The Deep Dark Woods are a Canadian folk band from Saskatoon, currently signed to Sugar Hill Records in the United States and Six Shooter Records in Canada."Deep Dark Woods Sign to Six Shooter for New LP, Share Album Track and Canadian Tour Dates". Exclaim!, June 30, 2011.
History First established in 2005, the band consisted of singer and guitarist Ryan Boldt, bass guitarist Chris Mason, guitarist Burke Barlow and drummer Lucas Goetz. Pianist and organist Geoff Hilhorst joined the group in 2009 after the release of their breakout album Winter Hours. Founding member Burke Barlow played guitar until 2012 when he left the group and was replaced by Clayton Linthicum. Founding Member Lucas Goetz left the group in late 2014, after which the band went on hiatus. In 2017 Chris Mason officially left the group."Come out to the Deep Dark Woods" . Cochrane Eagle, February 1, 2011.
They have released seven albums to date, and contributed an original song, "Charlie's (Is Coming Down)", to CBC Radio 2's Great Canadian Song Quest in 2009. Their fourth record, The Place I Left Behind, was released in Canada on Six Shooter Records in August 2011, and internationally on Sugar Hill Records on October 18, 2011. The band's fifth album, Jubilee was released on September 30, 2013 through Sugar Hill Records. The latest, Yarrow, was released on October 27, 2017 and was nominated for a Juno Award for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year category in 2019.
Boldt has also released one album, Broadside Ballads, as a solo artist independently of the band, in 2015."Saskatchewan artist Ryan Boldt releases debut solo record". CBC News Saskatchewan, November 21, 2015. Two further albums, Broadside Ballads Volume II in 2020 and Broadside Ballads Volume III in 2024, were released as Deep Dark Woods albums.
In June 2025, the band announced a new album, The Circle Remains, which released on October 2, 2025.
Discography The Deep Dark Woods (2006) Hang Me, Oh Hang Me (2007) Winter Hours (2009) The Place I Left Behind (2011) Jubilee (2013) Broadside Ballads (2015, Ryan Boldt solo album) Yarrow (2017) Love Is Pleasing + The Tide Was Flowing b/w Lone Pilgrim (single) (2018) Broadside Ballads Vol. II (2020) Changing Faces (2021) Broadside Ballads Vol. III (2024) The Circle Remains (2025)
Awards and nominations
YearNominated workEventAwardResultRef.2008Deep Dark Woods / Hang Me, Oh Hang MeWestern Canadian Music AwardsRoots Duo/Group Recording of the Year2009Deep Dark Woods / Winter HoursCanadian Folk Music AwardsEnsemble of the YearLynn Saxberg, "Folk musicians honoured". Regina Leader-Post, November 23, 2009.2009Deep Dark Woods / Winter HoursWestern Canadian Music AwardsRoots Duo/Group Recording of the Year2012Deep Dark WoodsAmericana Music AwardsEmerging Artist of the Year2012The Place I Left BehindJuno AwardsRoots & Traditional Album of the Year - GroupJeanette Stewart, "The Sheepdogs fetch Juno nods; Sask. acts nab five nominations". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, February 8, 2012.2012Western Canadian Music AwardsRoots Duo/Group Recording of the YearJeff Dedekker, "Western Canada's top musicians get their awards". Calgary Herald, October 2, 2012.2012Canadian Folk Music AwardsContemporary Album of the YearCarolyn Thompson, "Canadian Folk Music Awards gala strikes the right chord; Performance Night featured Matt Andersen, Mike Stevens, Cindy Church and Susan Crowe". Telegraph-Journal, November 19, 2012.2014JubileeWestern Canadian Music AwardsRoots Duo/Group Recording of the Year"Saskatchewan gets eight WCMA nominations". Regina Leader-Post, June 5, 2014.2015Juno AwardsRoots & Traditional Album of the Year - Group"New band Magic nabs five Juno nominations". Telegraph-Journal, January 29, 2015.2018Deep Dark WoodsWestern Canadian Music AwardsRoots Duo/Group of the Year2019YarrowJuno AwardsContemporary Roots Album of the Year
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