Bambara formed in Athens, GA with twin brothers Reid and Blaze Bateh and their childhood friend William Brookshire, honing what was originally a sinister, unforgiving brand of noise punk in the town’s deep and diverse music scene. In 2011, the band stepped out of the shadows of Georgia’s Southern Gothic landscape and wandered into the littered streets of New York City. There, in Brooklyn’s turbulent DIY scene, Bambara continued to evolve their midnight-black noise as they recorded and produced their debut LP Dreamviolence and sophomore LP Swarm.
In 2018 Bambara released their third LP, Shadow on Everything, their first on Wharf Cat Records. The album signaled a huge stride forward for the band both lyrically and sonically, introducing a conceptual framework, where each song acted like a chapter in one continuous story. The album was rapturously received by the press. NPR called it a “mesmerising, western gothic opus,” Bandcamp called the “horror-house rampage,” “one of the year’s most gripping listens.” Popular British 6Music DJ Steve Lamacq, dubbed them the best band of 2019’s SXSW and immediately worked songs from the album into his shows. Following tours supporting IDLES, Daughters and Girl Band, Bambara began recording their 4th LP Stray. This record represents both their most experimental and accessible work to date, advancing their fashion of storytelling amidst a vast and pulverizing landscape. Stray is due out February 14th on Wharf Cat Records.
