The Deslondes

Formed in the Holy Cross neighborhood of the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans, The Deslondes are a roots music collective built around a rare democratic spirit – every member writes songs and takes turns on lead vocals. The group, featuring Sam Doores, Riley Downing, Dan Cutler, John James Tourville, and Howe Pearson, blends country, folk, R&B, gospel, and rock ’n’ roll into a sound that feels both timeless and unmistakably New Orleans.

Since emerging from an earlier project called The Tumbleweeds, the band has earned a reputation for harmony-rich songwriting and a communal approach to making music, with each member contributing equally to the band’s evolving catalog. Their albums—including The Deslondes, Hurry Home, Ways & Means, and Roll It Out—showcase a deep reverence for American musical traditions while embracing the creative freedom of a modern band shaped by years of collaboration and friendship.