Live Report: The Dead South charm the National Stadium

Canadian four-piece The Dead South brought their blend of folk, bluegrass, and Americana to the National Stadium, their first time performing in a boxing arena, as they pointed out with a laugh. “We don’t want any fights in here tonight,” frontman Nate Hilts joked.

The rowdy crowd was locked in from the start, thanks to Corb Lund, who opened the night with a well-received set that was endlessly charming. Their sharp storytelling and humour in particular connected with the audience.

The Dead South's setup featured a small-town backdrop with a church in the centre, lit from within by shifting pinks, blues, and yellows. The lights moved in sync with the band’s tempo, giving the stage a sense of motion and mood that complemented the music perfectly.

With drinks in hand, the band walked onstage and opened with ‘Snake Man, Pt. 2’, immediately setting a high-energy pace. Their fast-picked strings and relentless rhythm filled the venue, hand in hand with powerful harmonies and sharp, precise instrumentals. Guitar, cello, banjo mandolin, and tambourine all featured throughout the set, with some members switching between instruments.

The Dead South at the National Stadium / copyright Patrik Meier

No single member dominated the spotlight. Their chemistry was evident when they stepped back from the mics to play facing each other, boots stomping and hats swaying in rhythm. The coordination and control they showed with their instruments was impressive, if not mesmerising, as their hands flew across the strings in a blur.

As The Dead South moved through their set, each song flowed smoothly into the next. Tracks like ‘The Recap’ and fan favourite ‘The Bastard Son’ brought the energy to a peak, while slower moments, such as ‘Son of Ambrose’ from their 2024 album Chains & Stakes, provided brief pauses. Even the slower songs crescendoed, keeping the energy alive throughout and never letting the momentum falter.

‘In Hell I’ll Be In Good Company’ was a clear highlight of the evening. Red lights washed over the stage as the crowd sang along word for word, mimicking the band’s choreography by snapping their fingers and strutting on the spot.

The Dead South at the National Stadium / copyright Patrik Meier

The band gave a special shoutout to “our main man Keith Fitzgerald who actually started the Dead South fan club right here in Dublin.” They pointed him out in the crowd, adding, “If it wasn’t for Keith and Dublin, we wouldn’t have a fan base, so thank you guys so much.”

They also acknowledged the brevity of their Irish run and promised to return with more dates in the future. “The people have spoken,” they said, after loud cheers from the crowd.

Before their final song, Hilts joked, “It’s a Monday. Make sure you’re not hungover for work tomorrow,” before closing the main set with ‘Honey You’, from their debut album Good Company. The rendition leaned into a stripped-down, nostalgic tone, gradually building into its familiar pace and peaking with a beautiful swell.

The Dead South at the National Stadium / copyright Patrik Meier

After a wave of thunder effects storming the set of the small town, the band returned for an encore.

A solo cello performance opened the final stretch before the full band re-joined for a heavier and more intense rendition of 'Completely, Sweetly’, as well as 'Broken Cowboy', and 'Banjo Odyssey'. The latter was introduced with a dry joke: “This one’s a little confusing. It’s about two cousins who love each other very much.” The crowd laughed, then joined in for one last singalong.

The band let the ending notes linger before leaving the stage, raising their drinks in a final wave. As the last echoes of their strings hung in the air, the buzz in the room was still very much alive.