Combining elements from indie rock with alt-country and gothic folk, Canadian rock band The Strumbellas picked up where groups like Mumford & Sons and The Lumineers left off. Founded in 2008 in Ontario, the band’s lineup consists of vocalist/guitarist Simon Ward, guitarist/keyboardist David Ritter, lead guitarist Jon Hembrey, violinist Isabel Ritchie, bassist Darryl James, and drummer Jeremy Drury. The Strumbellas made their official debut in 2009 with a self-titled EP that received rave reviews and earned them a residency gig at Toronto’s Cameron House. After making the rounds at Canada’s festival circuit, they returned in 2012 with their independently-released full-length debut My Father and the Hunter. Recorded at Metalworks Studio in Mississauga, Ontario, the LP was nominated for the Juno Awards in the category Roots & Traditional Album of the Year and brought them a great deal of attention. They would go on to win the category with their second album, We Still Move on Dance Floors, released in 2013 via Six Shooter Records. Preceded by the chart-topping, award-winning single “Spirits,” Hope came out in 2016 and reached number 3 in Canada, spawning a subsequent tour throughout Australia, Europe, and North America, including an appearance at the Bonnaroo Festival. Upon their return to Canada, The Strumbellas headed back to the studio with producer Tim Pagnotta to work on Rattlesnake (2019), whose lead single "Salvation" was presented on the American talk show Late Night with Seth Meyers. Later that year, "One Hand Up," a track from the same album, was used by the Liberal Party of Canada for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's campaign, including a French version. In 2022, Simon Ward decided to take a break from his schedule with the band to focus on his family and was replaced by Jimmy Chaveau. The following year, The Strumbellas unveiled "Hold Me" and "Running Out of Time," the first two singles off of their fifth LP Part Time Believer, released in 2024 via Underneath a Mountain.
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