An aggressive folk/punk hybrid, The Dirges have shared the stage with some of the worlds top bands

including, Flogging Molly, Millencolin, Spyder Stacey from The Pogues and The Briggs.

Their live show can turn the most ardent music critic into a beer drinking dancing fool!

Here's a little history:

In 2001, Francis and Pete found a four track underneath the tire wall of a friend's rent-a-wreck and started

writing songs. After many raucous all-nighters, they decided to round up some friends who could play and

The Dirges were formed. Stuytown and Hattie Street are two of the first songs Fran and Pete penned.

Both of which are inspired by the tragic deaths of good friends.

The Dirges were so named in tribute to friends and family lost.

Francis, The Dirges front man, thinks of himself

as a classically trained antagonist who decided to

spread his word through music. He was born and

raised in the small factory town of Schenectady NY

where a love for tradition and hard work were

pounded into him during his formative years.

He became a bartender, a chef, and a man whose

songs recognize that the stumbling sadness of life

needs an energetic nod from time to time.

After listening to his songs, you'll realize that

ballads aren't always soft and sweet. They may

well rile you into a frenzy beforethetears begin to

flow.

Tall Pete, the bass player , finally

found his calling when he started working with

Fran. Never having committed himself to anything

prior, he picked up the bass and discovered his

natural rhythm. His driving bass lines are the

bedrock for The Dirges deeply layered groove.

Alicia Allen didn't join the band until

2003when Fran and Pete got into an altercation

after oneof her solo shows. Fran encountered a

broken pint glass to thetendon in his hand and

enlisted Alicia to cover therhythm guitar during his

recovery.They decided to keep her when they

discovered that she is always willing to learn and

play new instruments when needed. Now she is

playing guitar, mandolin, and flute. In the future

she might even put her education in classical oboe

to use.

Marc Strommer joined the band in late

2005. He plays lead guitar and lap steel and has

become a cornerstone of the bands new sound.

He is a graduate of Berklee College of Music

in Boston and a member of L.A.'s Dan Band and

The Rays. Marc's talent, and more so his attitude

towards music and life, have been a driving force

in The Dirges recent endeavors.

Bill "Stuhlly"

Brennenstuhl has been making his living as a

drummer since attending Berklee school of music.

Stuhlly has performed with the likes of Hypnotic

Clambake, Mike Gordon, and The Fourhorseman.

His driving beats and inventive fills are a perfect fit

for The Dirges rambunctious style of music and

Fran's heartfelt working class lyrics.

This creep can roll.

2010 has been a great year for the band. They've had their music placed in several TV shows and

movies including "Boondock Saints 2 All Saints Day" with 4 songs on the soundtrack, including a cover of

"The Saints are Coming".

The Dirges also embarked on their first tour of the southwest, with another tour scheduled for October in the

Northeast. 2010 looks to be a promising, if not break out year for The Dirges.

In a world where music is inundated with samples and pitch correction The Dirges let the listener

remember that there is beauty in the fallible nature of the human race and that blood still flows in the

veins of rock-n-roll.