Little Sister have been playing together since June 2006. They play original arrangements of world folk music (from Irish to Ladino to American Old-time Country), as well as writing and performing their own songs and tunes. Armed with an arsenal of musical weaponry including harp, guitar, fiddle, accordion, flute, viola, cello, djembe, mandolin, an assortment of things to hit, shake or scrape and, of course, their four voices, these ladies refuse to be ignored.
Sam, Laura, Hannah & Katy met at university but did not form Little Sister until after they had finished their studies. From their individual origins (Wales, The Midlands, The North & The South, respectively), the girls combine their diverse tastes and styles to create a unique musical hybrid that is greater than the sum of its parts.
It’s hard to define the sound of Little Sister since no sooner have they dazzled you with a fiery klezmer tune, they’ll lull you back down by way of a lilting Welsh song, only to jolt you awake with a rousing gospel number in rip-roaring four-part harmony. This is no surprise when you look at their collective influences: Gillian Welch, Harem Scarem, Bjork, Bartok, Alison Krauss, The Carthys, Moira Smiley, Flook and Kathryn Roberts, to name but a few.
In the last 12 months, Little Sister have emerged as one of Birmingham’s brightest folk bands, playing to sell-out audiences at the MAC, the Tower of Song and the Kitchen Garden Café. They have appeared at many UK festivals including Truck, Solfest, Oxford Arts, Music Live (at The NEC), Moseley & Burslem, and at venues across Wales, the South and London. They have supported artists such as Garth Hudson (of The Band), Sofia (half of Po’Girl), ex-Albion band singer Gillie Nicholls, JT & The Clouds, 3 daft monkeys and Danny & the Champions of the World. They have recorded radio sessions live for the BBC and for DJ Bob Harris’s WBBC productions.
As well as arranging a rich variety of traditional music in a fresh and innovative way, Little Sister also write their own material, inspired by such things as love, life, unemployment, falling over in the street and frogs. Their new 4-track EP, aptly titled 'The Little Sister EP' (recorded with Richard Smith in a far-flung corner of Wales) showcases their various individual and collective talents.
“My new favourite band!†Danny Wilson of Grand Drive
“The homegrown answer to the Be Good Tanyas!†Birmingham101 Magazine
Visit www.littlesistermusic.co.uk for more info
Visit www.myspace.com/littlesistermusic for mp3 samples and tour dates.
For bookings, contact Laura Mattison on [email protected]
