Free Dirt Records

Independent record label

Record label

Free Dirt Records

Founded| 2006 (2006)
Founder| John Smith, Erica Haskell
Distributor(s)| AMPED Distribution (US),[1] MNRK Music Group
Genre| Folk, American roots, country
Country of origin| U.S.
Location| Washington, DC
Official website| www.freedirt.net

Free Dirt Records is an American independent record label and label services company founded in 2006 by John Smith and Erica Haskell that releases folk and roots music.[2] The label's releases have received three Grammy nominations.[3][4][5]

## History

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John Smith met Erica Haskell when Haskell interned at Smithsonian Folkways in 2000.[6] Later while Haskell was attending graduate school in ethnomusicology[7] they collaborated on a box set of spoken word introductions paired with original songs by anarchist folk musician and storyteller Utah Phillips[6] before founding Free Dirt Records in 2006. The label's first official release was by the traditional Bosnian group Mostar Sevdah Reunion.[8] Smith and Haskell ventured to create a label where they could work with young artists making traditionally rooted music and showcase often overlooked material like spoken word. Since 2006, the label has released music by Pokey LaFarge,[9] Anna & Elizabeth,[10] Hackensaw Boys, Julian Lage & Chris Eldridge (Grammy-nominated), Cahalen Morrison, Che Apalache (Grammy-nominated), Dori Freeman,[11]

## Roster

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* Anna & Elizabeth
* Che Apalache
* Dori Freeman
* The Hackensaw Boys
* Hazel Dickens & Alice Gerrard
* Mat Callahan & Yvonne Moore
* Pokey LaFarge
* Jake Blount
* Joe Troop
* JP Harris
* Julian Lage & Chris Eldridge
* Kaia Kater
* Utah Phillips
* Rachel Baiman
* The Two Man Gentlemen Band

## See also

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* List of record labels

## References

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1. ^ "Distribution". Free Dirt Records & Service Co. Retrieved 2018-01-13.
2. ^ Laban, Linda. "Free Dirt Records Showcase". The Village Voice. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
3. ^ Lynch, Joe. "Grammys 2018: See the Complete List of Nominees". Billboard. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
4. ^ "2020 Grammy Awards: Complete Nominees List". Recording Academy. Grammy.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
5. ^ Enos, Morgan. "2024 Grammy Nominations: See The Full Nominees List". Grammy Awards. The Recording Academy. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
6. ^ a b Leger, Devon. "Growing Up with Utah Phillips: Nevada City, Erica Haskell, and Utah's West Coast Legacy". Kithfolk. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
7. ^ McLaughlin, Lacey. "Erica Haskell". Jackson Free Press. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
8. ^ Larry, Leblanc (13 September 2018). "John Smith". Celebrity Access. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
9. ^ Horn, Nick. "Pokey LaFarge on His Rounder Records Debut, Something in the Water". Riverfront Times. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
10. ^ Adams, Mason (15 March 2015). "Listen to Anna & Elizabeth's Spooky New Take on an Old Appalachian Murder Ballad". Vice. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
11. ^ Wicks, Amanda (22 January 2016). "The Virginia Songbird Takes Flight: A Conversation With Dori Freeman". The Bluegrass Situation. Retrieved 29 February 2016.

## External links

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* Official website
* Free Dirt Records at Discogs.com