the band
Kathryn Sutherland formed Blue Dirt Girl in 2015 with long time collaborators and fellow East Vancouver musicians Albert Klassen and Jason Overy. Within 2 months the Trio had their Debut House Concert and Fundraiser.
In August 2016 Blue Dirt Girl released their debut album Crazy Beautiful
and then headed out on their summer Crazy Beautiful Tour of Vancouver Island.
In October Blue Dirt Girl’s, Crazy Beautiful Album Release Party, filled East Van’s hidden gem venue ~ Backspace. The trio had special guest Simon Kendall on keys. Blue Dirt Girl recorded the album with Simon, at his Hammond Ave Studios, when you listen, to Crazy Beautiful, you will hear his addition of vintage keys to the songs.
Over the next 5 years Blue Dirt Girl’s Kathryn Sutherland produced both multi artist fundraisers shows and Little Conversations, an evening of words and music show at The Cultch Theatre in Vancouver, played live shows at various venues and had a string of House Concerts. Oh the band did some live videos as well.
From 2016-2020 the band released 4 singles with videos for 2: Little Conversations, The Bad News,The Bad News Remixand Fill the Barrel.
In 03.19.21 Blue Dirt Girl’s EP “Nothing is as it was” dropped. The four track EP is a sharp left turn in the bands already diverse sound. The songs include mentee and guitarist Max Evans, a 17 year old, uber talented lead guitarist.
“The songs channel reggae/dub, modern soul, a dash of 70’s guitar magic. Something about the feel reminds me of Traffic, Joan Armatrading…This is not music that references influences. It breathes a sophisticated rare air.”
Dennis Mills Vancouver based musician & music blogger. Full review.
In the fall of 2021 Baylie Adams joined Albert and Kathryn on saxophone. Her intuitive playing has taken our modern soul Trio sound to a whole new place. Live show video of new Blue Dirt Girl trio.
Blue Dirt Girl performs Solo, as Duo, Trio or Quartet.
With extensive experience, individually and as a band, Blue Dirt Girl plays all manner of venues and events, from living room house concerts, festival stages, and Via train cars to outdoor winery shows, art openings, bars and brewhouses.
duo or trio
duo
AMPLIFIED – Kathryn on lead vocals/fender strat and Albert on stand up/electric bass and vocals.
ACOUSTIC – Kathryn on lead vocals and acoustic guitar and Albert on stand up bass/mandolin and vocals.
trio
AMPLIFIED – Kathryn lead vocals/reverend electric/pedals, Albert on stand up/electric bass/vocals and Baylie Adams on saxophone.
New Blue Dirt Girl Trio live 2022.
ACOUSTIC – Kathryn lead vocals/acoustic guitar, Albert on stand up bass.
HEY
photo by Kiki Yee
duo
AMPLIFIED – Kathryn on lead vocals/fender strat and Albert on stand up/electric bass and vocals.
ACOUSTIC – Kathryn on lead vocals and acoustic guitar and Albert on stand up bass/mandolin and vocals.
photo by Kiki Yee
trio
AMPLIFIED – Kathryn lead vocals/fender strat, Albert on stand up/electric bass vocals and Jason Overy on drums/percussion.
Crazy Beautiful & I Don’t Mind | Stay | Dark Heart
ACOUSTIC – Kathryn lead vocals/acoustic guitar, Albert on stand up bass and Jason on drums/percussion. Jason easily adjusts his sound level for venue.
HEY
meet blue dirt girl
Kathryn Sutherland
writes, records and performs with Albert Klassen. Kathryn and Albert perform and record with Baylie Adams.
photo by Kiki Yee
Real. Honest. Sad. Funny.
Kathryn's lyrics are a reflection of moving through life's light and dark.
Through her music, Kathryn unearths, unbuttons and examines all of her conversations. Whether they're in-depth talks or brief exchanges, conversations are how we reach out to others and connect the disconnected.
A promise to herself and one other, "because i said i would" was the impetus for the creation of Blue Dirt Girl in 2015.
It's also the through line and philosophy for everything Kathryn does, from booking Trio/Duo band shows to producing and headlining multi-disciplinary shows to organizing and playing in fundraisers for local non profits.
When not fronting Blue Dirt Girl, Kathryn sings, plays and writes with Vancouver based indie band Hello(again). Prior to forming Blue Dirt Girl, she created and performed for 20 years with East Vancouver Art Pop band Push3.
"because i said i would"
photo by Debra Matwychuk
