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Celebrating the finale of a 273 mile odyssey, Dead Rat Orchestra will draw their unique canal and rivers tour to a close at Arnolfini with a special celebration performance.

Having launched from London’s Canal Museum with a set of songs inspired by the stories and traditions of these aging industrial arteries, the trio have traveled exclusively by waterway, performing as they went.

Renowned for their vivid performances and an experimental approach to folk and roots, DRO have aimed to engage with the heritage of the canals, both past and present, by rekindling its songs and sounds. The Cut tour could be seen as a month long site-specific performance, which evolves through its interaction with the communities and surroundings encountered.


Dead Rat Orchestra
 have been performing internationally for over a decade, gaining a reputation as one of the most innovative ensembles on the UK music scene. Raw, elemental and poignant and with a love of adventure, their performances feature flailing axes, sweat, salt and sawdust, throbbing harmonium, grinding fiddle and 2000 shards of micro-tuned steel; cast to the floor in cascading, shimmering joy.

They were last in Bristol whilst supporting Canadian giants GSY!BE with whom they have traveled and played extensively. DRO will be joined by Bristolian friends Rachel Dadd & Will Newsome performing as The Hand (who will be sharing tunes penned whilst working on the city’s ferryboats) & other special guests.

Dead Rat Orchestra will also be joining us for a special boat tour during the day. See here FFI.

Keep in touch and share your pictures on Twitter with @deadratorchestr and #DROTheCut

The Cut is funded by Sound & Music’s Touring Scheme.