Regina based bluegrass band The Dead South have been an immediate hit amongst Southern Alberta audiences, since being one of the many pleasant surprises on the East Stage at the South Country Fair . They played a packed Hungarian -Canadian hall late last year and hope to pack Coyote Joes, Feb. 25.
“The last Lethbridge show was amazing. It was our first time so we had no idea what to expect. We were greeted with amazing people, some great music as the opening act was so good and late nights/early mornings at Denny's,” wrote frontman/ guitarist Nate Hilts, from Kansas City, where the band has spent the past week enjoying their first Folk Alliance Festival.
“This is our first time here and we hope to come back very soon,” wrote Hilts in an e-mail from the event.
“So far the entire event is a highlight. We still have two days left of hotel room, hippy/folk parties/ concerts to attend to find our highlight! On top of that, this city’s beauty took us by surprise,” he continued.
They are beginning to get noticed on the mainstream country scene as CMT’s Wide Open Country show has started playing their video for “ Honey You.”
Hilts hadn't expected that.
“ We weren't expecting anything like that. We applied our video to "Wide Open" and figured they wouldn't even give it a look. Fortunately, they liked the song and video enough to play it. I would say it means quite a bit. Of course our music isn't for everyone but the more it gets out there, the more chance of someone enjoying it will come upon it,” Hilts wrote.
He noted the band has been busy as usual planning for the future.
“We have been pretty busy lately so most of our attention goes into new ideas or better ideas for making this band fun and a time you will remember (hopefully good memories ),” he wrote, adding the band is working on new music.
“We are working on new music. We are actually in the process of recording. We are hoping to finish recording early March and have a release later this year,” he continued.
They are looking forward to returning to Lethbridge has their first appearance was so successful.
“We will be playing old songs, new songs, good songs and bad songs. The songs will be sure to make you want to have a drink though,” he concluded.
The Dead South Play Coyote Joes, Feb. 25.
The show begins at 8 p.m. with opening act Burning Bridge (Steven Foord and Megan Brown) Tickets cost $20.
