The Accidentals
Bright, virtuosic indie folk driven by interlocking strings and soaring harmonies. It is the sound of a long road trip through the Great Lakes with your best friends.
Bright, virtuosic indie folk driven by interlocking strings and soaring harmonies. It is the sound of a long road trip through the Great Lakes with your best friends.
The Accidentals are a Traverse City, Michigan-born ensemble that redefined the 'indie folk' label through a heavy emphasis on chamber music instrumentation. Formed in 2012 by Sav Madigan and Katie Larson, the group gained immediate attention for their multi-instrumental prowess, with both members playing over a dozen instruments.
Their sound identity is defined by the prominent use of cello and violin as lead melodic and rhythmic drivers, often bypassing traditional folk tropes for more complex, classically-influenced arrangements. After a brief stint with Sony Masterworks, the band returned to an independent model, emphasizing community-driven music and workshops. Their career arc shows a transition from high-school prodigies to seasoned Nashville-based professionals, collaborating with legends like Lloyd Maines and contemporary peers like The Oh Hellos. Critically, they are praised for their 'genre-bending' approach, successfully merging bluegrass, pop-rock, and orchestral elements into a cohesive, high-energy live experience that appeals to a multi-generational audience.
Shares bluegrass, chamber folk, open_field, violin (subgenre)
Shares open_field, violin, chamber folk, folk rock (atmosphere)
Shares cello, chamber folk, hand_played, indie folk (signature)
Shares cello, bluegrass, chamber folk, hand_played (signature)
Shares open_field, chamber folk, hand_played, indie folk (atmosphere)
Shares interlocking vocal counterpoint, cello, chamber folk, indie folk (detail)
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