Three sisters from Stockholm Sweden plan to bring energy to spare to the first show in the new season of the Beneath the Arch Concert series in Turner Valley.
Greta, 33, Stella, 31, and Sunniva, 28, Bondesson comprise the band Baskery performing Sept. 24 at the Flare ‘n’ Derrick Community Hall
As one sees them coming to the stage with a banjo, stand up bass and acoustic guitar it would be easy to assume they are a bluegrass trio. But as anyone who has heard them perform live has learned, they are a band that’s not easily categorized.
It’s best to leave it to one of the members of the well-travelled group to explain what they do on stage.
“We play traditional instruments in a very untraditional way,” Greta said of Baskery’s music. “Distorted, acoustic Americana, dipped in blues, rock ‘n’ roll and pop, performed with punk attitude is quite a good description.”
All three of the Bondesson sisters provide vocals for the band. Sunniva plays acoustic and electric guitar in live shows and also supplied cello to their latest album “New Friends”. Stella’s instrument of choice is stand up acoustic bass and Greta plays guitar, banjo and drums with her feet.
The youngest member of the group admitted much of the trio’s musical versatility has been passed down to them.
“Music has always been present in our family,” Sunniva said. “Our dad (Janĺke Bondesson) was the first and only one in his family, as far as we know, to become a full-time musician. He was a troubadour during most of our childhood. There were always instruments laying around the house and even half a drum set in the basement for us to play around with.”
In their teens the Bondesson girls joined their father on the road for weekend shows and learned to play his repertoire of songs by ear. In the early 2000s the girls formed the band Slapstones with their father on drums. They released two albums with him before he retired from music and the girls rebranded their music act as Baskery.
Since then the sisters have work hard to keep their sound unique and fresh. They want their live shows and recorded works to stand on their own merit.
“What we still have to fight for is the chance to wash away peoples’ prejudices and expectations towards girls or ladies in the business,” Stella said. “We’d like to be able to rock and roll and still be feminine. Also, why is their segregation of a band versus a girl band, why? Categorizing by genders is old fashioned. Keeping our integrity is very important to us, and we are extremely stubborn. If someone tells us we shouldn’t do this, we do that.”
When the free spirited nature of Baskery goes on display Saturday night in Turner Valley it will definitely not be a laid back affair. The eldest sister outlined what perspective audience members could expect from the band’s performance.
“They should be ready to get shell shocked by the energy, mesmerized by the sibling harmonies and refreshed by the unique sound,” Greta said.
Tickets for Baskery’s Beneath the Arch concert are available at Coyote Moon in Turner Valley, Bluerock Gallery in Black Diamond, Millarville General Store and Music Centre Canada in Okotoks.
