The Giving Tree Band

Although formed in Yorkville, IL — a small midwestern town located 40 miles west of Chicago — the Giving Tree Band takes its cues from bluegrass, folk, Americana, and other southern traditions. Brothers Todd and Eric Fink launched the group in 2004, having previously played together in several jam bands. Looking to create a “timeless” sound that evoked an earlier era, the brothers shied away from electric guitars and focused on acoustic instruments instead, creating a down-home sound that made room for guitar, banjo, upright bass, violin, mandolin, dobro, dulcimer, and ukulele. They also expanded the group’s lineup to a whopping eight members, most of whom moved into the Fink household to begin a series of recording projects. The 33-track Unified Folk Theory appeared in 2007, marking the band’s self-produced debut, with Great Possessions following two years later.