Dana Armstrong
Co-Owner, The Dirty Drummer
Dana Armstrong is co-owner of The Dirty Drummer, a Phoenix bar and live-music room at 44th Street and Oak.
Her father, Frank "Drummer" Armstrong, and Dirty Dave Werner opened the first Dirty Drummer in 1975 and put five of 14 locations on the map in the first five years, including the 44th Street room in 1980. After the chain faded, Armstrong and partners Tom Bernard and Andrew Smith reopened that location in 2019.
The room is now a live-music staple, home to Tiny Tonk Tuesdays, the Rooster Club, and Valley Vinyl Club. During the pandemic they created The August Manley Hour, a streamed variety show. Armstrong also ran Valley Fever, a long-running country night that began at Yucca Tap Room. Phoenix New Times named the Dirty Drummer Best Bar Food in 2025.
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Dana Armstrong Explains Why The Dirty Drummer Is Still Standing After 50 Years
Join us as Dana Armstrong, the owner of the iconic Dirty Drummer in Phoenix, shares the fascinating history of the restaurant, its cultural significance, and the challenges of running a beloved local business. Discover insights into restaurant entrepreneurship, community impact, and the vibrant music scene that makes the Dirty Drummer a Phoenix institution.
Key Topics
History of the Dirty Drummer
Challenges of running a restaurant in Phoenix
Community and cultural impac…