Nashville, TN
Roots and Relationships

Forlorn Strangers boast a strong affinity for tradition and tenacity. The group—which consists of Benjamin Lusk (vocals/banjo/guitar), Chris Banke (vocals/ guitar/ mandolin), Hannah Leigh Lusk (vocals/mandolin/percussion), Abigail Dempsey (vocals/fiddle/percussion) and Jesse Thompson (vocals/bass/dobro/guitar)—has racked up 20,000 miles crisscrossing the country, sharing a reverence for their roots and homespun harmonies. Likewise, their self-titled full-length debut reflects individual influences that run the gamut from The Band and The Beatles to Crosby, Stills & Nash, and The Mamas & The Papas. A rustic regimen, highlighted by the interplay of vocals, guitars, banjo and mandolin tempers that template as well. “We each grew up in music-loving, church-going families, which lends itself to a great appreciation of traditional music and group singing,” Hannah Lusk suggests. “Our roots run deep in tradition. Having that well helps us experience a diverse range of genres.” The personal interplay also brings comparisons to Fleetwood Mac, given that the Lusks are married and Hannah and Abigail are sisters. “Our dynamic has stayed really healthy,” Hannah insists. “The six of us traveled in a 1998 Dodge Maxiwagon without AC for 18 months straight, slept on floors and smelled really bad. And yet we still like each other!”