We caught up with the Australian trio ahead of their transcendental set at the Walled Garden.

Fresh off the deserved praise heaped upon them for debut album ‘Now Would Be A Good Time’, released in July via Jagjaguwar, Australia’s Folk Bitch Trio began their European tour this August at Green Man festival, where their angelic blend of three-part vocal harmonies,  deft songwriting and relatable lyricism provided one of the weekend’s highest, completely shutting down the Walled Garden stage that bravely attempted to contain them. Huge fans here at Hard of Hearing, we decided, on a bleary Sunday-of-a-Festival Morning, to have a quick chat with Heide (they/them), Jeanie (she/her) and Gracie (she/her), and learn all about… their overnight oat recipe?

You arrived here yesterday. What has been the cutest thing you’ve seen here?

Jeanie: Babies! So many cute babies. I saw the best baby haircut I’ve ever seen this morning while eating my beans on toast. Such a good fringe. It was flicked like this [gestures bangs], but really short. It looked like a wig. It was awesome.

Gracie: Lots of cuties walking around too!

Jeanie: Lots of young sexy people, that’s really nice

Heide: Lots of sexy people in general.

J: Old sexy people too yeah, that’s true

H: Lots of sexy music too. That’s the main thing, music.

J: We saw CMAT’s set last night. I wouldn’t say it was cute, because I don’t like it when people call music cute, but I thought it was beautiful and sweet and cute the way she was having the best time ever with her bandmates, and I love to see that.

H: All the kids on their parents’ shoulders going “she’s my hero!”, that was awesome!

I understand this is the first date of your European run. You’ve been to the UK before, do you have any standout memories of being here in the past?

J: One time we went to this cafe in London, there was this woman and she had the most gentle lovely voice once you came to the counter. She was like [puts on British accent], “Would you like some milk in your tea?”. But when she was yelling out the orders it was like, [shouts in hoarse voice] “BEANS ON TOAST!!”

H: “FOR STEVE!!!!”

G: “HAM AND CHEESE FOR STEVE!!” We were like, “Where is that big bloke that’s yelling out?”

J: Our parents were there with us, and my mum thought that it was the funniest thing ever.

As singing is such a big part what you do – what tips and tricks do you need to use to keep your voices strong when you’re on the road?

G: Just shut up! The first festival that we went to on this tour was Winnipeg Folk Festival,and I got really sick and lost my voice. The only cure is to shut up, and I had to walk around with my artist lanyard that said, “I am on vocal rest, I am a diva”.

J: You’ve got to accept being a diva. You’ve got to shut up. You can’t be yelling and shouting, which is unfortunate in ways.

H: And no smoking!

Not even one?

Together: Not even one!

When you’re not touring can you let loose a bit more?

J: Yes, but your voice is an organic instrument and you should always treat it with tenderness.

What was the last song you listened you?

G: I listened to the new This is Lorelei record on the plane. I’ve been listening to it, but this was the first time I listened to it properly properly properly and I was like [does OK gesture], yeah!

H: I’ve been feeling a bit like “I don’t know what to listen to at the moment”. But I have been listening to This is Lorelei. I was listening to the Saya Gray album. That was really cool. I was also listening to Hand Habits, just always great. And I’m still rinsing in that 2023 album from Geese.

J: That last song ‘Taxes’, that could have been the last thing I listened to on the plane. It was a bit of a cowboy landing and that made me feel alive. I feel similarly about paying tax. I don’t want to do it.

What are your tour essentials?

G: I’ve got a new one. We just did a van tour through the states, and I’m gluten intolerant. And you get over eating delicious festival food really quickly. When you’re 5 weeks in, you’re like, I just need breakfast. So I’ve started carrying around my own oats.

J: And a lunchbox!

G: I bought a lunchbox. I’m like, I’m over this! I’m not playing any games anymore! I’m going pro level! I’m carrying my own oats! I was making overnight oats in the hotel room. That’s a tour essential. You’ve got to have a bag of drugs on you that can fix any ailment possible.

J: That can knock you out or wake you up

H: Melatonin, Vitamins, Painkillers

J: An eye mask.

H: Earplugs. Just really boring shit. You get really down the basics when you’re on tour for an extended period

G: Face moisturizer.

H: Spare undies!

G: Spare undies!

J: Seven pairs of Spare undies

G: Spare undies and a handbag

J: You never know what situation you might end up.

H: Headphones, then another pair of headphones. Then one more. I’ve got three on me.

G: Multiple water bottles. These guys. [Points to Jeanie and Heidie], I need to keep them on me. Sunnies.

H: A hat.

G: Sunscreen. We’ve all probably got quite cute guitar case touring rigs.

J: A photo of someone you love in your guitar case is a touring essential. You can give them a little kiss every time before you go on stage.

G: Little tools for the problems you think would never occur.

J: Nailclippers. I perennially forget them on tour but I have them this time around.

H: We’ve basically given you our whole packlist.

G: if someone had told me these things…

J:  Babywipes. hand sanitiser. A handbag snack. Teabags.

G; Throat coat. Lozenges.

H: Antihistamines.

J: Nasal spray. Just basically anything that you feel like – if you get to a low point in your life where you feel like a baby – that you would need, have that on you.

G: Some touring musicians, naming no names, carry stuffy toys, because it gets lonely out there.

J: I don’t know who would do something like that! That’s crazy!

H: Everyone’s got their little fella. I want a cherry on top moment for the pack.

What’s the least essential thing you have on you?

G: Right now I have a vocal steamer.

J: That’s very necessary.

H: Trinkets! I’ve got over a kilo of trinkets I’ve picked up! Oops.

G: One harmonica holder and 4 harmonicas I haven’t touched. I heard someone playing them in the artist camp this morning and I was like, “Ooh that’s why you don’t bring ‘em out! Everyone with a hangover would not like that.”