Dead North

Dead North play Icehouse on Wednesday, October 28. They're a progressive bluegrass band from the northwoods of Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula, so they're coming in from a fair distance to get to Minneapolis.

If you're not familiar with the name, the description tells you where they sit. Bluegrass is the root, but the progressive side means they aren't just sticking to the standard bluegrass songbook. They're taking the acoustic instruments of the genre—banjo, fiddle, guitar—and pushing them into more complex territory. It's a sound that works as well for people who love traditional string music as it does for anyone who likes their folk with a bit of a twist.

Coming from the Keweenaw Peninsula, they bring a particular kind of northwoods energy to the stage. That region of Michigan is remote and rugged, and you can hear that in the way they approach the music. It's bluegrass that feels tied to a specific place, even when it's playing in a city like Minneapolis.

Doors open at 6 PM, and the music starts at 8 PM, so there's plenty of time to grab a drink and settle in before they take the stage. There's no cover for the show, which makes it an easy one to drop into on a Wednesday night.