The Dust Parade

The Dust Parade is a genre-bending original music group born from the sandy beaches and river towns of Eastern North Carolina.  Since forming in 2017, they play a unique brand of surfy/jazz-rock and bluesy/soul rhythms set to life over incisive and socially conscious songwriting.  The band is in the early stages of compiling a resume for bigger things to come, and collectively, are evolving a 'sound' indigenous to our times and to their own geography.

Hank Barbee leads 'The Parade', his sultry and mellow baritone voice engages the lyrical conversation, while just underneath, his bluesy electric guitar passages marry with Jim Durham’s saxophone.  Together, the two create interesting melodic lines and weave seamless sax/guitar harmonies that hearken to musical jams of decades past. Most recent addition, Gary Gilpin on keys, brings the touch of a master, making the band feel airtight.  On the bottom end,  Elliott Humphries keeps the bass lines ever moving, energetically driving the band forward across drummer Mike Ferrara’s deep grooves and syncopated bliss.  In the tradition of the jazz and funk greats, this duo shuffles, swings and soothes their way into your subconscious. 

The Dust Parade is currently in the recording studio, working out the final bits of their first full length album project. Their recent live performances have consisted mainly of this new material (which include instrumental compositions), several cuts from Barbee’s past solo albums, and some random eclectic covers from their musical heroes.

If you enjoy songs and jams in the style of Dire Straits, Dave Matthews Band, Wood Brothers, The Cat Empire, Budos Band, Khruangbin, Tedeschi Trucks Band, then you’ll most likely love what The Dust Parade is puttin' down.