The Dead South

The Dead South

The Dead South is a four-piece acoustic band based in Regina, Saskatchewan. The group is made up of Nate Hilts, Scott Pringle, Colton Crawford and Danny Kenyon. Hilts sings lead vocals and plays guitar, Pringle contributes harmonies and mandolin, Crawford plays banjo and kick drum, and Kenyon plays cello.

Style and sound

The band combines folk, bluegrass, classical and rock elements. Its instrumentation centres on acoustic guitar, mandolin, banjo and cello, with Hilts’ gritty vocals and the group’s harmony singing forming a key part of its sound.

Releases

The Dead South releases an EP titled The Ocean Went Mad and We Were to Blame in 2013. The following year it issues its first full-length album, Good Company.

Live activity and recognition

The band plays a range of festivals and showcases, including Reeperbahn Festival, Canadian Music Week, Regina Folk Festival, Ness Creek Music Festival, Gateway Music Festival, Juno Fest, Grey Cup Festival, The Works Art and Design Festival, All Folk’d Up Festival, Frontier Days Festival, Long Days Night Festival, Picker’s Cup Festival and the Cathedral Village Arts Festival. At Grey Cup Festival in 2013, it opens for Serena Ryder.

In 2014 the group wins the 104.9FM The Wolf Queen City Rocks battle of the bands competition, ahead of 24 other bands, and is selected to represent Saskatchewan in CBC Searchlight. After performing at Canadian Music Week, it attracts the attention of Jörg Tresp of Devil Duck Records, who signs the band, releases Good Company in Europe and books overseas tours.

Media coverage

The Dead South receives airplay on 104.9FM The Wolf, CBC Radio 2, CBC Radio 1 in Saskatchewan, CJTR Regina Community Radio and CFCR Saskatoon Community Radio. It is also featured in provincial newspapers and appears on Global TV and CTV. After winning Queen City Rocks, the band appears on the cover of City Slicker, a Regina magazine.