The Walkabouts formed in the early 1980s in Seattle, centering on the songwriting and singing talents of Chris Eckman and Carla Torgenson. The group experienced line-up changes over the years, but Eckman and Torgenson remained true to the group’s sound, which drew heavily on folk, country, and roots music, with an equal debt to French chanson and emotive singer-songwriters like Leonard Cohen. After releasing two EPs and a full-length on small labels, the Walkabouts were signed to SubPop, which released three of the band’s albums between 1989 and 1991. Extensive touring in Europe brought the band substantial popularity there, and they released three more albums through SubPop’s European division. Remarkably prolific as performers and recording artists into the late 2000s, the Walkabouts continue to issue a steady stream of EPs and full-lengths of original material, covers, and recordings with various philharmonic orchestras. Eckman and Torgenson have also released albums as solo artists, and as the duo Chris & Carla.