Workers in Songs

Years Active: 2008–2019 (as Workers In Songs) | 2025– (as Cheap Motels)

Origin: Copenhagen, Denmark

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Overview

Workers In Songs was a Copenhagen-based Americana band that formed in the late 2000s, emerging from a group of university friends with a passion for folk, skiffle, and outlaw country. The band’s name, lifted from Leonard Cohen’s “Chelsea Hotel #2,” reflected their grounded, craft‑driven approach to songwriting—equal parts poetic and pragmatic.

Known for their raw, unvarnished sound and high-energy live shows, Workers In Songs carved out a reputation as one of Denmark’s most authentic Americana acts, drawing comparisons to early Johnny Cash and Bob Wayne.

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Original Line‑up

[*]Michael Møller – vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica

[*]Morten Krogh – vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica, ukulele

[*]Ulrik Tarp Merrildgaard – electric guitar, banjo, lap steel, vocals

[*]Morten Dehn – bass

[*]Jonas Skovlykke Jensen – drums

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Discography

[*]For Grandpa (2013) – Debut album, recorded in just four days. A heartfelt tribute to family and tradition.

[*]That Glorious Masterpiece (2014) – Received praise from GAFFA as “genuine Americana.”

[*]Scrapbook [EP] (2015) – A four-song meditation on longing, loss, and emotional nuance.

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Hiatus & Rebirth

The band quietly disbanded in 2019 after over a decade of touring and recording.

In 2025, they reemerged with fresh energy and a new name: Cheap Motels. The new line-up features two new members:

[*]Troels Hjorth (formerly of Solbrud) – drums

[*]Rasmus Christian (from Alabama Black Snakes and Morgan Helltown & the Lost Cause) – bass

Cheap Motels continues the Workers In Songs legacy—retaining the same dusty, soulful Americana sound while pushing into new sonic territory with a harder edge and renewed momentum.

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