The Dreadnoughts

The Dreadnoughts aren’t really a band, they’re an advocacy group, relentlessly promoting the idea that folk and punk music form a perfect union. Where too many bands sprinkle folk instruments into their sound as a kind of gimmick, the Dreadnoughts dig deep into folk traditions, unearthing the raw power of polkas, waltzes, klezmer dances, irish jigs and sea shanties, and playing them as they are meant to be played. All backed by the gut-punching raw power of modern street punk. 

“The Dreadnoughts’ set,” writes upvenue.com, “can be summarized in one word: outrageous.” If there’s one thing this band is proud of, it’s their live show, which follows the first (and only) rule of punk rock: keep it chaotic. There are no scripted intros. There is no choreography. No pre-prepared sound effects, light shows, or “how’s everybody doing tonight?” Only five loud-mouthed extroverts aiming a series of punked-up folk dances at the audience after an entirely unnecessary amount of liquor.