This Commonwealth band started as a labor of love amongst four college friends in Charlottesville. Erin Lunsford came to UVa to study pre-med, but a family background in music kept her interested in performing. She met Nick Quillen in a UVa support group for emerging musicians. Adding two more friends, Erin & the Wildfire began playing around town while they were all still students.
Faced with a decision on how to proceed when graduation approached, three of the four agreed to continue the group and when they looked for a replacement for their fourth member, it became clear that the music scene in Richmond was a better fit for the group – so they moved on.
Expandedto five members in 2019 with the addition of keyboardists Stephen Roach, Erin & the Wildfire have adopted a different sound on their newest record Touchy Feely. Nearly a year and a half of virtual collaboration during the pandemic led to the new Matthew E. White produced album which draws heavily on 80s synth vibes.
Despite the growing popularity of Erin & the Wildfire, Erin Lunsford retains a solo presence. Growing up in a bluegrass family, Erin likes to keep a hand in Americana music, doing that through her solo shows, sometimes accompanying herself on banjo.
