Villagers

Irish indie folk band

Villagers is an Irish indie folk band created by singer-songwriter and musician Conor O'Brien. The project emerged in 2008 after O'Brien's previous band, The Immediate, disbanded. Villagers gained critical acclaim with their debut album "Becoming a Jackal," released in 2010, which was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize and earned O'Brien an Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically. Following the success of their debut, Villagers continued to build their reputation with subsequent albums, including "Darling Arithmetic" (2015), which further showcased O'Brien's introspective songwriting and won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Album. The band's sound has evolved over time, incorporating elements of electronica and art rock into their folk roots, as evidenced in later works such as "The Art Of Pretending To Swim" (2018). Villagers' music is characterized by poetic lyrics, emotive melodies, and O'Brien's distinctive voice. They have maintained a consistent presence in the indie music scene through touring and festival appearances while receiving praise from both critics and fans for their studio recordings.