Skinny Lister

Spirited English outfit Skinny Lister occupy the middle ground between the punkish folk-rock of the Pogues and the evocative, hoedown-laden rural pop of Mumford & Sons. Built around co-lead vocalists Dan Heptinstall and Lorna Thomas, the group formed in London's Greenwich area in early 2010. By the summer of 2011, the band's rowdy singalongs had become a fixture on the festival circuit, and it was time to release a proper album. Produced by David Wrench (Bat for Lashes, James Yorkston) and named after a favorite pub, the resulting Forge & Flagon was issued in 2013. Down on Deptford Broadway followed in 2015 and saw the band adopt a more punk-oriented sound. It was a well-received effort, drawing praise from outlets such as NME and The Guardian. Their third album, 2016's The Devil, The Heart & the Fight, featured the single "Wanted" and was produced by Tristan Ivemy (Frank Turner, Towers of London). In 2017, they paired with the tour partners and fellow Xtra Mile labelmates Beans on Toast for the holiday-themed single "This Christmas." All the while they had been recording a follow-up in the form of 2019's Story Is… which brought together a series of personal stories centering on the life events surrounding the band during the recording process. ~ James Christopher Monger