June 5, 2026
Local Band The Hollow Birches Signs with Regional Label, Plans Summer Tour
Millbrook indie-folk quartet The Hollow Birches has signed with Chapel Records, a Chapel Hill-based independent label, and announced a 14-date summer tour kicking off right here at home.
MILLBROOK, June 10 — The Hollow Birches, the indie-folk band that has spent the last four years building a devoted following from the stage of the Millbrook Tap Room and every county fair within driving distance, announced Monday that they've signed a recording deal with Chapel Records out of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The four-piece — vocalist and guitarist Senna Mallory, lead guitarist Dex Pruitt, bassist Corinne Abara, and drummer Walt Figuero — said the deal includes funding for a proper studio album to be recorded this fall.
Tour Dates and What to Expect
The summer tour, dubbed the Thistle & Wire tour after an unreleased song the band has been testing at recent shows, opens July 19 at the Creekside Amphitheater in Millbrook before sweeping through 13 cities across the mid-Atlantic and Southeast. Fans who've followed the band since their early open-mic nights at the Wayward Cup coffee shop will recognize the band's signature sound — layered acoustic guitars, Mallory's warm alto, and lyrics that have a habit of sneaking up on you. "We've always written about this place," Mallory said in a phone interview. "Millbrook is in every song we've ever made, even when we don't name it." Tickets for the Millbrook date go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. through the Creekside box office and online. Prices range from $18 for general admission lawn to $35 for reserved seating.
- July 19: Creekside Amphitheater, Millbrook
- July 22: The Brightside, Durham, NC
- July 25: Vinyl Stage, Richmond, VA
- July 28: The Parish Room, Charleston, SC
- Full tour schedule at thehollowbirches.com
Chapel Records has previously signed artists who went on to national recognition, including folk singer-songwriter Pell Ardmore and the roots-rock band Coppervine. For The Hollow Birches, the deal represents a genuine leap — but longtime fans will tell you it's been a long time coming. "I've seen them maybe 30 times," said Millbrook resident Greta Toussaint, 29. "Every time they play, you leave feeling like something important just happened. I'm so glad the rest of the world is about to find out."
