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 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 DIY scene, Bambaraquickly made a name for themselves with their visceral live shows.Afterreleasing theirdebut LP Dreamviolence(2013)and sophomore LP Swarm(2016), Bambaratoured relentlessly in America and Europe.
In 2018 Bambara signed to Wharf Cat Records and released their third LP, Shadow on Everything. 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 recordwas rapturously received by the press. NPR called it a “mesmerizing, 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.
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.