THE HOT SEATS (USA) | Standard Ticket

Prepare for a high energy night of roots music, sharp humour and virtuosic musicianship with The Hot Seats, one of the most distinctive live acts on the international folk circuit.

Blending old time music, bluegrass, ragtime, jug blues and early country influences, The Hot Seats have spent more than two decades building a reputation for wildly entertaining performances that combine exceptional musicianship with theatrical chaos, satire and offbeat humour. Their live shows are famously unpredictable, packed with on stage antics, storytelling and infectious energy while remaining deeply rooted in traditional American folk music.

Originally formed in 2002 by a group of friends playing weekly bar gigs, the band quickly developed a cult following across the United States and internationally. Between 2005 and 2018 they toured extensively throughout the US and UK, performing everywhere from intimate living rooms and packed dive bars to theatres, festivals and traditional dance halls.

Festival appearances have included major international events such as Celtic Connections, HebCelt, South by Southwest, Shetland Folk Festival, Orkney Folk Festival and multiple appearances at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where they won a prestigious Herald Angel Award in 2006.

Today, the band’s original core members Ben Belcher, Josh Bearman and Jake Sellers are joined by Rudy Bee, JM Nobile and Charles Arthur, expanding their rich instrumental palette across banjo, fiddle, mandolin, accordion, tuba, piano, guitar and percussion.

Influenced by legendary musical storytellers and social commentators including Woody Guthrie, Gus Cannon and Uncle Dave Macon, The Hot Seats continue to celebrate overlooked traditions in American folk culture while delivering performances that feel wildly alive, eccentric and deeply human.

As one reviewer famously put it:
“If you don’t have a good time when The Hot Seats play, check your pulse. You might be dead.”

Expect a night of explosive musicianship, irreverent humour and roots music delivered with total commitment.