Dewey Via Band
Music; Music: Composition; Music: Instrumental; Music: Vocal
Originally from Ettrick, VA, with a deep connection to his family’s musical roots in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Dewey has been performing on stage since he was eight years old. Making music for virtually his entire life, his versatility has led him from events like the Virginia State Gospel Championship and the Galax Fiddler’s Convention as a child guitar player and singer. Then on to years of leading Pentecostal music-filled worship as a young man while working 20 years as a plumber to support his family. This all led him to become the full-time powerhouse he is today.
After picking his way through Virginia and the Carolinas, Dewey made his way down to Saint Augustine, Florida which has been his home base since 2007. Called a "contagious ball of energy" as well as a "lighthearted performance", he is considered amongst the best a “musician’s musician” and has made his mark as the best flat-pick guitarist in all of Northeast Florida.
His unique talent has attracted veteran performers from the Florida music scene like Stan Lynch of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers who is credited on Dewey’s all original CD “Likes of the Man in Black” and Banner Thomas, a founding member of Molly Hatchet, whom Dewey was honored to call his bassist in the Dewey Via Band for several years until he passed in 2017.
Dewey is recognized all over for both his extensive number of radio-worthy original songs and his ability to take a song from any genre and deliver it with his own unique spin. As well as acoustically recreate the electric sounds of greats like Jimi Hendrix, The Allman Brothers, and even Prince. With a seemingly endless music catalog ranging from classic country to unexpected renditions of hits throughout multiple decades, which is often called “From Hank to Hendrix”, he is known for his great adaptability to all styles of music.
His performances are said to be nothing less than dynamic; a country-raised southern boy who brings a larger-than-life personality to the stage. Dewey is known to be relatable through his authentic love for his craft and his fans. In that same spirit as well as accommodating a vast expanse of requests he goes where both the music and the fans take him. There is never a setlist or two shows that are ever the same.
Both a prolific guitar player, outstanding songwriter, and powerful vocalist, Dewey has developed a core following of fans from all over the USA, Canada, and Europe and has become a local favorite. He can always be found at Mi Casa Cafe on St. Augustine’s bustling St. George Street where he has been the house musician for more than a decade and regularly performs four shows a week.
He also performs at a number of other local establishments and depending on the particular week or time of year can play anywhere from five to nine shows in a week and generally, around 275 shows a year. Special appearances include; in St. Augustine: the Gamble Rogers Folk Festival, The Vilano Music Fest, The Cathedral Parish Fair, The North Florida Egg Fest, the Sing Out Loud Festival and the Lincolnville Porch Festival as well as numerous charitable events.
The list continues with many years at Daytona Bike Week and Biketoberfest, The Mustang Festival in the Outer Banks of North Carolina (where the lineup included artists such as Tim Reynolds and JJ Grey and Mofro) as well as three different Concert Hall appearances in Ontario, Canada. He performs mainly as a solo artist but also fronts two bands: the Dewey Via Band; a power trio, and Moses Creek: a five-piece band. He enjoys and does do private events by request on a limited basis where they can fit into his schedule as arranged by his wife Tara.
Dewey has been featured in Ignition Magazine, Narrow Music Magazine, St. Augustine Social, Old City Life Magazine, and The St. Augustine Record; and won first place Best Local Band/Performer as well as the title of “Best Music” at Taste of St. Augustine at the Amphitheater three different years, was voted best band/performer in the St. Augustine Record’s Best of St. Augustine in 2018, second place for best band/performer in 2019, and voted best male vocalist in the Folio’s Best of St. Augustine in 2019.
