego Community Youth Orchestra with his mother and conductor Jackie Darvill.
Since moving to New Orleans, Mr. Darvill has had the opportunity to work with musicians like Kermit Ruffins, the late Trumpet Black, and James Andrews. He has toured with several bands and has made several television/commercial appearances. In the past year he was fortunate enough to play several large venue shows including Bacchus Bash New Orleans 2015 during Mardi Gras and on the Gentilly Stage at Jazz Fest 2015 with James Andrews and the Crescent City All-Stars. Now with Andrew Stratman and The Dirty Midwest, Will is excited to be a part of a revolution that’s changing the face and sound of country music, bringing a blend of classical violin and country fiddle to the Dirty Midwest sound.