Folk Bitch Trio harnesses the strength of friendship to navigate the demands of their busy touring schedule and the upheaval that comes with releasing their debut album. Clash spoke with Gracie Sinclair, Jeannie Pilkington, and Heidi Peverelle before their Sunday set at the serene and cozy Walled Gardens of the Green Man festival. After a quick stop at the press tent for plugs and mirrors, we settled in the shade, away from the oppressive heat, to chat about the aftermath of their album, maintaining their sanity, and their fondness for cartoon trios.
After sharing their journey to the Green Man festival in Wales, Jeanie describes the overall tour experience, saying, “It’s been incredible, but it’s probably been the most intense touring we’ve done, especially considering our initial goals. All the headlines, the record release, and everything have exceeded our expectations, but it’s also been the most intense.” They have traveled across America with Whitney, moving from Cleveland to Chicago, then flying to London and driving to Wales, but they remain surprisingly upbeat and engaging.
When I asked how they care for themselves amid their busy schedules, their answer was straightforward: they just do. “We all, I think, are very attuned to our own needs and each other’s… understanding when to give someone space or when someone needs support, and taking a short walk if we sense tensions rising.”
Their deep connection is evident within moments of meeting. The Folk Bitch Trio can complete each other’s sentences, even playfully acknowledging this at the start of the interview before wishing me luck with my transcription. Gracie notes that within the group, there’s a sense of kindness and generosity; this helps uplift them and guide them through tougher times. They are more than just colleagues; they are close friends.
In addition to caring for one another, Jeanie emphasizes their mantra of ‘being unstoppable’: “I believe it’s true, and we repeat it whenever things go right or wrong.”
Heidi adds that this affirmation is helpful when facing challenges or approaching potentially difficult situations, especially relevant to their current tour. Nonetheless, it is not without its rewards; Folk Bitch Trio remains enthusiastic and eager to share their highlights, showing no signs of defeat. Gracie enthuses about their sold-out headline shows in LA and New York and their first meeting with their label. “They’re the sweetest people. They even got us cake to celebrate the release, including a gluten-free one for me!”
Another memorable moment for them was performing at the Winnipeg Folk Festival alongside some of their “personal heroes,” as Jeanie described. She also expressed her excitement for the Green Man festival, appreciating the mix of “interesting people” and “those who enjoy doing crosswords from a lawn chair.”
After a light-hearted exchange about the likelihood of being caught in pajamas, or ‘jammies’ as the Melbourne band refers to them, while heading to the Portaloos and feeling hungover, the discussion turns to the emotional exposure of performing on stage. Heidi explains her perspective on playing vulnerable songs: “[They] can tap into the emotions tied to the song's content and vulnerability, which can enhance the performance in that moment, but not in a way that brings [them] down.”
Folk Bitch Trio does not shy away from emotional moments on stage and actually finds value in witnessing other artists do the same. For them, the desire to be present and perform alongside close friends allows them to be more open. However, Jeanie mentions that sometimes, a more detached approach can be enjoyable; it allows her to feel as though she’s playing someone else’s song and “rock out a little more,” noting that constantly grappling with the emotional weight of songs at every performance would be overwhelming, adding, “That would be a lot, and I’d be surprised if any artist could manage that without going insane.”
Heidi laughs, “I think there are definitely plenty of artists who have experienced that and have gone crazy; let’s hope we don’t reach that point.”
Their debut album ‘Now Would Be A Good Time’ has been released for nearly a month, and Folk Bitch Trio is thrilled with its reception. Gracie and Heidi exclaim, “We’re just eager to keep riding this wave! Traveling to new countries and cities, having people buy tickets and connect with the music is truly special and feels surreal to us.” Despite their success, FBT remains grounded, aiming to stay true to themselves while checking off items on their band bucket list. “A friend’s dad, a successful economist from Australia, once told me to take your work seriously but never take yourself seriously, and I think that sums us up. We’ve always worked hard and taken our work seriously, but we’ll always remain playful.”
Their playful nature is evident in their humor. We briefly discussed how their rising success has led to frequent comparisons with boygenius and a few other well-known trios. When asked
Robbie Williams has announced intentions for a unique one-time performance at Dingwalls in London. The artist's upcoming album 'Britpop' returns to his 90s origins.
Nostalgia combined with modernity in Victoria Park... The lineup for Saturday at All Points East was organized by electronic music legends Chase &
British RnB artist Tiana Major9 has released her latest single, 'Shook One.’ After launching 'money’ earlier this year, Tiana Major9 takes inspiration from...
The Dublin crew Runner has unveiled their powerful new single "Distance." This marks a significant moment in any band's journey - the debut single represents the moment where aspirations begin to take shape.
The Australian band Mini Skirt has announced their upcoming album titled 'All That We Know'. Their impressive debut album, 'Casino', came out five years ago, and
.jpg)
British producer and composer Sohn is set to release an instrumental album called 'Albadas (Dawn Songs)’ on October 10th through his new label, adaptpivotmove.
Folk Bitch Trio harnesses the strength of their friendship to navigate the challenges of a demanding touring lifestyle and the turmoil that comes with launching their first album. Clash