Shovels & Rope in Charlottesville

Shovels & Rope is an American duo from Charleston, South Carolina, formed by married musicians Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent. They play Americana, folk and alt-country, and are known for the 2012 album O’ Be Joyful and songs including “Birmingham” and “Gasoline.” Their later records include Swimmin’ Time and Little Seeds. The duo played Newport Folk Festival in 2013 while touring O’ Be Joyful, and that period on the road was captured in the documentary The Ballad of Shovels and Rope. In 2017, they helped launch High Water Festival in North Charleston and performed at its inaugural edition. Their core live setup has both members singing and switching between guitar, drums and other instruments, dividing the parts between Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent.