Marine Kimono is an acoustic trio from Austin, Texas featuring Saint-Yves on guitar, Jeanne Marine on accordion and flute, and Gary Medusa on drums, with multi-part harmony vocals and special guests on euphonium, hurdy-gurdy, violin, and other instruments. They play original songs influenced by traditional folk, psychedelia, progressive folk, post-punk/new wave, post-rock, and minimal music. Formed in 2015, they've released two albums and played over one hundred shows with various rock, folk, and experimental artists. Their music has been described as “evocative” (The Austin Chronicle) “baroque folk paeans to nature and grace.” (Texas Dungeon Synth)
They've played at the Carousel Lounge, the Far Out Lounge, and the Sahara Lounge, and have also put in repeat appearances at the Butterfly Bar at the Vortex Theater, the Sekrit Theater, Tiny Minotaur, Wake the Dead (San Marcos), and Wild Bunch Brewing (Red Rock). They've played showcases such as Capital Zen, Hypnotize Psych Night, and Survive the Burning Times, special events like Pagan Pride and World Dracula Day, concerts at Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and benefits for ADAPT and NAMI.
In 2016, they recorded “Save Me Nowhere” for Divided We Fall II, a North American heathen folk compilation released on the German label FolkWorld. They also collaborated on “Bloody Green” for glam punk band Inverse Medusa's posthumous eponymous album. Their 2019 debut Chimera begins with the nostalgic “Sebastopol” and ends with the lovelorn “Chimera.” 2021's Sorrel Horses opens with a medieval procession on “Silly Hat” and closes with a marching beat on “Shallow Breathless.”
They've projected original experimental animation at their shows, and in 2016 invited local animators to screen a special selection of their work at Hotel Vegas, along with sets by She Sir, Raquel Bell, and Molybden. In 2017, they hosted DIY fashion show Winter Garden at the Austin School of Film, and in 2020 organized a series of online variety shows featuring performances, animation, and music videos. In 2024, they composed the score for Rabbits, a post-apocalyptic play that premiered at the Vortex Theatre, recording improvised sessions on de-tuned guitar, toy piano, and medieval tambourines. Marine Kimono's third album will be released in the summer of 2025.
For booking, please e-mail marine dot kimono at gmail dot com. You can download music from bandcamp, watch videos on youtube, and find out about upcoming shows on facebook and instagram.