Bluegrass is as American as apple pie, but not all bottoms in this genre look or sound as though they stepped off the set of O, Brother Where Art Thou? Sometimes, bluegrass bands can take you on an audio odyssey spanning across the mountains and the deserts, visuals of night skies filled with stars. The Kitchen Dwellers are a band that purvey this brand of bluegrass, and it’s catching on with audiences around the country.
We caught up with Joe Funk of Kitchen Dwellers earlier this year when they were on tour with Greensky Bluegrass. The band spoke to us about their fan-described “galaxy grass” sound, their 2024 record Seven Devils, playing in clubs vs. outdoor festivals and the big things on the horizon for the band in 2025.
I was reading a post the band had on Reddit where you described the band’s sound as “galaxy grass.” That’s literally one of the coolest descriptions of a band’s sound I’ve ever heard, so I’d love to know why you apply that phrase to the music you create.
That phrase was originally dubbed by some of our fans when we were just starting out. From the get-go we started experimenting with effects pedals and jamming in certain ways that impelled the description. And we definitely took it and ran with it. Not because we felt confined to the space, that’s just organically what our four minds have created for the past 10+ years.
I’ve read in interviews where the band has said they want the audience to find their own journey inward through these songs. Have you spoken to fans or heard from fans about if they took this audio adventure that you created for them, and what their experience was?
Yes, that is the beauty of music. It’s up to the listener to interpret and create the meaning of the song to one’s own life. We create a map with some general road signage, but everyone can take their own journey through the music. People often will tell us how certain songs got them through certain times or changed their path towards where they are today. I can’t say that’s why we do what we do – art is art – but hearing about the positive influence songs have had on people’s journey inspires us every day.
On your Spotify bio you say Seven Devils, your latest record, sounds the most like you than any other record you’ve done. Why is that?
It’s a very organic album, capturing the instruments and the songs themselves better than we ever have. We collaborated on every song more than ever and some were an entire team effort, created in the studio. It doesn’t get much more organic than that. We worked with a producer, Glenn Brown, who is a master at recording acoustic instruments and letting the songs speak for themselves.
While this record dropped last year, are there any plans for a new record in the near future?
We’re always working on new music and have studio time booked to work through some songs. We’ll get something out when it’s good and ready.
Earlier this year you did a tour with Greensky Bluegrass and you’re about to embark on a spring and summer of outdoor festivals. Is there a different vibe when you do a large open air festival as opposed to a theater or concert venue?
Yes and no. Natural light always brings a different energy to the room. We play off the energy of the crowd so much, that is usually the biggest factor for us as far as overall vibe, whether they like it or not or are even aware of it! A lot of our music is descriptive and written about the natural beauty of the earth, so playing in beautiful places outside definitely lends itself to that.
What is it about Kitchen Dwellers that you love?
I love that we just do what we do and are as much ourselves on stage as off and nothing is going to change that.
What are the Top 5 things you are most excited about for Kitchen Dwellers in 2025?
In no particular order (as of press time)
1. BajaWonderGrass (April 24-26, 2025) – Bonfire Entertainment throws the best festivals with the best crew and makes it so fun for the artists. It really does feel like all play (not work!) when we’re at a bonfire event. I spent time as a kid in Cabo Pulmo area just south of the Baja festival grounds so I can’t wait to get back down there. It’s beautifully rugged country.
2. Touring with Greensky (Earlier This Year When Interview Was Conducted) – It’s always been a goal of ours and touring with them has been such a great learning experience. We have gotten to play some absolutely stunning rooms and can’t thank them enough for having us along.
3. Bonnaroo (JUNE 12-15) – This ones been on our list for a long time and will be one of our first “mainstream” festivals. I’m excited to see how it’s all done.
4. Red Rocks (May 26, 2025) – Need I say more?! It’s our first time as a co-headliner and not just an opener. It’s a big deal for us!
5. Package tour with Leftover Salmon and Infamous Stringdusters – We’ll be headed all over the country playing with our idols in some big outdoor spaces. It’s going to be a hoot!
