The Lowest Pair

A blend of old-timey string music and indie folk, the Lowest Pair are a duo from Olympia, Washington featuring singers/banjoists Kendl Winter and Palmer T. Lee. A native of Arkansas, Winter migrated to the Pacific Northwest in the late 2000s where she signed with esteemed, Olympia-based indie K Records, releasing a string of rustic, indie folk albums beginning with 2010's Apple Core. Meanwhile, Minneapolis native Lee spent several years honing his songcraft and banjo picking as the frontman of Twin Cities bluegrass outfit the Boys 'n the Barrels. The two met at a bluegrass festival in Winona, Minnesota in 2009 where they were both performing. The two remained friendly, but it wasn't until January 2013 that Lee pitched the idea of making a record together. Intrigued by the possibilities of a double-banjo duo, Lee headed to Olympia where the two began writing and performing together. Working with producer Dave Simonett of the progressive bluegrass band Trampled by Turtles, they recorded their debut album, 36¢, which was released on New York indie Team Love Records. Their follow-up, The Sacred Heart Sessions, arrived a year later.