The Last Bison

The Virginia collective the Last Bison draws from the sweeping indie folk conjured by Fleet Foxes, Mumford and Sons, Lost in the Trees, and the Decemberists. Based in Chesapeake, the ensemble merges earthy, atmospheric Americana with chamber pop that carries classical inflections. It coalesced in 2010 around siblings Benjamin and Annah Hardesty, their associate pastor father Dan Hardesty, brothers Andrew and Jay Benfante, Amos Housworth, and Teresa Totheroh. Initially assembled under the name Bison, the group altered its title to sidestep overlap with another act. The debut album Quill, containing the single "Switzerland," surfaced in 2011 and secured a contract with Universal Republic. The EP Inheritance followed in 2012, with the band's first major-label effort appearing the next year.