How The Avett Brothers Helped Launch a Folk Revival in the 2000s

The Avett Brothers are among the greatest songwriters of the 21st century. Brothers Scott and Seth have successfully built a career growing together, taking their band to new heights. Their roots date back to North Carolina in the 1990s, when they were more interested in rock. In their early years, their father Jim Avett was a guitarist, and their grandmother a concert pianist. Scott Avett had a rock band called Margo, while Seth had one named Nemo. The bands eventually merged, and they released three albums as Nemo. It was around that time that the brother became involved in acoustic jam sessions with friends. The two, along with their friend John Twomey, released an EP titled The Avett Bros. in 2000. They continued to perform as Nemo and as The Avett Brothers on occasion.

Following Nemo’s breakup, the brothers prioritized their folk side project. In 2001, they acquired Bob Crawford to play stand-up bass and recorded their debut release. The Avett Brothers released Country Was in 2002, showcasing the brothers’ early songwriting skills and bringing stripped-down folk into the 21st century. They released a live album in 2002 and then their second album in 2003. A Carolina Jubilee was an ambitious release and once again showcased the brothers’ strong songwriting capabilities. The Avett’s continued their stripped-down folk approach with Mignonette in 2004.

In 2006, The Avett Brothers recorded Four Thieves Gone: The Robinsville Sessions in a rented house in Robbinsville, North Carolina. This marked a shift in the group, introducing electric guitars, heavy drums, and incorporating a raw, sometimes punk approach. They recorded over a span of 10 days in the rented home. The album placed on the Billboard Vinyl Albums chart in 2006, peaking at No. 12.

The Avett Brothers Get Noticed By Rick Rubin

Their next release, Emotionalism, launched The Avett Brothers into the forefront of a folk revival. It reached No. 1 on the US Heatseekers Albums chart, and peaked at No. 13 on the Independent Album chart. It was their first to appear on the Billboard 200, peaking at No. 134. Emotionalism was noticed by legendary producer Rick Rubin. It was also the first album to feature Joe Kwon on cello, who became a permanent member of the group.

In 2009, The Avett Brothers released their major label debut, produced by Rick Rubin. I And Love And You was a massive success, hitting No. 1 on the Americana/Folk Albums Billboard chart. They followed up that success with The Carpenter in 2012, which reached No. 2 on the American/Folk Albums chart. Additionally, it peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Digital Albums chart, No. 3 on the Top Rock Albums chart, and No. 2 on the Vinyl Albums chart. It was during this time that a resurgence of folk music began. The Avett Brothers, along with Mumford & Sons, Langhorne Slim, and The Lumineers, re-popularized folk music, creating a revival.

They earned another No. 1 on the Americana/Folk Albums chart with Magpie And The Dandelion in 2013. Their 2016 release, True Sadness, hit No. 1 on the Top Rock Albums chart and the American/Folk Albums chart. The Avett Brothers successfully bridged the gap between their folk and rock roots, fusing both into their legendary catalog of songs. In 2017, they were featured in the documentary May It Last: A Portrait of The Avett Brothers. The film, directed by Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio, chronicles their recording process and history leading up to the release of True Sadness. Interviews with the band members, Rick Rubin, and family are featured in the film.

Along with drummer Mike Marsh, formerly of Dashboard Confessional, The Avett Brothers continue to build on their successful career. Their most recent release was a collaboration with Mike Patton, formerly of Faith No More and Mr. Bungle. Together, they released an album titled AVTT/PTTN in November 2025.