Dirty Three is an instrumental trio formed in 1992 in Melbourne, Australia by Warren Ellis (a classically trained violinist), Mick Turner (guitar) and Jim White (drums), musicians who had previously played in several bands. Dirty Three's music incorporates a range of influences, including folk, jazz, post-rock, chamber music and other styles.
The group quickly rose to prominence in the Melbourne music scene. Early in their career, they opened for Pavement and The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. Their first album, Sad & Dangerous, was released in 1994. The trio subsequently toured with Pavement, Sonic Youth and John Cale. The band signed with the American label Touch and Go Records, for which they released the albums Dirty Three (1995), Horse Stories (1996), Ocean Songs (1998), Whatever You Love, You Are (2000), She Has No Strings Apollo (2003) and Cinder (2005). The latter featured guest appearances by Cat Power (vocals on the track "Great Waves") and Sally Timms, best known as the lead singer of the English band The Mekons.
The members of Dirty Three have also been involved in other projects. Warren Ellis has been a member of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds since 1996. He was also a member of Grinderman. Mick Turner and Jim White have collaborated on albums by artists such as Cat Power, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy and PJ Harvey.
In 2012, the trio released Toward the Low Sun, their first album on the Drag City label. After more than ten years, the band returned with Love Changes Everything (2024).
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