Freeman Dre and the Kitchen Party

Freeman Dre and the Kitchen Party is helmed by bandleader and singer-songwriter Andre (Dre) Flak. The origins of the band come from house parties where Dre and Lonny would play music in Dre's kitchen.[1] The name "Kitchen Party" came from these parties, in the spirit of an east coast Kitchen Party or traditional Céilidh.[1] The Kitchen Party is also a member of Fedora Upside Down, a musical collective begun by Dre and Mark Marczyk of The Lemon Bucket Orkestra.[2][3] Fedora Upside Down has been described as a "motley assortment of cultural ambassadors" who spend "the summer taking over the city’s streets, parks, restaurants and bars with lively music and raucous dance parties."[4]

In early 2023, Dre suffered a severe brain injury and now draws inspiration from his recovery when writing music.[5]

In 2010, the band released their debut album Red Door, Second Floor.[6] The name of the album referred to Dre's Parkdale apartment.[7] The album was produced by John Critchley[6] and was met with favorable reviews.[7] The album had rotation in Canada and in Britain on BBC radio.[8]

Freeman Dre won "Best Songwriter" in the 2010 Now magazine "Best of Toronto Reader's Poll".[9]

In 2012, the band released their second album Old Town.[3] The themes of the album reflect Dre's Polish and Irish ancestry, and the immigrant experience in Toronto.[3] The album was produced by Dale Morningstar at The Gas Station studio on Toronto Island[9] and was met with favourable reviews.[10] The album was released at a party hosted at The Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto.[11]

In 2012, Freeman Dre was nominated a second time for "Best Songwriter" by Now magazine.[12]

During the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs, the band produced a song dedicated to the Toronto Maple Leafs entitled Go Leafs, Go!.[13] In 2013, the track "Whatever It Takes" off Old Town was used in a Season 3 episode of the Showcase series Lost Girl.[14]

On November 23, 2013, they released their first single from their new album titled Wickedness, which was met with positive reviews.[15] The single also features a B-side titled Apophenia. The single Wickedness was accompanied by a music video directed by Justin Friesen.[16]

On May 16, 2015 the band released the six song Vodka/Pickle EP.[17][18]

The band began working on a third LP[1] titled Reckless Good Intentions originally scheduled to be released June, 2016.[19] Reckless Good Intentions was released June 9, 2017[20]