Kurt Vile is a critically acclaimed indie-rock singer-songwriter based in Philadelphia. Drawing on influences ranging from Beck and Pavement to Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, and Creedence Clearwater Revival, Vile has created a dreamy, ethereal sound very much rooted in classic rock. Originally a member of the band The War on Drugs, which he founded with frequent collaborator Adam Granduciel, Vile has released seven solo albums. 2015’s B'lieve I’m Goin Down…, reached #40 on the Billboard 200—his highest placement yet.

In concert, Vile is often backed by The Violators, a trio composed of guitar, bass, and drums. In addition to being a singer, guitarist, and songwriter, Vile plays the trumpet and banjo—both of which he took up before receiving his first six-string. Sometimes perceived as slacker, on account of his long hair and laid-back sounds, Vile is actually a hard-working family man who spent years tinkering with home recordings while working dead-end blue-collar jobs. He’s also a perfectionist. He once told The Guardian, “I won’t put it out if there’s even one little bit of the song that’s not right.”

In 2017, he released Lotta Sea Lice, a collaboration with Courtney Barnett.