Mt. Joy

Mt. Joy

Mt. Joy is an American indie folk group from Philadelphia, active since 2016. The band forms in Los Angeles around singer and guitarist Matt Quinn and guitarist Sam Cooper, who first meet in high school in Philadelphia and reconnect in Los Angeles in 2016. The core line-up includes Quinn, Cooper, Michael Byrnes on bass, Sotiris Eliopoulos on drums and Jackie Miclau on keyboards. Their music sits across indie folk, indie rock, folk rock, americana, alternative rock and blues rock.

Formation and early releases

The group takes its name from a mountain in Valley Forge National Park near their hometown. Its breakthrough comes with the debut single “Astrovan,” released in 2016 and recorded in Los Angeles by Quinn, Cooper and Byrnes. The song gains rapid streaming attention and brings Eliopoulos and Miclau into the band. In 2017, Mt. Joy signs with Dualtone Records and follows with the singles “Sheep,” “Cardinal” and “Silver Lining.” “Silver Lining” reaches number one on the Billboard Triple A charts.

Albums and touring

During 2017, the band records additional material with producer Jon Gilbert at his home studio in Pasadena, California. It releases its self-titled debut album, Mt. Joy, in 2018. The group then tours extensively, appearing at Bonnaroo, Newport Folk Festival and Lollapalooza, and opening for The Head and the Heart, The Shins, Whitney and The Revivalists. It also heads out on North American and European tours.

Later work

Mt. Joy’s second studio album, Rearrange Us, appears in 2020 and is produced by Tucker Martine, whose credits include My Morning Jacket and Modest Mouse. The album includes songs that move between folk-stomps, psychedelic reflections and gospel elegies. The band’s third full-length album, Orange Blood, is recorded at Headroom Studios in Philadelphia and released in 2022. Singles issued ahead of the album include “Lemon Tree,” “Orange Blood,” “Evergreen” and “Bathroom Light.”