Olenka & the Autumn Lovers

"If fresh, interesting folk music moved units like bad pop does, Olenka Krakus and her bandmates would be zillionaires." - Hour Magazine
"going by And Now We Sing, Olenka might just be responsible for the album of the year." - i(heart)music
Olenka and the Autumn Lovers formed in early 2008. The band, fronted by Polish singer/songwriter Olenka Krakus, has a sound that mingles a strong Eastern European influence with elements of North American country and folk music. The band's diverse instruments (cello, violin, accordion, trumpet, saxophone, lap steel, mandolin and glockenspiel) provide a unique musical backdrop to Olenka's sophisticated, often narrative, form of songwriting. Influenced by her memories of Communist Poland and by the country's folklore, Olenka investigates themes of social injustice and personal responsibility, populating her songs with melancholy outcasts from both Polish and Canadian landscapes.
In 2008, the band released three albums, including Warsaw Girl, a self-titled full-length, and Papillonette, all three of which showcased the lyrical and melodic diversity that the band was eagerly exploring. The eclectic, sophomore full-length, And Now We Sing, has just been released and is already garnering critical acclaim for its lyrical and melodic depth.
In addition to these releases, the has band toured widely and participated in numerous festivals, including Pop Montreal, Halifax Pop Explosion, NXNE, LOLA, the Home County Folk Festival, and Fred Eaglesmith's Charity Picnic. Upcoming festival appearances will include Stereophonic, In The Dead Of Winter, and CMW.
O&AL's music has been compared to that of Beirut, Wilco, Cat Power,The Decemberists, Gillian Welch, Tom Waits and Arcade Fire.