For nearly a decade, Bandits on the Run has built its identity around movement. From performing in New York City subway stations to touring across the country, the indie-pop folk trio has turned life on the road into the foundation of its music.
Now, the group is preparing to release its newest album, “Rough Magic,” June 12 while joining Alan Doyle on tour, including a May 8 stop at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul.
The trio, made up of Sydney Shepherd, Regina Strayhorn and Adrian Blake Enscoe. Describing the upcoming album as a reflection of the collaborative spirit that has defined the band since its earliest days.
“We came from playing in the subways,” Enscoe said. “Our goal there was to enliven a public space that people kind of commute through and experience drudgery in, with music and character.”
That philosophy has stayed with the group even as their audience expanded beyond subway platforms and small local performances. The band said they still believe music can create moments of magic in everyday spaces, whether that is in a crowded train station or a concert venue filled with fans.
The album’s title track has already generated early praise from music publications. Atwood Magazine described the title track as “a tender, harmony-driven meditation on time, trust, and togetherness,” while Under The Radar Magazine compared the listener’s experience to “a warm, empathetic hug, the kind that draws you away from the chaos of the world and roots you back in a peaceful space.”
For the band, those themes came naturally from years spent creating music together and growing alongside one another personally and professionally.
“We’ve kind of grown up together as a band; we met pretty early on,” Shepherd said.
The trio explained that “Rough Magic” was not inspired by one conversation – it was a collective experience of building a creative life together.
In addition to touring, the members collaborate on musical theater projects and describe themselves as best friends. Two of the members are also married.
The trio’s closeness also shapes the group’s approach to live performances. At a time when much of the music industry revolves around social media clips and streaming, the band said it values the experience of sharing music in person with an audience.
“In this day and age, where everybody’s looking at stuff through TikTok and these online streaming platforms, it’s something really special that we get to do and that we really value, to be in a room together playing music with a specific group of people,” Enscoe said
The band added that performing for audiences across different cities has continuously shaped both their relationships and their music. Saying they are reminded of how different people connect to the same songs in deeply personal ways.
“One of the best parts about being on the road is getting the chance to go to all these theaters and meet different types of people and experience different towns,” Strayhorn said.
Those experiences have also helped the trio remain optimistic, even in an industry where many bands struggle to stay together long term.
Looking back on the trio’s journey, one member said their proudest accomplishment is the group’s longevity.
“We’re still here, we’re still doing it, and we continue to challenge each other and don’t just kind of settle into one thing,” Shepherd said.
As for what St. Paul can expect at the Fitzgerald Theater, the band promised harmonies, rotating lead singers, and a wide variety of instruments, along with colorful outfits sourced from local Minneapolis thrift stores, which the group said they make a point to visit whenever they are in the Twin Cities.
Tickets can be purchased at https://banditsontherun.com/shows
