Dirt Rakers

The Dirt Rakers band formed during the period of the Covid lock down. As the full shelter at home started to lift Erik began to invite some of his musical partners to have jams on the deck outside the Clubhouse were Acoustic Shadows and Drool Pigs bands practiced. The need to play outdoors fit well with his new interest in playing with primarily acoustic instruments. These jams included originally Jayne Williams (mandolin and vocals), Paul Stevens (percussion and drums), Diane Bock (acoustic upright bass). Erik had written some new songs and the band also relied on some of the Drool Pigs material.

The picture is taken at Erik and Tony’s house after an early performance to a small group of friends.
The next version of the project continued with Jayne and Paul and brought a more electric sound with Sean Woodward (guitar) and Doug Semler of the Drool Pigs (bass) There is professionally shot and produced video of a gig this line did at the Tabard Theater in San Jose

But Erik really wanted Dirt Rakers to be an acoustic and old-timey band and soon Luisa Sandman was added playing washboard and Jo Jo Fox came in to play bass. Mike Gendimenico shot some photos of this lineup playing the Boulder Creek Fire Department BBQ that include a band shot of in front of one of the Fire Trucks parked on Highway 9.

In the later years of Dirt Rakers the lineup changed yet again adding Ted Porter (acoustic guitar and vocals) and Jay Hansen (steel guitar). After 17 years playing in all of Erik bands, Paul Stevens took a break while the Dirt Rakers moved solidly into an Americana Band and gained a big following in the Santa Cruz mountains. The Dirt Rakers hosted Americana Nights at the Felton Music Hall and were honored to play at Redwood Mountain Fair

The rakers released 3 CDs: Foggy Forest, Americana Seed Company and Unityl