Deep Fried Pickle Project

DITTIES FOR KIDDIES
Pickle Project produces benefit album for 'Little Kids Rock'


Deep Fried Pickle Project
Daniel Daniel and Alan Selvedge stand knee deep in the production phase of their latest project. The duo is assembling a vibrant collection of artists and songs to be featured on a benefit CD compilation for the Little Kids Rock Foundation. The album will be called Ditties for Kiddies. All proceeds, minus materials and distribution cost will go directly to Little Kids Rock.

Little Kids Rock reaches students who have been left behind because of budget cuts, bringing them free instruments and instruction. L.K.R.'s list of friends Board Members and supporters include Bonnie Raitt, Carlos Santana, Paul Simon, Tom Waits, Jason Newsted, BB King, Bob Weir, String Cheese Incident, the Further Foundation and the Milagro Foundation.

"I had a guitar as a kid because my parents and grandparents gave me one, and I was able to be in a school orchestra and take piano lessons. But, these days, I don't think it's an option for kids - and certainly not in the inner city. We hope to offer access to music for people who would otherwise not have access to it," says LKR Board Member BONNIE RAITT.

Daniel and Selvedge met many of the contributing artists during the Deep Fried Pickle Project's summer tour the past three years. The 'DFPP' plays adult music at night, but during the day they play for families and kids and hold instrument building workshops around the country. Sharing the bill at festivals like Wakarusa, High Sierra and Telluride Bluegrass Festival, the Pickle Boys were able to get to know a multitude of kind-hearted bands. "As soon as we started talking about this idea bands started volunteering their time and talents. Just at High Sierra weekend there were four bands who committed to donating a track." Says Daniel Boone Daniel.

At the date of this press release, the following bands/artists are scheduled to appear:

- ALO (Animal Liberation Orchestra)
- All God's Children Choir
- Matt Butler (Everyone Orchestra)
- Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band
- Deadwood Revival
- Deep Fried Pickle Project
- Melanie Dill
- The Gourds
- Greensky Bluegrass
- Charlie Hitchcock
- Aaron Holstein
- Hot Buttered Rum String Band
- Gemini
- Railroad Earth
- Split Lip Rayfield
- Zilla

More artists will be announced soon.

As one can see from the list, the musical selections are bound to be colorful. Constructing an album like this is like making a crazy quilt. "It's a challenge incorporating everyone's genre and sound into a cohesive whole- kind of like writing a good song. You have to be able to weave all the pieces together into something the listener will understand and enjoy," says Alan Selvidge.

Some of the artists have written songs specifically for this CD, others have chosen to interpret and record a traditional children's song. "Every track we've received so far is special, in that it will appeal to kids and adults alike" says Daniel.

Last year, the Deep Fried Pickle Project crew produced a Katrina benefit album for Conscious Alliance Foundation www.consciousalliance.org starring Umphrey's McGee, Hit and Run Bluegrass, the Gourds, Split Lip Rayfield, Chubby Carrier, the Deep Fried Pickle Project as well as other talented bands from around the country.

This latest album- Ditties for Kiddies is slated for release in November and will be available for purchase at the LKR website: www.littlekidsrock.org.



[Published on 9/6/2006]
- Jambase

Kind-hearted musicians from across the U.S. and Japan are teaming up on a new album. The CD project is dedicated to assisting those affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Musicians Assisting Disaster Efforts, A Conscious Alliance of Voices, Vol. 1, is the title. The Deep Fried Pickle Project is producing the CD and will partner with Conscious Alliance, a Colorado-based non-profit organization. The album is set to start shipping in early December just in time for holiday stockings. The Pickle and Conscious Alliance Families hope the spirit of giving continues on into the new year.

"As soon as we saw Katrina's news coverage we knew we had to do something to help," says Daniel "Boone" Daniel, CD Project Coordinator. Boone's band, the Deep Fried Pickle Project traveled the country over the past two summers meeting and fellowshipping with other bands. "I figured I might as well ask all our newfound musician friends if they would like to lend a pickin' hand with the album."

Most groups DID want to help. To date, the CD's roster includes Umphrey's McGee, the Gourds (who wrote a song about the beloved city of New Orleans just for the album), Split Lip Rayfield, Hit and Run Bluegrass, Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, Jefferson Hamer with Ben Kauffman from Yonder Mountain String Band, Zen, Kathryn Keats with Darol Anger, Cornmeal, Steppin' In It, Toni Brown Band, the Tallboys, Jah Sun, Stairwell Sisters, plus a few "surprise bands" and of course Boone's band- the Deep Fried Pickle Project.

The CD's musical styles range from bluegrass to honky-tonk to rock to reggae zydeco-funk, to Dixieland style-jazz. "It's hard to find an album with this much diversity, and such extraordinary musicianship" says Daniel, of the eclectic compilation." I think the folks that purchase this one-of a-kind CD will be inspired by the quality of music, as well as the amount of heart and soul these bands are injecting into the music."

That excitement is shared by the Conscious Alliance crew. "I love working with folks from the music scene in this way. The M.A.D.E. project allows music lovers a way to give back" says Evan Baker, Conscious Alliance Office manager, Truck Driver, and Jack of all trades. Conscious Alliance has made a name for themselves in the jamband scene, having taken their mobile, organization-on-wheels to concerts by friends Umphrey's McGee, STS9, Jack Johnson, Dave Mathews Band and the String Cheese Incident.

In the weeks following the disaster, the C.A. crew has taken truckloads of food and supplies to Houston. SCI's fall Japan tour brought the Alliance along for the ride, helping promote awareness about hunger and need.

All funds from the benefit CD sales (minus shipping and handling) will be used to provide food, baby formula, baby supplies, toys and other supplies to hurricane victims during the holidays. Daniel "Boone" Daniel also hopes to deliver musical instruments to some of the New Orleans musicians who have lost their livelihood. Woodwind and Brasswind, based in South Bend Indiana, has agreed to donate musical equipment.

For their part, musicians were asked to submit songs in the following themes- "Disaster and Hope" Says Selvidge of the DFPP, "I wrote the song 'When's it Gonna Rain' in church, so its got a lot of biblical references to water. Fact is, it rains when you don't want it to and doesn't when you do. The song has a rocking, gospel feel to it that makes you want to start speaking in tongues!," said Daniel. West Virginia's Zen sings a song about feeling good after bad times in "Feels Good to Feel Good." Said Mark Branciaroli, Zen's mandolin and guitar player, "We need something to help us all feel good, again and again and again."

"M.A.D.E. will be the first album of its kind that I know of," says Boone. With a lineup of some of the best bands from the "Americana" scene, the limited edition album is already being talked about on many message boards. "This is a big undertaking and we certainly use the help of wonderful grass roots folks to help publicize the album. Please spread the good word. Boone tells us, "We know our efforts will pay off for the people affected by this disaster. M.A.D.E. will spread a little sunshine after the storm." For information on how you can help, go to www.consciousalliance.org or www.pickleproject.com and click on "contact."



[Published on 11/21/2005]

- Jambase.com

"The Deep Fried Pickle Project leaves you full and satisfied."
-SPIN magazine, Oct. 2004
- SPIN MAGAZINE Oct. 2004

"The Deep Fried Pickle Project is a wonderful cross between mountain music and timeless old school fun."
- Tor Hyams, co-founder Kidzapalooza/Lollapalooza
- Tor Hyams

"They play hick-a-billy jamgrass like nobody's business"
- Telluride Bluegrass Festival, June 2004
- Planet Bluegrass

The Michigan jugga-jam band Deep Fried Pickle Project is known for its vivid imagination. On October 11 the group will performs its first nationally televised concert, and sitting in on washboard will be an eight-year-old rabbit.

Yes, that's correct. The rabbit's name is Buster, and he is the star of the half-animated, half-live action kids series Postcards from Buster. Many people will recognize Buster's character from the Emmy-Award winning Arthur show on PBS Kids.

On October 11, the new show starts its maiden season off with the Pickles in tow. In this episode Buster finds himself at a Country Fair with his video camera. With his camera, he films everything he sees with the curiosity and energy of a kid. He uses his videos as "postcards" to send back to his friends back home. Buster meets the Pickle Project who show Buster and his fair friends how to make homemade "jug band" instruments. Later, the band asks Buster to sit in on washboard as the Pickles perform to close the show.

According to the PBS Kids web site, Postcards From Buster isn't just a fun and funny show; it's also founded on an educational curriculum that focuses on two areas, cultural awareness and English language learning. And as Buster makes his way across North America, video camera in paw, it's easy to see how the show will fulfill those goals.

The Deep Fried Pickle Project (DFPP) spent most of summer '04 on the road, performing shows for both kids and adults, as well as holding instrument-building workshops throughout the country. Highlights of their "Trailer Trash Tour" included Telluride Bluegrass Festival in Colorado and Jerry Garcia Birthday Bash in West Virginia. The group also appeared in two festivals at the Church of Universal Love and Music in Ohio. According to Telluride's festival coordinators, the kid-friendly environment of the festival makes it appealing to festivarians with families. Sharing the bill with such musical greats as Ani DiFranco, Sam Bush, Yonder Mountain String Band, Bela Fleck, and String Cheese Incident was a dream come true according to the Pickles.

The response for quality music both kids and adults can enjoy has been overwhelming. In 2003 the band was awarded with a John Lennon Songwriting Contest Award. In September, band co-founder Alan Selvidge was honored to appear on a new Fred Eaglesmith Tribute Album 20 odd Hollers II, and Spin magazine is planning to feature the band in their October issue.

DFPP's members include Daniel Daniel on washtub bass, kazoo, harmonica and saw; Alan Selvidge on guitar, mandolin, and vocals; Jerry Hoffman on guitar and vocals; and Jim McAllister on drums and washboard. The Pickles will be on tour throughout the Midwest this fall and winter, then nationwide next summer.

[Published on 9/16/2004]

- Jambase.com

"Daniel Daniel and Alan Selvidge's music is like a snapshot from America's Heartland."
-South Bend Tribune
- South Bend Tribune

"(Ditties 4 Kiddies) lead-off track, “Pickle Juice,” done by the Deep Fried Pickle Project (who put the CD together), is hilarious and catchy, and has a sense of humor and whimsy that persists throughout the CD"- Bill Childs - Bill Childs- Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child

The DFPP's 'How to Build a Jug Band' playshops are educational and fun. The Pickles demonstrate how to build and make many homemade jug band instruments. They also play and talk about the colorful history of Jug Band Music.
- Art Educator - Art Educator

"...alls I can say is that these guys are great. Incredible with the kids, professional and most of all- FUN! DFPP should be involved in any festival that is family oriented.
-Michael Distante
String Summit Fest Kid's Area Coordinator
- String Summit Kids Zone

"...alls I can say is that these guys are great. Incredible with the kids, professional and most of all- FUN! DFPP should be involved in any festival that is family oriented.
-Michael Distante
String Summit Fest Kid's Area Coordinator
- String Summit Kids Zone