About the band:
Insomniac Folklore is art rock for everyone. For over 2 decades they have been serving up their unique brand of theatrical post-punk in bars, taverns, coffeehouses, convention halls, rock clubs and festivals across the United States. (Heck, once they even played a Christian school.) Dancing fearlessly between the silly and the sacred, between ecstasy and existential dread, their performances invite deep energetic connections and spiritual exploration that are engaging for all, transformative for the brave.
Founded by frontman and songwriter Tyler Hentschel in 2002, Insomniac Folklore has been more than a passion, it has been a compulsion.
From his earliest days playing folk-punk at metal shows in the logging towns of southern Oregon, Hentschel cultivated a genre-defying charisma and magnetic stage presence. Dropping out of college to devote himself to his art, he became one of the earliest pioneers of the DIY movement (for better or worse!) In 2003 he set out on his first national tour.
In 2006 he moved to Portland, Oregon, and for the first time found consistent collaborators. As Hentschel collected band members, the act quickly became known for its clever and engaging performances, dancing effortlessly between fierce sincerity and raucous satire. Primary band members at this time included St. John Van Beek on accordion, Ayden Simonatti on drums, vocalists Zoe and Anavah Simonatti, and Danielle Killian-Maes on violin.
In 2010 Hentschel met his soon-to-be-wife Adrienne Curry and her sister Amanda. Joining in on vocals and bass guitar, respectively, the two would play key roles in shaping the creative path of the band in years to come. Insomniac Folklore won the hearts of many in cabaret-punk and steampunk circles while maintaining lyrical themes and content with broad appeal. This period of exploration and heavy touring saw the release of a number of projects, including the full-length albums Oh well, L.P., and A Place where Runaways are not Alone.
Later the band would go on to explore heavier sounds, incorporating elements of glam-rock and experimental metal. In 2015 the band relocated to Nashville Tennessee, where they recorded and released their 2017 record Everything Will Burn. This time in the South was blessed with eager and deligtful audiences at such charming venues as Cafe Coco and the late great Exit In. Nevertheless, Hentschel and co. couldn't shake the feeling that Music City simply couldn't compare to the actual Country West, and plotted a return to their Oregon roots.
Tyler and Adrienne returned to Oregon in 2018. In the time that followed, they played some shows as a duo, started a business, Amanda got married, the world closed down for two years, and a number of children were born. The band was reunited when Amanda and her family moved to Oregon in 2022. There they have been joined by Peter Corbin on keys and Sam Ellis on percussion.
In 2024, Insomniac Folklore released their E.P. Hands, Lips, & Eyes. Recorded live in studio in Roseburg, Oregon, this was a collection of older songs from a rock opera project that had largely fallen by the wayside, but the band still felt were worth sharing. Insomniac Folklore's dynamic, energetic process turned out to be uniquely well-suited to live recording, and the result was an album infused with a special kind of magic that took everyone by surprise. They hope to release this project on vinyl in the summer of 2025.
While they continue to write and develop new material for upcoming albums, Insomniac Folklore remains known for their provocative live performances, and devoted to learning how to tour with children.
