The Violet Archers is a Canadian indie pop band from Toronto. Led by Rheostatics bassist Tim Vesely, the band currently consists of Vesely and singer-songwriter Jane Gowan, with past members including Yawd Sylvester on guitar, drummer Camille Giroux, bassist Scott Remila, Ida Nilsen on piano."Violet Archers add their vibe to Canadian music". The Gazette, 23 September 2005
History The Violet Archers were founded by Vesely as a side project while he was performing with the Rheostatics; he gave the band its name after hearing one of Canadian composer Violet Archer's compositions played on CBC Radio.Mike Bell, "The Violet Archers: Tim Vesely and co. cultivate their roots" , View Magazine, September 2005.
The Violet Archers released their debut album, The End of Part One, in 2005 on Northern Electric Records."Violet Archers The End of Part One". Exclaim!, By Vish Khanna Sep 01, 2005"Former Rheostatic carves musical territory". Queens Journal, October 9, 2007 Adèle Barclay and as a digital download through Zunior Records. Musicians contributing to the album included Aaron MacPherson and Steve Pitkin. By Divine Right's José Miguel Contreras also appears as a guest musician on several tracks."New and Notable Releases'. Now Toronto, by Brent Raynor September 22, 2005 The band's second album, Sunshine at Night, was released in 2008 following Vesely's departure from Rheostatics."The Violet Archers : Sunshine At Night". QRO Magazine, by Chris Fore, June 11, 2008
Nilsen also has her own band, Great Aunt Ida, in which Vesely also plays.
After a substantial hiatus during which Vesely mostly worked as a recording engineer and producer rather than recording his own new music, the release of the Rheostatics reunion album Here Come the Wolves in 2019 drew Vesely back into songwriting with the release of several new standalone singles beginning in 2021, including a duet with Sarah Harmer titled "Animal Song".Kerry Doole, "Music News Digest, Nov. 23, 2023". Billboard, November 23, 2023. In November 2025, Vesely released The Duo Sessions, an album of songs from both the Violet Archers and Rheostatics performed in acoustic rerecordings by Vesely and Jane Gowan.
Discography Albums The End of Part One (2005) Sunshine at Night (2008) The Duo Sessions (2025)
Singles "Keep It in the Ground" b/w "Quiet This Morning" (2021) "Animal Song" b/w "Nobody Knows" (2023) "Any Sense of Time" (2024)
Compilation inclusions Our Power (2006): "You and I"
References
External links The Violet Archers, official site "The Violet Archers" at allmusic.com