A Murder in Mississippi is a six-piece band from Ghent, Belgium. They play Roots: a blend of Americana, Country, Folk, Blues and Irish Traditional. The band members share their passion for music and merge their diverse influences into a wide array of sounds, creating a distinct style and contemporary twist in their repertoire. The soft harmonies and catchy melodies will take you along to the wide North American plains! The Mississippi River is often regarded as the backbone of the United States. The river slithers through ten states, each with their own unique cultural setting. While the many Slavic and Irish immigrants settled the northern Frontier states, introducing their Polka and Folk, down south, cities like Memphis and New Orleans became important breeding grounds for genres such as Blues, Country, Jazz and Rock & roll. The Mississippi River is a natural connection of these roots and Americana-genres, genres that A Murder in Mississippi converge in their sound. But the Mississippi River also has a dark and vicious side: the Southern states have a high unsolved murder rate. The many alligators roaming the Bayou and the Mississippi Delta are very eager to help evidence “disappear”. The alligator is a recurring symbol, almost a mascot, for A Murder in Mississippi.

With HURRICANA (2021), A Murder in Mississippi breathes a fresh new wind into their repertoire.

Belgium, February, 2020. With what would follow later that year, one would call it the calm before the storm. Yet at the time, the unusually heavy storms Ciara and Dennis already raged through Europe, rattling the doors of the Barefoot Recording Studio. While producer Arjan Bogaert roams his windy attic in search of old objects to produce that right dirty percussive noise, downstairs, A Murder in Mississippi fine-tunes its dialogue between the banjo and violin lines.

HURRICANA contemplates the turbulent events the band has faced the past few years and its songs tell stories of personal loss, addiction, anxiety and misfortune. But they also hint how to overcome these challenges through hope and connection. Covid-19 interfered and delayed the recording of the album, while at the same time it gave it more depth. It offered a chance to let ideas ripe enough to step away from clichés more organically and to finalize the songs with the positivity the springtime and summer brings. The result is a versatile blend of Americana, Bluegrass, Folk and Blues with smashing instant feel-good songs, ballads to warm the heart and Dark Country lamentations that send cold shivers along your spine.

There is a storm coming, and it is here to stay.

The band released its self-titled debut album A MURDER IN MISSISSIPPI in 2018.
A MURDER IN MISSISSIPPI (2018) displays the energy and infectious enthusiasm that makes the band enjoyable to listen to. It is a confluence of the different music backgrounds of its members. The playful Roots/Americana blend invites you on a sing-along journey through echoes of the past and a wide array of moods.

BAND

Leander Vandereecken - Guitar, Lead vocals
Mirthe Vandereecken - Percussion, Vocals
Lore Heyerick - Banjo, Vocals
Dieter Vanhede - Keys
Alexandra Van Wesemael - Violin
Stijn Bontinck - Double bass

CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS

ROOTS & ROSES FESTIVAL (BE)
SINT JACOBS GENTSE FEESTEN (BE)
DEN ATELIER (LUX)
SIMMERDEIS FESTIVAL (NL)
ALTE SCHLOSSEREI WUPPERTAL (DE)
ROOTS IN THE WOODS (NL)
MUDDY ROOTS EUROPE (BE)
DRANOUTER FESTIVAL (BE)
RIJVERS FESTIVAL (BE)
CAMPING LOUISA (BE)
HAMAWE ROOTS FESTIVAL (BE)
FESTIVAL TUSSENLAND (NL)
KINO CORSO SANKT VITH (BE)
HUMO’S ROCK RALLY (BE)