Everyone’s favourite Progressive-Bluegrass & Alternative Americana band The Dead South are back with their new album ‘Chains & Stakes’
Now my first introduction to The Dead South was when their PR reached out about covering their show at The Ulster Hall in Belfast pre-shamdemic. I knew nothing at that stage of the band and walked in totally unprepared for what was an amazing, eye-opening show! The Ulster Hall was sold out, rammed actually and when the lights went out and the band appeared lit by candlelight at that time, I was just a tad taken back, but I lived to tell the tale and here we are post-shamdemic in a new world racing towards WW3 and these guys have just gone from strength to strength. Back in 2024 with Chains & Stakes none of that Dead South charm has been lost, what we have here is a beautiful collection of contemporary Americana & Bluegrass at its finest, these guys are simply a breath of fresh air, often their songs are built around the most simplistic lines on a mandolin or banjo but embellished with beautiful vocal harmonies and hooks that are impossible to ignore. ‘Yours To Keep’ is a perfect example, the lads toss In fast and frantic sing-along ho-down numbers in blistering fashion like ’20 Mile Jump’ and before you know it your feet are stomping and by the time you grab your fine partner to dance, it’s almost bloody over!
Instrumental gems like ‘Where Has The Time Gone’ dappled across the album remind you that at the very heart of the band is the music and what it means to them in its rawest form, What’s not to love about a band like The Dead South, living a breathing the best of Bluegrass and Americana, steeped in southern charm and although based in in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada they do it so well.
Their contemporary take on the classic genres has brought a wave of new fans to the music and no doubt like a lot of their contemporaries will spawn a new generation of musicians who dream of following in their footsteps, playing the largest stages around the world educating the masses on the beauty of, Bluegrass, Americana, Country and Folk music.
Chains & Stakes arrives Friday, Feb 9th via Six Shooter Records
It is an absolute must any fan of the band and of course the perfect gateway album to anyone wondering what the fuss is all about!
Pre-Order // Pre-Save Chains & Stakes Here
Review: Mark
CHAINS & STAKES TOUR DATES
Cleveland, OH: TempleLive Masonic, Feb 12
Pittsburgh, PA: Stage AE, Feb 13
Silver Spring, MD: The Fillmore, Feb 14
Philadelphia, PA: Franklin Music Hall, Feb 16
Norfolk, VA: The NorVa, Feb 17
Charlotte, NC: The Fillmore, Feb 18
Atlanta, GA: The Eastern, Feb 19
Austin, TX: ACL Live at the Moody Theatre, Feb 21
Dallas, TX: The Factory, Feb 22
San Antonio, TX: The Factory in Deep Ellum, Feb 23
Houston, TX: House of Blues Houston, Feb 24
Memphis, TN: Minglewood Hall, Feb 26
Fayetteville, AR: JJ’s Live, Feb 27
Tulsa, OK: Cain’s Ballroom, Feb 28
Steamboat Springs, CO: Winter WonderGrass, Mar 1
Perth, AU: Metropolis Fremantle, Mar 20
Adelaide, AU: Hindley Street Music Hall, Mar 21
Melbourne, AU: Forum Melbourne, Mar 23
Melbourne, AU: Forum Melbourne, Mar 24
Brisbane, AU: Fortitude Music Hall, Mar 26
Tyagarah, AU: Byron Bay Bluesfest, Mar 29
Sydney, AU: Enmore Theatre, Apr 2
Sydney, AU: Enmore Theatre, Apr 3
Auckland, NZ: Powerstation, Apr 5
Wellington, NZ: San Fran, Apr 6
Wellington, NZ: San Fran, Apr 7
Hamburg, DE: Freilichtbühne im Stadtpark, May 30
Berlin, DE: Zitadelle Spandau, June 1
Leipzig, DE: Clara-Zetkin Park, June 2
Prague, CZ: Žluté Lázně, June 4
Bratislava, SK: Stars Auditorium, June 5
Budapest, HU: Budapest Park, June 6
Linz, AT: Posthof Zeitkultur Am Hafen, June 8
Stuttgart, DE: Kulturbetrieb Wagenhallen, June 9
Cologne, DE: Palladium, June 11
Wiesbaden, DE: Schlachthof, June 12
Munich, DE: Zenith, June 13
Paris, FR: Salle Pleyel, June 18
Nashville, TN: The Ryman Auditorium, July 12 + 13
Mexico City, MX: Fronton Mexico, Oct 19
Tickets and show details at thedeadsouth.com
ABOUT THE DEAD SOUTH
The Dead South have never been about constant reinvention, but about full commitment to their own singular way. With confidence in their sound and style and trust in each other, The Dead South arrive at the cusp of explosive global success in an enviable, and well-earned, position: total autonomy. It doesn’t really matter what you call it – progressive bluegrass, alternative Americana, country, folk and western, what matters is that this is their music, and people from all different backgrounds, beliefs, experiences, languages and ages love it.
True blue right through, The Dead South don’t shy away from ruffling traditionalists’ feathers from time to time, as they flawlessly execute banjo rolls and lightning fast mandolin tremolos, 3-part harmonies and songs of classic themes -murder ballads, disloyalty, ghosts and the like, all with a wink and a smile. As they continue their climb to the top, The Dead South have learned an important lesson: If you’re going to be outsiders, you’d better be great.
Confirmed by the passion of their Dead South cosplaying fans, who go to concerts in the band’s signature look, this four-piece acoustic set from the middle of the Canadian prairies have found their people. Good Company, as they call themselves, is a global community of vastly dissimilar folks who might not see eye to eye, but who stand shoulder to shoulder at the gigs.
D I S C O V E R
Facebook – Twitter – Soundcloud – Spotify – Instagram – YouTube – Website