Heavy metal goes bluegrass

HAYSEED Dixie bring their own brand of good-time “rockgrass” to the Assembly Rooms, Derby, tonight.

The four-piece band take rock classics and give them the bluegrass treatment. From Motorhead's The Ace of Spades through to Queen's Fat Bottomed Girls, they transform fast and furious heavy metal anthems into banjo ballads and barn-stomping jigs.

“Many of those who hear our music are surprised that we can find a melody amid the wall of sound in a heavy rock song,” says founder member, vocalist and fiddle player John Wheeler.

“But strip them back and you discover some fine pop tunes. The likes of The Ramones and Nirvana, for instance, created well-crafted pop songs. Kurt Cobain was an Abba fan and if you dig deep enough you'll discover their songs aren't just three minutes of loud noise.”

Tickets for tonight's 7.30pm gig are £15 (standing only) on 01332 255800.