Dirty Bird hails from the concrete woodlands of New York City, and consists of Christie Belanger, Melissa Escudero, Natasha Thweatt, Nick Katz, John Crisan, Eli Greenhoe and Blake Suben. Though the band is young, each member has spent his or her life grounded in music. With roots going back to New York’s renowned arts school LaGuardia High School, the members of Dirty Bird reconnected in 2016, and in true New York style bring a wide variety of musical backgrounds—ranging from jazz to bluegrass to classical—together in one vibrant and wholly original folk sound.
Since forming, the band has presented powerful performances to venues including Bowery Ballroom, Mercury Lounge, Mass MoCa and Radio Bean, and the Northside Music Festival. Dirty Bird brings both new and long-devoted audiences intimate, poetic lyrics charged by three-part harmony and lively, distinctive arrangements. Soulful, harmonious, and ever-evolving, Dirty Bird’s music redefines what it means to be a folk band.
IZZY HELTAI
Izzy Heltai is an indie-folk singer-songwriter who puts a unique twist on traditional story-telling. Through songs that draw from personal stories to address broader universal truths, Izzy connects deeply with his listeners. Izzy’s latest release, Only Yesterday (April 2019) draws inspiration from the natural beauty of his native Western Massachusetts, his lived experiences, and stories from his community.
“ Izzy's simple and often nomadic life is deeply reflected in his music. An unusual power and constant movement dominate his storytelling.” -The Wild Honey Pie
With Only Yesterday, Izzy continues to build his reputation as a vital new voice in the folk community.
