Live Review: Dead Pony – Corporation, Sheffield
31st May 2026Support: Overgrown, Air Drawn Dagger
Words & Photos: Martin Hingley
With their fresh new EP out last week and a Slam Dunk Festival appearance already under their belts, Dead Pony hit Sheffield’s Corporation on their Eat My Dust UK tour.
Opening tonight are Sheffield’s own Air Drawn Dagger, inviting everyone in attendance to join the ‘Church Of Dagger.’ With the stage in darkness, intro track Hymn Of The Hag creates an eerie atmosphere before the highly energetic trio burst into life. Vocalist Maisie Manterfield immediately brings the room to life with her blend of clean vocals and growling screams.
Having built a strong reputation locally, they’re already playing to a healthy crowd and make the most of it. Guitarist Lewis Budden delivers punchy riffs throughout the super-catchy Castle, helping get the venue moving early on. As the set progresses, Maisie raises the intensity further by jumping into the audience during Cadavers and even standing on the venue’s bar before making her way back to the stage.
It can’t be denied that Air Drawn Dagger are a must-see act on the local circuit. Their infectious choruses and relentless live presence make them feel destined for bigger things over the next few years.
Overgrown are up next, bringing some high-quality nu-metal sounds with them all the way from Berwick-upon-Tweed. Backed by flashing strobe lights, the band use complex but effective melodic riffs to create a nostalgic feel, with guitarist Marc Mitchell particularly impressive throughout. These melodies are balanced with heavier old-school 2000s breakdowns and choruses that help carve out the band’s own identity and a very unique sound.
Complementing the guitars are Callum Der Morsche’s vocals, which intertwine perfectly with the band’s musical approach. Overgrown make the most of their set time, tearing through songs such as Pieces and Mistake before introducing their latest release, Stinking, which is being played live for only the second time tonight. Closing with Breathe, currently their most-streamed track on Spotify, Overgrown prove that the UK’s nu-metal scene, or ‘nu-grunge’ as the band refer to it, is still alive and well.
With their intro track blaring through the PA, Dead Pony arrive to huge cheers from a sold-out Corporation crowd. As the band take the stage, guitarist Blair Crichton throws both hands into the air to ramp up an already excited set of fans. Wasting no time, Dead Pony launch straight into new music, with the tour and EP title track Eat My Dust immediately setting the tone for the evening.
Vocalist Anna Shields moves across the stage with the confidence of a seasoned frontwoman, drawing even more enthusiasm from those packed into the room. Her versatility is one of the key ingredients behind Dead Pony’s reputation as a formidable live act. This is clearly demonstrated when the band cover You Oughta Know by Alanis Morissette, where Shields makes the song her own, showing off her incredible vocals while remaining true to the spirit of the original.There are plenty of moments of interaction throughout the set, from fist bumps with fans to jokes about a keg they’ve ‘been carrying around on tour’ that’s apparently ‘waiting to explode’. Dead Pony clearly value their supporters and make sure everyone in the room feels part of the show.
As the band reaches its climax with Ignore This, it’s obvious that Dead Pony are the real deal, delivering a hard-hitting and hyper-energetic performance packed with huge hooks and memorable riffs. Giving the audience a choice of final song, the band ultimately decide to celebrate their new EP by reprising Eat My Dust, which receives an even bigger reaction than it did earlier in the evening.
Based on tonight’s performance, Dead Pony won’t be playing intimate rooms like this for much longer. With songs this strong and a live show to match, larger stages surely await.
Photo credits: Martin Hingley
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