Alvvays

Alvvays, a Canadian indie pop band, was formed in 2011, initially in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, before relocating to Toronto, Ontario. The group consists of Molly Rankin on vocals and guitar, Kerri MacLellan on keyboards, Alec O’Hanley on guitars, and Sheridan Riley on drums. Molly Rankin, daughter of John Morris Rankin from the Celtic folk group The Rankin Family, collaborated with childhood friend Kerri MacLellan on music. Rankin later met Alec O’Hanley at a concert. In 2010, Rankin released a solo extended play titled “She,” which pre-dated the formation of Alvvays the following year. The band quickly garnered attention for their reverb-drenched and bittersweet sound, establishing their presence in the indie music scene.

Their self-titled debut album, “Alvvays,” was recorded in Calgary with Chad VanGaalen in March 2013 and released in July 2014. The album quickly topped the US college charts on August 5, 2014, and received positive reviews, with Rolling Stone calling it an “indie-pop wonder.” The single “Archie, Marry Me” became a minor hit, with its B-side “Underneath Us” recorded after the main album. The band toured extensively, supporting acts like Peter Bjorn and John and the Decemberists, and performing at major festivals such as Glastonbury in 2015 and Coachella in 2016. The debut album was shortlisted for the 2015 Polaris Music Prize, and at the Juno Awards of 2015, Alvvays was nominated for Breakthrough Group of the Year and Alternative Album of the Year.

Alvvays continued their career progression with their second studio album, “Antisocialites,” released on September 8, 2017. This album won the Juno Award for Alternative Album of the Year in 2018 and was also shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize in the same year. Their third studio album, “Blue Rev,” released on October 7, 2022, also secured the Juno Award for Alternative Album of the Year in 2023. The song “Belinda Says” from “Blue Rev” received a nomination for Best Alternative Music Performance at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in 2024. These achievements highlight Alvvays’ consistent musical output and critical recognition throughout their career.