A Hoosier transplanted to the coal highlands of Northeast Pennsylvania, Timothy Showalter has nested in fertile musical soil. Taking cues from luminaries such as Nebraska-Era Bruce Springsteen and a burgeoning Neil Young, Showalter extends a musical gesture and searches to find modesty in the midst of confusion, addressing insecurities and settling existential debt with a simple and beautiful delivery. The personification of a midwestern Grandfather's advice, his songs smack with hard truth and poignant severity, and are at times raw and uncomfortable.

Strand of Oaks accompanied Jason Anderson on a US tour as a fledgling musical outfit, with Greg Gover on keys and Thomas Abrams on drums. This incarnation of Oaks performed double-duty by also acting as Anderson's backing-band, "The Rippers". Armed with only CDR demos and instruments without cases, they joined Kimya Dawson for a tour of the UK. Crowds of riot grrrls and anti-folkies were warmed and won-over by the lack of sarcasm / cynicism in the music.

2006 saw the first proper Strand of Oaks release, a split 7" vinyl record with Dragon Turtle on the La Société Expéditionnaire imprint, supported by a Northeast US tour with Lewis & Clarke and a string of Mid-Atlantic dates. Heavy collaboration began between Showalter and Lou Rogai. Now, in between teaching second graders and painting on cardboard scraps, Showalter and La Société Expéditionnaire prepare the finishing touches to Leave Ruin, the debut full-legnth album expected early in the year of our lord, 2008.