Espers are a psychedelic folk collective from Philadelphia. The band formed in the early 2000s, and are heavily influenced by British folk rock bands of the 1960s such as Fairport Convention and Pentangle. Though they could easily be lumped in with their contemporaries in the "freak folk" movement, Espers are capable of moments of genuine rock heaviness that sets them apart from the pack. Female vocalist Meg Baird has a flourishing solo career of her own, which focuses more on traditional folk sounds then the more expansive acid-tinged rock of Espers.