The Dead South

The Dead South play Portsmouth Guildhall on Thursday 3 September, bringing their Canadian bluegrass and folk to the city. It's a long way from their home turf, but they've built a following on a sound that's hard to pin down to one thing.

They describe it as a mix of progressive bluegrass, alternative Americana, country, folk and western. That's a lot of ground to cover, and they do it by leaning into the gaps between those styles rather than sticking to any one of them. It's that versatility that gets noticed: CountryMusicNews.de pointed out they don't just cover one genre, and Guitar Acoustic mentioned they'll throw in polka as well, adding that you'll either love them or hate them, but they're fantastic either way. Mick Thomson of Slipknot put it more bluntly: "The Dead South, they f****ing rule beyond belief."

If you're planning to go, there are a few things to keep in mind. Doors open at 19:00, but the Square Kitchen and the bars open earlier, from 18:15, so you've got plenty of time to get a drink in before the show starts. Tickets are £43.90, which includes a 17% booking fee, and you can pick them up through the Guildhall's official site. There's also an option to add hospitality packages up until 24 hours before the gig, subject to availability.

On the practical side, it's an over-14s night in the standing area, and anyone under 14 has to be accompanied by an adult over 18. There's no cameras or tablets allowed inside, and no outside food or drink unless it's for medical reasons. If you're driving, discounted parking passes are available online or at the box office, and every ticket includes the venue's restoration levy.