Sundilla continues the tradition of bringing world-renowned performers to Auburn when Dirk Hamilton takes the stage on Friday, April 5. Showtime is 7:30 and admission is just $12 at the door, with advance tickets available for just $10 from The Gnu’s Room, Spicer’s Music, and online at www.sundillamusic.com.
Some might see the name Dirk Hamilton and think “Who?”. But just because Dirk Hamilton isn’t famous in east-central Alabama doesn’t mean that they don’t know him, and his music, in other places. After all, when you’ve been performing and making records for more than 30 years, it’s hard to stay unknown.
“Performing and making records for more than 30 years” is no exaggeration. It was the late 1970s when Hamilton moved to Los Angeles and recorded four albums: two on the ABC label, and two on the Elektra/Asylum label. (His label-mates at the time included the likes of Carly Simon, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, Jimmy Buffett and Steely Dan, just to name a few.) Dirk’s first album with Elektra, called “Meet Me at the Crux,” was later named one of the “Essential Albums of the 80s” in an article published in Rolling Stone.
But after another album and a tour with Warren Zevon, Dirk left Elektra because he wanted to make the music he heard in his head, and not just a “marketable product.” Dirk left the music business for a few years, but he eventually realized that he was a musician, and that as such he had to make music. He started touring and recording again; it wasn’t on a big label and he wasn’t on tour with the likes of Warren Zevon anymore, but he was making the music he wanted to make.
Several years later, he learned that he was also making the music Italians wanted to hear. Somehow, he had become a huge star in Italy. Ever since, he has toured Italy at least once a year, and sometimes twice. He is such a big star in Italy that there is even a book available that is the translation of Hamilton’s lyrics into Italian. In fact, following his Sundilla appearance Hamilton will catch a flight to Italy for yet another Italian tour.
So why isn’t Dirk Hamilton more famous in this country, and more specifically in this region? Maybe because he’s so hard to pigeon-hole; his style is a mixture of Americana, folk-rock, roots, indie-rock and blues. But probably the reason he has remained under the radar is the same reason that so many of today’s best performers have: when you’re out there doing your own thing, it’s hard to get the major media monsters to pay you some attention.
Music fans of any description should come hear Dirk Hamilton at Sundilla on Friday, April 5, at the AUUF on Thach Avenue in Auburn. Showtime is 7:30, and admission is just $12 at the door. Advance tickets for just $10 are available at The Gnu’s Room, Spicer’s Music, and online; children 12 and under are admitted free of charge. Free coffee, tea, water and food will be available, though as always audience members are welcome to bring whatever food or beverage they prefer. For more information, just go to www.sundillamusic.com or www.dirkhamilton.com.