Busman's Holiday

The brothers Addison and Lewis Rogers comprise the sibling duo Busman's Holiday, whose vocal and compositional approach brings an ardent yet appealing flavor to indie folk. Both raised in Bloomington, Indiana, where they continue to reside, Addison took up drums while Lewis focused on guitar. Before establishing their own project, the pair contributed to multiple local groups rooted in the state, including Sleeping Bag and Vollmar. Once Busman's Holiday came together, they issued their debut EP, Old Friends, on their own in 2008, its sound supported by prominent strings.

Following their signing to Joyful Noise Recordings, the first full-length arrived after tracking in Farnham, Quebec, where Mark Lawson—known for work with Arcade Fire and Beirut—captured the sessions inside a church-turned-studio that Arcade Fire owned at the time; Drew Vandenberg, whose credits include Of Montreal and Kishi Bashi, handled the mix. The 2014 release A Long Goodbye showcased their energetic, DIY-rooted method of spinning tales that shift between witty and affectionate tones. Although the group frequently appeared onstage armed solely with their characteristically warm vocals, one guitar, and a suitcase drum kit, the album layered in sporadic orchestral touches alongside additional acoustic instrumentation to enrich their melodic material.

Returning to Lawson for further collaboration, this time with access to a 21-piece orchestra, yielded the 2016 full-length Popular Cycles.