Telluride Bluegrass: The Maes, All in the Family, Friday

19 Jun Telluride Bluegrass: The Maes, All in the Family, Friday

The 45th Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival takes place June 21-June 24. The event is completely sold out. But tune in to the live Festival stream at www.koto.org. And learn more about other Planet Bluegrass festivals at www.bluegrass.com.

Please scroll down to listen to a podcast with Maggie Rigby of The Maes. She and her sister are debuting at the festival on Friday.

The Kinks, one of the most influential bands, was formed by brothers Dave and Ray Davies.

Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees were the Kings of Disco.

And if the Bee Gees were the predominant group with a harmonizing trio of brothers in the ’70s, then the title for the decade prior has to go toThe Beach Boys, made up of Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson – as well as cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine.

Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael Jackson combined to form one of the most popular Motown groups of the ‘70s, The Jackson 5.

And it’s hard to think of better harmonizers than Don and Phil Everly of The Everly Brothers.

The Allman Brothers Band have had more members than a lot of bands have fans at their shows, but as the group’s name might suggest, none were more important, or at least formative, than founding members Duane and Gregg Allman, the standard bearers of southern rock.

Since the late ’90s, the Quin sisters Tegan and Sara have gradually morphed from an alternative indie folk duo into about as pop a group as it gets.

Este, Danielle, and Alana Haim of HAIM make up one of the most engaging bands in modern pop.

The list goes on to include The Andrews Sisters; Karen & Richard Carpenter of The Carpenters; Donny & Marie Osmond; Nick, Joe & Kevin Jonas; Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh; Bob and Gerald Casale of Devo; Martie Maguire & Emily Robison of Dixie Chicks; Klara & Johanna Soderberg of First Aid Kit/; Colin & Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead; Malcolm & Angus Young of AC/DC.

Could it be something in the water?

More likely in the DNA.

Regardless, there is little doubt some of the best bands in the world over time have been made up of siblings (as above).

Years ago, at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, the harmonies of Tim and Molly O’Brien raised goosebumps. Now Telluride welcomes The Maes for more of the same. The sister act from Down Under performs Friday, June 22, 10 a.m.

“We’ve been fans of this wonderful young group from Melbourne, Australia for a few years now. Sisters Maggie and Elsie Rigby grew up surrounded by the Australian folk scene (festivals and camps), supported by their parents’ role as leaders of the community singing movement. The Maes are charming and warm, sophisticated vocal harmonizers, and powerful songwriters,” said Brian Eyster, marketing, Planet Bluegrass.

“Located at a crossroads where Australian, English and American folk traditions meet, The Mae Trio are in the midst of creating something unique and very much their own,” said Songlines.

The Maes are sisters Maggie (banjo, guitar and vocals) and Elsie Rigby (violin, and vocals). Elsie and Maggie grew up steeped in music playing in their family band. They spent their childhood going to music festivals and camps, choir rehearsals and concerts.

Elsie and Maggie write their own songs, which are tastefully arranged to suit their diverse instrumental talents and love of harmony.

Historically, The Maes have brought their contemporary twist on folk music on the road across Australia, Canada, USA and Europe with performances at the Hydro Stadium at Celtic Connection, Glasgow, Americana Folk Festival, Nashville, Cambridge Folk Festival, UK; Edmonton Folk Festival, Vancouver Folk Music Festival, Canada; Woodford, Port Fairy and National Folk Festivals, Australia.

Their sophomore release, Take Care Take Cover, recorded in Nashville, Tennessee with producer and engineer Erick Jaskowiak (Crooked Still, Tim O’Brien, Darrell Scott, The Waifs), was awarded Best Folk Roots Album by The Age Music Victoria Award and has received rave reviews at home and abroad with The Australian describing the release as a “simply superb sophomore album.”