The Deep Dark Woods

The Deep Dark Woods

The Deep Dark Woods are a Canadian folk and alt-country group from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The band forms in 2005 and remains active. It is signed to Sugar Hill Records in the United States and Six Shooter Records in Canada.

Formation and membership

The original line-up includes singer and guitarist Ryan Boldt, bass guitarist Chris Mason, guitarist Burke Barlow and drummer Lucas Goetz. Boldt is the only remaining founding member. Pianist and organist Geoff Hilhorst joins the group in 2009, after the release of Winter Hours. Barlow leaves in 2012 and is replaced by Clayton Linthicum. Goetz leaves in late 2014, after which the band goes on hiatus. Mason leaves officially in 2017.

Recorded output and recognition

The band releases Hang Me, Oh Hang Me on Black Hen in 2007, followed by Winter Hours in 2009. Winter Hours is recorded live off the floor at The Factory in Vancouver with Juno Award-winning producer and musician Steve Dawson. It brings together raw emotion, sadness, harmonies, new sounds and carefully arranged songs, and marks a step forward in the band’s changing sound. The album wins Best Roots Group at the 2009 Western Canadian Music Awards and Ensemble of the Year at the 2009 Canadian Folk Music Awards. The 2017 release Yarrow is nominated for a Juno Award in the Contemporary Roots Album of the Year category in 2019. The band also releases Changing Faces in 2021.

Style and approach

The Deep Dark Woods play folk and alt-country with acoustic instrumentation, driven by Boldt’s plainspoken lyrics, guitar work, rhythm section and close harmonies. Their sound is associated with the winters and night-time atmosphere of the Canadian north.