Erin & The Wildfire

Who Are They?

Erin & The Wildfire are a soul and indie-pop band from Charlottesville, Virginia, built around the expressive, powerhouse vocals of frontwoman Erin Lunsford. They started as four college kids making music for fun and grew into one of the most captivating live acts in Central Virginia.

The sound sits where soul meets modern indie-pop: warm, funky, and hook-forward, with a voice out front that can go from a whisper to a wail. Lunsford's writing is deeply personal, often circling themes of body acceptance and self-love, which gives the joyful music a real emotional core.

Over a decade in, they have made their debut on NPR's Mountain Stage and built a devoted following the honest way, one great live show at a time.

The Story

A decade-long friendship that turned into a band worth traveling for.

1. 2012

   Four friends in Charlottesville

   Erin Lunsford, originally from Fincastle, Virginia, forms the band with college friends, playing soul-tinged pop for the love of it.

2. 2017

   Thirst

   The full-length that puts the band on the map regionally, showcasing Lunsford's voice and the group's soul-pop songwriting.

3. 2021

   NPR's Mountain Stage

   The band debuts on the storied radio program, airing to hundreds of stations nationwide, a real coming-out moment.

4. 2022

   Touchy Feely

   A confident, groove-forward record, the sound of a band completely at home in its own skin.

5. 2025

   Sway

   The recent record, and proof the songwriting and the voice keep deepening.

Start Here

One music video and two live performances. It is all about the voice.

The Albums 4 to start with

A focused catalog: three full records and the early EP that started it. Here they are.

Playlists

One curated YouTube Music playlist of Erin & The Wildfire essentials, the soulful way in.

The Band

A true band of friends, built to frame one remarkable voice.

• Erin LunsfordVocalsThe frontwoman and songwriter; a powerhouse voice and the emotional center of the band
• Ryan LippsGuitarThe pop and funk sensibility in the band's sound
• Matt WoodBassThe low-end groove the soul is built on
• Nick QuillenDrumsThe pocket that keeps the whole thing dancing
• Stephen RoachKeysOn keyboards with the band since 2019, adding warmth and color

Influences

By the band's own account, they draw on a rich mix of classic and modern soul. Here are five of the names they cite.

Interviews

Two conversations with Erin Lunsford on the band, the songs, and the meaning under them.

Going Deeper

A few directions once the voice has you.

• See them live. This is a live band above all; a festival like Front Porch Fest is a great place to catch them.
• Erin solo. Lunsford's solo and acoustic performances show the songs at their most intimate.
• The soul lineage. Follow the thread to Donny Hathaway and the classic soul the band grew out of.
• The Virginia scene. Explore the fertile Charlottesville and Richmond music world they came up in.

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