Define your genre in five words or less:
Endearing, thought provoking country-folkabilly.
How long have you been gigging and writing?
The trio of Julie Connolly, Teresa Dixon, and Lucy Rash formed in July 2010, and we’ve been gigging regularly at various Melbourne venues and interstate festivals since our debut at Fitzroy’s Builders Arms in that same year. We all come from vast and varied musical backgrounds; Julie is a beautiful country singer through and through, Teresa has dabbled in group and solo performance across a variety of genres, and Lucy is a classically trained violinist and budding electronic musician. Everything about our history – including our mutual love of traditional country-blues – has made writing for The Little Sisters extremely exciting and fulfilling for us over the last two years.
What can a punter expect from your live shows?
Intricate close harmony, big petticoats, and ridiculous gags. We like a good night out!
If you could travel back in time and show your musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why?
Johnny Cash… bless his soul. I think we’d all love to go back in time and sit with him on a country verandah somewhere and share a pint and a quick blast through Folsom Prison Blues. We’d play him our Train Song too; every country band has to have one. By the same token, I think we’d also go back to the 40s and sing songs with the Ross Sisters (go on, YouTube them), who in return would teach us to manipulate our bodies in fascinating albeit pretty scary ways.
Do you have a pre gig ritual? If so, what is it?
Julie’s in the car park feeding Austin, Teresa’s shooting Jager, and Lucy’s flittering about being nice to everyone.
If you could go on tour with any musician or band, who would it be?
Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings. What an honour that would be.
Describe the best gig you’ve ever played.
We were onstage at the 2010 Folk Rhythm and Life Festival, and during one song everyone got up and started crazy dancing. There was even someone in full festival get up doing the chicken dance on 2m stilts. They didn’t ever become horizontal, so that was encouraging.
When are you doing your thing next?
We’re really excited to be launching our debut EP at The Union Hotel, Brunswick on Saturday May 12, from 5-7pm. Free entry with support from the amazing Cam Nicol. And we’re playing as a full six-piece featuring some of the most exciting musicians going around! Come join us!
