I discovered The Strumbellas approximately 2 years ago when I had to write a feature article as an assignment. To my convenience, the band was playing a free show at Yonge-Dundas Square located in downtown Toronto. I wasn’t expecting much except to finally complete my assignment. I didn’t realize that I’d leave completely impressed.

They played during the afternoon to a very small crowd, which largely consisted of the band’s already dedicated fans (as I discovered from briefly talking to them after the band played). Others were simply passing by and decided to lend an ear for a little while. I arrived when they were close to finishing their set but the last few performances were enough to have me finding as much about/from them as much as I can afterwards.

As the band says about themselves, The Strumbellas were “born in Toronto but conceived in Lindsay, Ontario.” The band is big city and small town combined in sound and in mindset. There’s something really Canadian about how The Strumbellas sound: there’s a dash of folk, a hint of country, and a rush of bluegrass driven indie rock that is enough to get the audience up and sweating it out. It’s not just the energy behind the band’s music, however. Simon Ward, the man in charge of vocals and the mastermind behind the band’s music, worms your way into your ears with verses that are so catchy they’re diseases along with his “monumental choruses.”

The band has truly come along way since I initially heard about them. They received amazing reviews for their debut at Canadian Music Week, CBC having labelled them as a “band to watch.” Their EP even made it onto NOW Magazine with great reviews. Since then, activity from the band has certainly increased as their fan base continues to grow. During this past year alone, they finally released their highly anticipated debut album, My Father and The Hunter (February 2012) and have been playing at many venues all across the nation.

Right below, I’ve provided you with their latest music video for their song “The Sheriff” off of their debut album. Also, make sure to check out their official website (http://www.thestrumbellas.ca) where you can find out more about the band, find out where you can purchase their album, and their upcoming tour dates. (They’ll be performing at The Horseshoe Tavern on September 7th. Feel free to join me when I go see them!)