The Staves

Career

The Staves began performing together at open-mic nights in Watford hosted by a local pub, The Horns. Originally performing as The Staveley-Taylors, the trio later changed their name to The Staves.

The group appeared on the Tom Jones album Praise and Blame, released in July 2010. They supported Mt. Desolation on their UK tour in autumn 2010. Jessica Staveley-Taylor also performed as part of Mt. Desolation and provided vocals for their eponymous album. The Staves released the Live at Cecil Sharp House EP and the Mexico EP in 2011, and appeared on Fionn Regan's third studio album, 100 Acres of Sycamore.

The Staves attracted attention in the United States while supporting The Civil Wars in January 2012. They followed these appearances with performances at South by Southwest and a tour in March in April with Bear's Den, Nathaniel Rateliff and Ben Howard. This tour was the subject of the film, "Austin to Boston", a documentary by Marcus Haney. The band supported Bon Iver on their May and June 2012 US and Canadian tour.

The band's debut album, Dead & Born & Grown, was released in November 2012 and produced by Glyn Johns and Ethan Johns.

An excerpt from their performance of "Facing West" on Later... with Jools Holland was featured on the This is BBC Two promotional programme.

The second full-length album, If I Was, was released 23 March 2015 on Atlantic Records in the UK/EU and on 31 March on Nonesuch Records in the US; the record was produced by Justin Vernon of Bon Iver. The album debuted at #14 on the Official UK Album Chart. In July 2015 The Staves performed with Bon Iver as guests artists along with Colin Stetson, yMusic, and No BS! Brass for Bon Iver's much anticipated return to the stage as part of the Eaux Claires Festival in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. They have also performed as the warm-up act for Florence and the Machine on Florence's How Big Tour supporting How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful.

At Glastonbury 2015, the Staves performed a set on The Park Stage on Sunday afternoon.

The Staves joined the live line-up of Bon Iver for the latter's Asia tour in late February and early March 2016.

Personal Life

The Staves learned to play guitar from their father while growing up in Watford. As children, the girls aspired to create a sketch comedy television programme together. They enjoy Guinness and are vocal in challenging tropes about sensitive wilderness-bound artists that dominate modern folk music culture.

In addition to touring with Bon Iver and producing If I Was with Justin Vernon, the sisters have become close personal friends with the Wisconsin-born musician.

Albums

Extended plays