Thee Deadtime Philharmonic

Thee Deadtime Philharmonic

Thee Deadtime Philharmonic is a UK group active since 2007. It is based in Swadlincote in South Derby, a former mining town, and the band’s line-up is Murdoch on vocals, guitars and samples; Kez on vocals, synth and percussion; Sam Toms on bass and miscellaneous instruments; and Lee Shaw on drums and percussion.

Style and approach

The band is described as refusing to fit neatly into a scene or genre, and it is associated with indie and ska. Its songs and performances reflect a working-class perspective, with songwriting shaped by the social conditions around Swadlincote and the legacy of Thatcher-era decline in the area.

Live activity and reception

Thee Deadtime Philharmonic builds its following through extensive gigging across the UK, including major cities and smaller towns that many bands do not visit. Its live shows are described as raw, emotive and high-energy, and the group receives national and international radio play as well as strong reviews.

Collaborations and related work

The band draws attention from Mick Jones of Clash, who invites Deadtime out as special guests. After that tour, Murdoch records a single and an album with The Tribunes on Honest Jon’s Records, with Mick Jones’s rhythm section from Carbon/Silicon appearing on that material.

Identity and audience

The group presents itself as representing people it describes as the dispossessed, the disillusioned, the single mothers and the working class. It develops a committed fanbase through its touring and its confrontational, politically charged stance.