Rev Billy C. Wirtz

Comic blues preacher Rev. Billy C. Wirtz brings deep‑fried humor, sanctified boogie‑woogie piano, and American roots music to Hank Dietle’s.
About this Event

Reverend Billy C. Wirtz is a comic genius, gifted boogie‑woogie pianist, and American musicologist who defies easy labels. Calling himself “the Victor Borge of the blues,” the Reverend mixes razor‑sharp wit, social commentary, and serious piano chops into a one‑man revival meeting that leaves audiences laughing, learning, and shouting for more.

Born in Aiken, South Carolina and steeped in D.C.’s gospel and R&B scene, Billy went on to study directly under Chicago blues legend Sunnyland Slim and became a sought‑after sideman with Mid‑Atlantic roots heroes like Root Boy Slim & the Sex Change Band, Evan Johns and the H‑Bombs, and The Nighthawks. His solo records, including Salvation Through Polyester and Deep Fried and Sanctified, cemented his reputation as one of the most original voices in modern roots music.

On stage, Reverend Billy C. Wirtz is part stand‑up comic, part blues preacher, part historian. Expect rollicking boogie‑woogie, outrageous stories from the Chitlin’ Circuit and beyond, and songs like “What I Used to Do All Night” that turn aging, politics, and everyday absurdity into pure comic gold. If you love blues, roots piano, and smart, subversive humor, this is your kind of revival.

Join us at Hank Dietle’s Tavern for a night of deep‑fried and sanctified fun—where the jokes hit as hard as the left hand on the keyboard, and you’ll leave with the blues (and the good kind of religion) in your soul.