The Montvales / Swarming Branch

THE MONTVALES

Born and raised in Knoxville, TN, Sally Buice and Molly Rochelson of The Montvales spent much of their formative years busking amidst the Elvis impersonators and musical saw players of the town’s Market Square, honing their uniquely boisterous harmonies and perfecting the art of people-watching. Some fifteen years later, the two are still at it-maintaining their study of the robust chaos of the commons as they tour the country playing their descriptive, textured songs on the self-described “feral outskirts of country music.”  Their lyrics tackle everything from heartbreak to gentrification to abortion rights, pulling audiences in alongside their well-worn harmonies and nearly telepathic musical connection.  

In 2020, the Montvales recorded their first album Heartbreak Summer Camp in a living room. The stripped-down, DIY folksongs span their young adulthood, beginning in their teens and taking them through their mid 20s. Then, seeking a more polished, full-band sound, the duo…