The Montvales are Sally Buice and Molly Rochelson, lifelong friends from Knoxville, Tennessee, whose close harmonies, banjo, guitar and thoughtful songwriting blend Appalachian folk with modern Americana. They began performing together as teenagers, busking in Knoxville’s Market Square before developing into a nationally touring roots act.
Their third album, Path of Totality, released by Free Dirt Records in March 2026, represents their most ambitious work yet. Inspired partly by touring during the 2024 solar eclipse, its songs explore working people, migration, faith, political tension, environmental uncertainty and resilience.
The Montvales stand out because they treat Americana as a living tradition rather than nostalgia. Their Appalachian harmonies and acoustic instrumentation remain central, but increasingly sophisticated arrangements give their music a contemporary edge while preserving the intimate chemistry that began when two friends started singing together in Tennessee.