Concert review by Beau Croxton, all photography By Tommy Krause

Folk Bitch Trio at Baby’s All Right by Tommy Krause

On Tuesday, Folk Bitch Trio returned to New York City for the second time this year with a show at Brooklyn’s Baby’s All Right. The enchanting Melbourne group has been on a world tour in support of their harmonious and brilliant debut album, Now Would Be A Good Time. It's safe to say we are big fans– you can catch the Occult interview with the trio here.

Since the release of Now Would Be A Good Time in July, the new record has been going platinum in my household (especially due to my wife who is obsessed). Unfortunately I was out of town during Folk Bitch Trio’s last performances in NYC this summer, so I was grateful for the opportunity to catch a new NYC date.

Texas musician Alex Amen opened the show with his americana/folk/country tunes, and he clearly won over the audience, as he brought them to a silent focus. After each tune concluded, the audience’s approval volume was boisterous.

This show was a sold-out (and “cold out”) affair. There was a dramatic cold snap on this November evening, and folks were packed tightly into the venue’s live room, standing shoulder to shoulder. A large portion of the audience was wearing their larger winter coats, likely for the first time this season. (shoutout to Baby’s coat check).

GOD’S A DIFFERENT SWORD

At 9pm, “Young Hearts Run Free” by Candi Staton was played loudly over the PA system to mark the beginning of the set, and it served as an icebreaker to get the crowd excited. Towards the peak of the tune, Folk Bitch Trio took the stage, dancing and smiling as they loosened up a bit themselves and grabbed their instruments.

The band shifted into a more serious and ethereal tone by opening with their cover of “I’ll Find A Way”. It’s an incredibly bold choice to open the evening, as it is a 100% acapella performance. There were no reference notes for a key– it was simply perfectly-pitched vocal harmonies that casted a spell on the entire room. The crowd was so respectfully silent, that you could hear a pin drop in between the verses . From the second they started singing, all the way till the end of the set, the audience was firmly focused on the group’s intoxicating three part harmonies and brilliant tunes– the set was pure hypnosis.

Folk Bitch Trio at Baby’s All Right by Tommy Krause

Jeanie Pilkington took the lead for “Hotel TV”, which was warmly received by the audience, and its slow-burn outro found some folks swaying to its comforting vibe. “The Actor” sounded majestic on arrival. It gave singer/guitarist Heide Peverelle a chance to shine, and it was backed by uplifting harmonies from the other singers.“Moth Song” was a major standout of the evening– Gracie Sinclair’s stunning vocal-runs left the audience in awe, as many folks couldn't help but break the silence to cheer her on.

“Thats All She Wrote” had a tremendous outro that used an impressive technique. Each singer of the trio stepped back a few feet from their mic, and passionately belted at different intensities to build a sensational wall of sound.

The whole set was full of soaring harmonies and dramatic builds in dynamics – the group’s lightness can feel subtle at times, but the trio has an amazing ability to build their tunes into something profound that you can truly feel deeply. The gorgeous climax of the Jeanie Pilkington-led tune “Foreign Bird” also managed to supersede its recorded version, which is no easy feat.

Folk Bitch Trio at Baby’s All Right by Tommy Krause

“Cathode Ray” was clearly the most popular song with the audience– as soon as it began, the crowd replied with notable vocal approval. Gracie Sinclair gave an expressive and animated performance that really commanded the room, and it brought the overall energy up to an eventful peak.

Singer/guitarist Heidi took a second to say “Congrats on your new Mayor!” to the New York City crowd, and the audience responded with a joyous cheer for Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s win. Jeanie Pilkington humorously added, “I was fantasizing that he was coming to the show. I knew he wouldn’t…but there was a little part of me that just wouldn’t let it go.” The group alluded that the election even made quite a splash in Australia– “Everybody’s talking about it…They’re talking about it back home in Melbourne!”

Before they played “Sarah”, they asked if anyone in the audience was named Sarah– an audience member up front shared the name, so the band dedicated the song to this particular “Sarah”.

Folk Bitch Trio at Baby’s All Right by Tommy Krause

"God's a Different Sword” was a perfect closer for the evening, as it's a beloved song among their fans. They sang luxurious and fitting harmonies for their last tune: “Here I go– just one more.” That “one more” song was widely adored. Just like that, the show was over– the band took their guitars and disappeared through the back door.

Folk Bitch Trio harnesses serious power in their technical vocal abilities, and each member is such a force that the sum of their parts is remarkable.

Their songwriting feels just as strong no matter who’s taking the lead, and they expertly build on dynamics in a captivating way. On this cold night, their set was a warm refuge of lush harmonies and ethereal vocal power that fed the soul. Their material is very timeless, and they have a universal appeal that blends classic and contemporary elements in a delightful way. It’s best to keep your eyes and ears on this magical group, they have had such a great debut and year– be sure to catch them anytime you can on their current tour.