State River Widening is a London-based musical trio formed in May 1998, consisting of multi-instrumentalists David Sheppard and Keiron Phelan, along with drummer/percussionist Jon Steele. The group began experimental recordings in 1996 before officially forming State River Widening two years later. Their debut single "Unsung Couples" was released on the Gold Hole label in November 1998. The band's eponymous debut album State River Widening followed in November 1999, garnering critical acclaim for its avant-rock melodies and acoustic explorations. In spring 2003, they released their second album Early Music, which featured a diverse array of instruments. Their third album Cottonhead was released in October 2004, showcasing strings, additional percussion, and the voice of Anne Briggs on one track.
