In this exclusive Noise11 interview, Paul Cashmere sits down with Nate Hilts of The Dead South for a wide-ranging conversation covering the band’s origin story, songwriting approach, instruments, live shows and their future plans.
Hilts looks back on the early days in Saskatchewan when The Dead South formed almost accidentally. What began as a casual conversation about new-grass bands such as Trampled By Turtles and Old Crow Medicine Show quickly became a blueprint for a group that blended punk, metal, folk and bluegrass influences into an entirely new sound. None of the founding members had formal training on their instruments, and the mandolin and banjo were literally learned on the job as the band carved out its identity.
The breakthrough of In Hell I’ll Be In Good Company is explored in depth, including why the band continues to play it live and the responsibility they feel to new fans hearing it for the first time. Hilts discusses the current structure of their set lists, the role of Snake Man as the current opener and the regular inclusion of a substantial portion of their 2024 album Chains And Stakes.
The interview also covers the band’s unique visual aesthetic, the surreal experience of winning a Juno Award while rarely being present to accept them, and the unexpected audience enthusiasm for dressing exactly like the band. Hilts talks about incorporating the cello, the surprisingly light touring load owing to minimal gear, and the band’s unconventional covers of People Are Strange and Chop Suey.
Hilts confirms that The Dead South have begun writing their next album, with recording scheduled for February 2026. Australian audiences can expect a set built around the core songs the band has been performing throughout the year.
A candid and insightful look inside one of Canada’s most distinctive modern acoustic groups.
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