Dietrich Strause

Posted by bigoldbigone on Jul 21, 2011 in Featured | 2 comments

A young songwriter emerging out of Boston, Dietrich Strause has been drawing in and silencing the chatter of audiences with the literate poetry that is at the core of his folk roots writing. He began in high school by playing trumpet in an R&B band that catered to the finest of the central Pennsylvania biker bars and pig roasts. It was at these establishments where he developed an appreciation for the popular song and began to write his own. Dietrich picked up the guitar and continued to play in bands throughout high school and started to dedicate himself to the craft of songwriting during his time at Oberlin College. After graduating in 2008 he moved to Boston, started to play open mics, and immersed himself in New England’s rich heritage of folk, americana, and roots music by going to hear live music every night of the week. He paid the bills through dog-walking, being a subject in medical research studies, and other odd jobs and managed to self release two albums in his first two years in Boston.

Dietrich just released his second album Laborsongs & Barkingdogs, which is set against the backdrop of his home state of Pennsylvania. His music and live performance have struck a chord, as he has now become one of Boston’s most buzzed about artists. He writes carefully crafted lyrics with intricate stories and images, many with literary allusions; his song “Jean Louise” echoes the story of To Kill A Mockingbird. Outfitted with a band of some of the Boston area’s finest musicians, who have toured and recorded with artists such as Patty Griffin, Jesse Dee, Session Americana and Martin Sexton, his stories and lyrics come to life with flowing finger picking guitar, a mellifluously woven viola, and the pulse of a roots heartbeat. He has shared the stage with artists such as Gregory Alan Isakov, Mia Dyson, the Ryan Montbleau Band, and Joy Kills Sorrow. Dietrich’s commitment to musicianship and thoughtful lyricism creates a narrative that cultivates its own following. For more information visit www.dietrichstrause.com

“Strause’s voice is mellifluous; his sound has traces of a young Paul Simon mixed with that Josh Ritter Midwestern wanderlust.”