The Strumbellas

A Juno Award-winning group from Toronto who generate a spirited blend of folk, pop, alt-country, and indie rock, the Strumbellas found widespread success with albums like 2012′s My Father and the Hunter and its Juno-winning follow-up, We Still Move on Dance Floors, which arrived the following year. They later landed a number one hit on Billboard’s Alternative Songs chart with their 2016 single “Spirits.”
The Strumbellas were founded in 2008 by head songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist Simon Ward, keyboardist/vocalist David Ritter, lead guitarist Jon Hembrey, violinist Isabel Ritchie, bass player Darryl James, and drummer Jeremy Drury. Invoking names like the Lumineers and Mumford & Sons, the group issued their eponymous debut EP in 2009, followed by a series of high-profile shows and festival gigs. Their first full-length outing, 2013′s My Father and the Hunter, landed them a Juno nomination in the Roots & Traditional Album of the Year category, and their Six Shooter Records-issued sophomore long-player, We Still Move on Dance Floors, earned them a second nomination in the category as well as their first win. Led by the Billboard Alternative Songs chart-topper “Spirits,” their third LP, Hope, arrived in April 2016 via Glassnote. In terms of national recognition, 2017 proved to be a watershed year for the band; they notched three wins at the Canadian Radio Music Awards, two at the Canadian Independent Music Awards, and another Juno. They spent much of that year on tour in Europe, Australia, and in the U.S., where they made an appearance at the Bonnaroo Festival. After heading back to the studio, this time with producer Tim Pagnotta (Walk the Moon, Neon Trees) and co-producer Brian Phillips, the group returned with the upbeat Rattlesnake in March 2019, also on Glassnote. ~ James Christopher Monger