The Crane Wives are a four-piece American indie rock band formed in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 2010. The band currently consists of Emilee Petersmark, Kate Pillsbury, Dan Rickabus, and Ben Zito. They utilize three-part vocal harmonies and eclectic instrumentation.
Since 2010, they have released five studio albums: Safe Ship, Harbored (2010); The Fool in Her Wedding Gown (2012); Coyote Stories (2015); Foxlore (2016); and Beyond Beyond Beyond (2024).
Career
Early history
Emilee Petersmark (guitar/vocals) and Kate Pillsbury (guitar/vocals) were aspiring solo artists working at a Chinese restaurant in Grandville, Michigan. In an attempt to avoid waiting tables, they began performing weekends in the restaurant as The Crane Wives, named after the album "The Crane Wife" by The Decemberists, itself based on the Japanese folk tale Tsuru Nyōbō (鶴女房; lit. "Crane Wife").
Formation and Safe Ship, Harbored (2010–2011)
Petersmark and Pillsbury, both students at Grand Valley State University, joined fellow students Dan Rickabus (percussion/vocals) and Tom Gunnels (banjo) for practice sessions in August 2010.
