ABOUT FRANCES LUKE ACCORD
When Nicholas Gunty and Brian Powers put their songs and voices together, there is a delicate magic that commands the room to attention. The duo is known as Frances Luke Accord, and they are what NPR’s Mountain Stage calls “the definition of lean-in music.” Their soft, contemplative vintage of indie-folk gestures toward a timelessness that honors the Simon & Garfunkel comparisons but pushes beyond into the world of Bon Iver, Jose Gonzalez, and progressive folk music.
Both raised in South Bend, IN, Gunty and Powers met and began performing together during their time at the University of Notre Dame. Their first release, Kandote, was an intercultural collaboration with the Barefoot Truth Children’s Choir in Kkindu, Uganda, a not-for-profit effort which continues to support the choir to this day. Relocating to Chicago in 2013, the duo honed their songwriting craft while releasing two more self-produced EPs, laying the groundwork for their breakthrough debut full-length, Fluke, in 2016. This immersive, philosophically rich album set them off on multiple national tours, which included support dates with Darlingside, Anaïs Mitchell, and The Ballroom Thieves.
A remote band since 2017, the duo’s DIY ethos has remained strong since Fluke. Still self-managed and self-produced, the duo has released two more EP’s: Silver & Gold (2019) and Sunnyside (2021)—the latter under their new label, Two-Dale Records—and two LP’s, Safe In Sound (2022; Tone Tree Music / Two-Dale Records), and Cicadian Rhythm (2024; Two-Dale Records).
With their most recent sleep / mediation / celebration of life album, Cicadian Rhythm, (available everywhere July 19 except Spotify and Apple stores) the duo has sparked the conversation: 1) Is this the most cicada-filled album ever recorded? 2) Despite its simplicity, is this art that’s worth monetization, even though Spotify and Apple (who have decided not to host it) have decided otherwise?
"...ARE THE DEFINITION OF LEAN-IN MUSIC."
- JONI DEUTSCH, NPR'S MOUNTAIN STAGE
"ONE OF THE MIDWEST’S PREMIER FOLK OUTFITS."
- ATWOOD MAGAZINE
"...AN ECHO OF SIMON & GARFUNKEL, THE QUIRKY WEIRDNESS OF SUFJAN STEVENS, AND THE MELODIC PROGRESSION OF JOSH RITTER...FLA HAVE TAKEN ALL OF THIS AND TURNED IT INTO SOMETHING ENTIRELY UNIQUE."
- PURE M MAGAZINE
PRAISE FOR SAFE IN SOUND
“...a captivating, immersive folk experience" - Atwood Magazine
"Delivered over an ethereal combination of strings and percussion...culminates with the bold realization of how precious life is and how it shouldn’t be taken for granted." - Blue Ridge Outdoors
"Beautiful" - RIFF Magazine
"...a dreamlike piece of folk music that brings me joy with every listen. It’s a real treat." - Ear To The Ground
"...a bright ray of folk sunshine" - East of 8th
"...the voices of Gunty and Powers together effortlessly pulls listeners in with an urge to hear the story being told." - Music Mecca
"...beautiful folk classicalism" - American Pancake
"Captivating" - Indie Tapes
"...a mesmerizing sense of complexity here that pushes beyond simple vintage-folk comparisons into a modern world informed by Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens, and many others. The music of Frances Luke Accord offers a bridge between a classic era of folk-inspired pop and the current day." - CHILLFILTR
"With melodic cues known to Simon and Garfunkel and an indie sensibility known to Sufjan Stevens…an intoxicating offering in the world of indie folk. Poetically vibrant and slightly abstract, the duo is dreamy." - The Wild Is Calling
PRAISE FOR FRANCES LUKE ACCORD LIVE
“If you've already listened to any of the duo's recordings and think they sound incredible, you should treat yourself to a live Frances Luke Accord performance if you can (I have) to witness and hear their vocals blend in person. It's mesmerizing and magical.” – Sound Thread Music Blog
“I’ve seen Frances Luke Accord a few times in one of the best listening rooms in the country and I’ve also had them perform a few feet away from me for an interview and performance. In eithersetting I have felt privileged to be in the room with these two men who sing together like theyare brothers who’ve known each other their whole lives. It’s beautiful stuff and good for the soul.” – John Bommarito, host of Acoustic Alternatives
“Over the last few years Frances Luke Accord has performed 3 stellar shows at our venue, each one better than the one before. We, and our audience, will be enthused to see them again in the near future. Their songwriting is solid and heartfelt, their musicianship is excellent, and their harmonies are exquisite. The icing on the cake is that they are intelligent, super people and easy to work with. Highly recommended!” – Terry Speer - Music at Riverdog
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