Dirty Rice Zydeco has been throwin' down the zydeco music since 1995 playing the dance circuit, festivals, colleges, barns, house parties... you name it. This well seasoned, double-clutchin', fun lovin' band has just broken out with their debut zydeco release "Don't Want Nobody Else". A ton of foot stompin', rhythm pumpin', dance steppin' fun is packed into this must have CD.

FOR BOOKINGS: Call Laren (845) 494-7247 or .

Danny Gardella, founder of Dirty Rice, is a fiddler, pumpkin carver, time traveller and spirit catcher. His music, infused with mystical Gris Gris, is always fresh and often startling. Besides Cajun and Zydeco he also plays many other genres of folk music including Old Time, Irish, and Tex-Mex among others. Danny also founded the SwampCats and has played with numerous groups for well over 20 years. He also performs solo in many senior centers and for the disabled.

Laren Droll was a dance gypsy before taking up accordion in the late 80's. Originally inspired by Cajun music, he played with several Cajun groups in the early days before crossing over into zydeco. Laren has studied the tunes and techniques of many noted Cajun, Creole and zydeco musicians, learning the secrets of this elusive style directly from the source. His only regret is that he misses out on so much dancing while playing on the band stand.

Chip Taylor Smith started playing in bands in the early 70's as a freshman in high school. In the late 70's he started playing fiddle with "Spider" John Koerner and is now in his 32nd year as his side man. Along the way he's been featured on two of Koerner's Red House Record releases, "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Been" (1986) and "Stargeezer" (1996) and has toured Europe. Chip formed the oldtime stringband The Chicken Chokers with Chad Crumm in the early 1980s, playing guitar. The Chokers recorded two albums for Rounder Records "Chokers and Flies" (1985) and "Shoot Your Radio" (1987), put out their own CD release "07" (2007) and The Field Recorder Collective release "Live at the Eagle Tavern" (2008). The Chokers have played many festivals including Brandywine and The Newport Folk Festival. Chip has proudly played guitar and sung with Dirty Rice Zydeco since 1998 and is featured on their 2009 CD "Don't Want Nobody Else".

Dylan Smith, bass player, was born into zydeco music as his dad was then playing with the Boston based Boogaloo Swamis. His voracious interest in music has developed a passion for, among other things, the Harry Smith Collection,  Harry Partch, Sun Ra and the duo Hella. He plays guitar in a similar guitar and drums duo called Full of Birdy, old time music on the banjo and, as a freshman at The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, his studies include guitar, African drumming and Gamelan music.

Mike Annis, drummer, trolled the Boston rock scene of the 80's and 90's with underground heavy-weights Hell Toupee, Mindgrinder, and the Gravy before getting a fatefull call from Boogaloo Swami founder Mickey Bones. Through connections made in the Swamis, and Hot Tamale Brass Band, Mike came to Dirty Rice Zydeco in 2005.  Working for Rounder Records gave Mike the opportunity to listen to Beau Jocque, Nathan Williams, and other fine Louisiana artists on the label which helped make the transition to Dirty Rice Zydeco's brand of classic dance happy music as smooth as a Cajun waltz, and as driving as a Boozoo shuffle.

Maggie McManus is a dancer who crossed over onto the band stand to play scrub board for Dirty Rice Zydeco in the late 90's. At any performance she will be dancing to the beat as she plays -- it wouldn't be zydeco without her.

• Dance Flurry (on multiple occassions) - we played the 2010 festival
• Stanfordville Cajun & Zydeco Springtime Festival (on multiple occassions)
• Moodus Cajun & Zydeco Festival
• Escoheag Springtime Festival
• Ashokan
• Ulster Springtime Cajun & Zydeco Festival
• Northeast Organic Farmers Summer Conference (on multiple occassions)
• Boston Zydeco
• Northboro Zydeco Dance Series
• Greenfield Grange Dances
• Hartford Community Dances in Old Wethersfield CT (on multiple occassions)
• 3 County Fair in Northampton MA (2009)