Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 4, 2026

Saxsquatch

Dean Mitchell, better known by his stage name Saxsquatch, is an American musician known for playing original and cover versions of songs on the saxophone while wearing a Bigfoot costume. Mitchell is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, and electronic music artist from North Carolina. He has appeared in a number of viral videos and amassed a large social media following.

Last revised
Jul 4, 2026
Read time
≈ 3 min
Length
732 w
Citations
19
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Saxsquatch
Born
Dean Mitchell

OriginChapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S.1
OccupationMusician
Instrumentssaxophone, keyboard, double bass, programming, sampling, drum machine
Years active2019–present
LabelMonstercat2
Websitesaxsquatch.com

Dean Mitchell, better known by his stage name Saxsquatch,3 is an American musician known for playing original and cover versions of songs on the saxophone while wearing a Bigfoot costume.4 Mitchell is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, and electronic music artist from North Carolina. He has appeared in a number of viral videos and amassed a large social media following.5

Career

Mitchell began uploading his Saxsquatch performances to YouTube in 2019 and his cover of Daft Punk's One More Time went viral.6 His cover of You Don't Know Me was featured on Tosh.0.7 By September 2020, his videos averaged 3–5 million views per day on social media and he became one the top solo artists on the Pollstar livestream charts.8 His music has been described as "a full-on mash-up of live instrumental saxophone, upright bass, and funky electronic beats."9

Mitchell played saxophone with The Marcus King Band until 2020.10

In October 2020, Saxsquatch commenced the Saxual Healing Tour 2020, which featured outdoor concerts at multiple venues.11 By early 2021, his "Live From The Woods" performances became Facebook's top recurring music stream.12 In 2021, Saxsquatch and John Oates collaborated to create an electronic dance music cover of the Hall & Oates' 1982 song Maneater.13 The duo live streamed the song together on March 20, 2021.14 Saxsquatch and Half an Orange collaborated and released the single Moondance, which was featured in the videogame Rocket League in 2021.15 On January 31, 2022, Saxsquatch appeared on episode six of That's My Jam hosted by comedian Jimmy Fallon.16

In 2024, on the "Bigfoot Rave" tour added a laser show to an already dynamic set. In 2025, the "Footprints" tour sold out 27 shows across the United States, ending at a sold-out show in Denver at Cervantes Ballroom.17

Philanthropy

In 2024, Mitchell worked with the town of Chapel Hill to create "Cryptids with a Cause", a free concert combined with a food drive benefiting PORCH, an organization that distributes food to local schools and over 700 families monthly.18

This event encouraged attendees to dress as "something they believe in", and costumes included cryptids, aliens, and merfolk.19

References

References

  1. Baltin, Steve (19 March 2021). "Q&A: John Oates And Saxsquatch On Their New Version Of 'Maneater,' Great Sax, Musical Sasquatches And More". Forbes. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  2. Lugen, Mikala (22 March 2021). "Legendary Musician John Oates Joins Forces With Saxsquatch for Dance Remix of 1982 Classic "Maneater"". Edm.com - the Latest Electronic Dance Music News, Reviews & Artists. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  3. "Saxsquatch". uspto.report. 19 August 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  4. Lynch, Bill (28 October 2020). "After long break, music slowly returning to the Mountain State". herald-dispatch.com. The Herald-Dispatch. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  5. Essex, Lucas (22 March 2021). "John Oates And Saxsquatch Team Up To Reimagine "Maneater"". nysmusic.com. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  6. Madden, Ben (28 May 2020). "This Cover Of Daft Punk's 'One More Time' By Bigfoot Is Amazing". coolaccidents.com. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  7. "Saxsquatch Covers Ray Charles' 1962 Song "You Don't KNw Me" on Saxophone". countryrebel.com. 25 October 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  8. "Saxsquatch Announces Multi-City Outdoor Saxual Healing Tour 2020". broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  9. Woolley, Sarah (2021-07-29). "Five Artists to Catch at Summer Camp Music Festival 2021". EDM Identity. Archived from the original on 2021-10-23. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
  10. "Saxophonist Dean Mitchell Announces Departure From The Marcus King Band". liveforlivemusic.com. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  11. Thomson, Rex (5 November 2020). "In Search Of Saxsquatch [Interview]". liveforlivemusic.com. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  12. Brow, Jason (19 March 2021). "John Oates Gets Mythical WithSaxsquatch For A Smooth Electro-JamVersion Of 'Maneater'". hollywoodlife.com. Hollywood Life. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  13. Oates, John (2 April 2021). "In Conversation: John Oates and, um, Saxsquatch". talkhouse.com. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  14. Kreps, Daniel (19 March 2021). "See John Oates Team Up With Saxsquatch for EDM Spin on Hall and Oates' 'Maneater'". rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  15. Sherwood, Joseph (17 April 2022). "Interview With a Saxsquatch: Gettin' Funky in the Forest". alittlebithuman.com. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  16. "Saxsquatch on Jimmy Fallon "That's My Jam"". YouTube.com. 4 February 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  17. "About". Saxsquatch. Retrieved 2025-05-02.
  18. "Saxsquatch Flash Mob combines the power of community with performance". Saxsquatch Flash Mob combines the power of community with performance -. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
  19. Klee, Miles (2025-02-15). "Saxsquatch, the Bigfoot Who Blasts on Saxophone, Will Save Your Sanity". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2025-05-05.