Deborah Crooks

Perhaps it was the added chicory in the coffee, or all those great artists we heard and connected with at Folk Alliance, but I came home from New Orleans doubly fired up for live music and general music-making. I'm happy to report the next couple months are full of creative possibility, including several collaborative shows and a residency. First up is a special show this Sunday at The Monkey House, where I’ll be co-hosting/playing the Bay Station Love the Bay Retrospective screening and performance In…

In addition to co-hosting nearly 30 other artists/acts in Bay Station's Love the Bay Private Showcase Room #1008 at Folk Alliance this coming week, I'll be playing a couple of Bay Station(duo) sets and taking a few solo turns. Find me presenting Bay Station material on Wednesday 1/22 at 12:30am and Friday 1/24 at 11:30pm and presenting music from The Department of the West on Wed, Thurs and Sat:

"Make out" is an interesting term, isn't it? As is "how'd you make out?" or  "could you make it out?" and "let's make out!" (which is actually pretty low on the definition list according to Merriam). I'm riffing on the phrase both as it's an   interesting time on the planet right now and I've a show at the Make-Out Room at the end of month, which I very much wish you'll make it out for.

Miss my record release? This will be a near reprise, as I'll be sharing the show with Gayle Lynn & The Hired Hands as…

Appreciate that Department of the West is included in this roundup of Bay Area Recordings!

"Welcome to SFCV’s 2019 year-end roundup of recordings released this year by local artists. Our list isn’t limited to classical music: We’ve embraced everything from Baroque music to jazz to Celtic, folk, blues, and bluegrass. We can’t claim that our roster is comprehensive, but we tried to provide a solid sample of the area’s musical wealth. There is so much great music here that we aren’t able to hear or review over…

This is a nice list just to be on. That said, if you'd like to show your love for The Department of the West, I'm that much more grateful if you vote for it in Americana Highways' favorite THREE releases of November/December 2019 poll:

"Americana Highways needs you to vote for your favorite THREE releases these past two months, November and December 2019. The vote stays open until January 20th at 11:59pm EDT; results will be posted January 21st. Write in, if we overlooked one!  The top three winners get…

A year ago I released this reimagined version of "Adding Water to the Ashes" - take a listen: 

 It’s doubly gratifying when a reviewer listens to your record...then listens again. Rocking Magpie on The Department of the West:

"There’s an effortless finesse to the way these songs are constructed; and I’m sure there will be minimal lighting when they play the two pertinently observed song about Native American History are sung in concert; What The Land Will Tell You and the title track Department Of The West as both have a delicate melody but a very powerful message that will and should be listened to…

Thanks friends and generally awesome people for coming to the show; my band and Gayle Lynn Schmitt for sharing the stage and Amado’s for providing a great space for such a sweet night of music! Some snaps and a video from Thursday’s Department of the West record release show follow below. Such fun to play with and share a bill with this group of musicians! I’m so grateful to everyone who came out and helped make it happen. About that dress I’m wearing: In March, when I had a gig shortly after I started…

The Department of the West RECORD RELEASE SHOW
is this Thursday, December 5 at Amado's in San Francisco! Amado's is a sweet, downstairs venue in the heart of the Mission District and I've an excellent co-bill in Gayle Lynn & the Hired Hands who will start out the evening.
My band for the night features a bunch of musical geniuses: Danny Allen (guitars, backing vocals), Kwame Copeland (guitars, harmonica, backing vocals), Kevin T. White (bass) and Andrew Griffin (drums) as well as some special guests. This is…