Richmond Fontaine

Richmond Fontaine

Richmond Fontaine are a US alt-country band from Portland, active from 1994 to 2016. The group begins as a four-piece rock and alt-country act and records eleven studio albums, four live albums and two EPs during its run. Its line-up includes Willy Vlautin, Dave Harding, Trujillo and Paul Brainard.

Formation and style

The band forms in 1994 when guitarist and lead vocalist Willy Vlautin and bass player Dave Harding start playing together at the Portland Meadows horse race track. Richmond Fontaine are associated with country and alt-country, and their music sits within the broader rock alt-country movement. They cite influences including Gram Parsons, X, Green on Red and Dave Alvin.

Lyrical themes and setting

Vlautin writes the band’s lyrics and is known for detailed, evocative writing. Several Richmond Fontaine songs focus on horse racing and gambling, and his background in Reno, Nevada shapes much of the imagery. Portland, the western United States and, at times, Mexico also appear repeatedly in the songs.

Willy Vlautin

Outside the band, Vlautin is also a novelist. He writes the novels The Motel Life and Northline, and his fiction is often compared with the work of Raymond Carver and Charles Bukowski. His lyrical approach is also linked to the narrative style of Australian songwriter Paul Kelly.

Reception and touring

Richmond Fontaine are more successful in Europe than in the United States, helped by their touring pattern and strong support from the UK music press. They are commonly placed alongside acts such as Drive-By Truckers, Slobberbone, Grand Champeen and The Damnations within the alt-country scene.