Note-able Dates

August 2023

YYC MUSIC AWARD NOMINATION

The Prairie Dogz were nominated for the YYC Music Award for the best blues recording of the year for their song 40 Dollars.

LONG BIOGRAPHY

Years of playing shows, big ups that never last and big downs that seem to. The Prairie Dogz’ experience comes through in their writing. Stories of crazy nights and relationships good and bad set against music with country roots and a rock and blues edge.

The Prairie Dogz is a collaboration between Dwight Kohen and Keith Hambrook who ended up playing in an A circuit cover band and found common ground in song writing and musical direction. Dwight’s blues influences can be heard in his vocals while hard rock influences can be heard in Keith’s guitar tracks. The country influences in their music come from growing up and living in prairies of Southern Alberta, Canada. The bands current members are Dwight Koenning (Lead Vocals), Keith Hambrook (Guitar/Vocals), Terry Studd (Guitar/Vocals), Dave Fast (Bass Guitar/Vocals), Martin Wright (Drums).

The band’s social media following has increased steadily since 2018 due to its consistently entertaining live performances.

The Prairie Dogz music is written to be played live but is perfect for a long stretch of highway or the soundtrack for a well-deserved weekend out of town. The Prairie Dogz are perfect blend of Country, Rock and Blues with lyrics that resonate with everyone.

SHORT BIOGRAPHY

Years of playing shows, big ups that never last and big downs that seem to. The Prairie Dogz’ experience come through in their writing. Stories of crazy nights and relationships good and bad set against music with country roots and a rock and blues edge The Prairie Dogz songs range from ballads that deal with some of life’s most challenging issues, to party songs meant to pack the dance floor at a big saloon. Their music is written to be played live but is perfect for a long stretch of highway or the soundtrack for a well-deserved weekend out of town. The Prairie Dogs are perfect blend of Country, Rock and Blues with lyrics that resonate with everyone.

MEMBERS

Dwight Kohen (Lead Vocals)

The Prairie Dogz lead singer Dwight Kohen was born in Alberta, Canada and has resided in a country/rock atmosphere throughout his musical career. Being taught in classical styles he emits an original blues, country & rock sound.

He started singing at a very young age and has played in cover bands for most of his musical career in the classic rock genre.

Through his life experiences he had always felt the desire to create music and release the many stories that have come about through the many stages of his life.

He is through and through a talented singer and story writer leading to the great lyrics and ballads you’ll hear in The Prairie Dogz music.

Keith Hambrook (Lead & Rhythm Guitar)

The Prairie Dogz creative collaborator, song writer and lead guitarist Keith Hambrook has been writing and performing since an early age in a variety of different genres from new wave through to metal and gospel.

He has played multiple venues in western Canada and has been recording music since his formative years.

His influences range from U2 to Stevie Ray Vaughn and Jimmy Page to BB King.

He was born and raised in Alberta, Canada growing up with country music influences including the Calgary Stampede.

Terry Studd (Lead & Rhythm Guitar)

Terry picked up the guitar at age 13 and has since played in various rock and roll hair bands (Pariah, Siloette, Risk) to name a few, going from gig to gig in the early 80’s.

He took a break and was asked to play in a country band (Chris Value and the Blue Water Band) toured Alberta, Saskatchewan and Montana.

Years later he joined an 80’s and up rock cover band called (Throttle Up) where he met Dwight and Keith (The Prairie Dogz) and the rest is history.

Dave Fast (Bass)

Originally from BC, Dave had moved to beautiful Alberta in 1979. He started learning bass guitar at the age of 18, and has much enjoyed performing ever since in many bands regularly.

He plays a wide variety of musical styles including blues, classic , prog and southern rock, as well as traditional and modern country , and folk music and studied classical guitar through the RCM program.

He has experience performing at many types of venues ranging from pubs , clubs , corporate, to festivals ( Rohan’s, Country Thunder, Ranchman’s, Calgary Stampede Grandstand), as well as studio recording and video projects.

Favorite Musical Influences ( for bass guitar ) include bands and artists :
Beatles, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Led Zeppelin, Yes, The Who , Jimi Hendrix, Deep Purple, Rory Gallagher, Steely Dan, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Spencer Davis, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bad Company, Johnny Cash, Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Allman Brothers, just to name a few.

Martin Wright (Drums)

Martin was ‘Made In England’ in a town called Bletchley just north of London, this was also the home (and still is today) of ‘Marshall Amplification’ and despite his parents wishes used money earned from delivering newspapers to have drumming lessons from Jim Marshall.

After playing in various bands in the area, he was invited to audition for ‘Solstice’ this was a leading ‘prog rock’ band in the 1980’s UK progressive rock revival and toured the country extensively playing such notable festivals as ‘Stonehenge’ ‘Glastonbury’ and Reading Rock festival in 1984 to around 25, 000 people, ‘Solstice’ would also regularly sell-out the famous London ‘Marquee’ club.

This line up recorded a BBC radio session and recorded the album ‘Silent Dance’ which has become a cult classic from that period, following ‘Solstice’ Martin played with ‘Gordon Gilltrap’ and before moving to Canada in 2006 was a long-time member of ‘Togmor’ who played both in the UK and Europe.

Despite his accent and very loud snare drum the ‘Dogz’ are happy to have him in the band.