Michaela - Vocals and guitar.
Jesse - Vocals, guitar, tin whisle and octave mandolin.
Chris - Vocals, lap dobro, octave mandolin, guitar and banjo.
Influences
In no particular order:
Paul Kelly, Christie Moore, Dougie MacLean, Broderick Smith, Kane Welsh and Kaplin, Eric Bibb, Susanne Vega, The Waifs, Luka Bloom, The Cellar Rats,
Patty Griffin, Bela Fleck, Paul Greene, T-Bone Burnett, Laura Marling, Mick Thomas, Edgar Meyer, Richard Thompson, Jerry Douglas, Indigo Girls, The Grateful Dead, Be Good Tanyas and too many more to mention.........................
As long as they "Play Something good!!"
Twin sisters, Jesse and Michaela, formerly of all girl folk group “Harem”, recorded their first album of original, harmony fuelled tunes in 2000 at the age of 17, whilst completing year 11 in the small town of Mildura, Victoria. The self funded, self titled album was released early 2001 just prior to the Tamworth Country Music festival, where the girls hogged a corner of Peel St with crowds impressed by their 3 part harmonies, guitar, mandolin, flute and tin whistle combination. The year was a busy one for Harem, with the girls playing in pubs and festivals locally around Mildura, as well as the big smoke of Melbourne and interstate to the Barmera Country Music Festival where they took out the "Best Band" section.
All good things must come to an end, however, and the beginning of 2002 saw the end of "Harem," with Kirby and Mia off to uni to study teaching, while Jesse packed herself off to Albury to study Physiotherapy. The girls continued playing music individually with Michaela and Kirby playing support for Daryl Braithwaite and Debra Conway during their respective tours to Mildura, and Jesse playing in Albury and singing back-up vocals for Dave Collins at the Tumbarumba Music festival.
2006 saw Jesse and Michaela revive the "twin thing," with Jesse returning to the Mildura region, to work in Broken Hill. The girls continued their writing adding to the list of original songs yet to be recorded, performed at the Mildura Arts Festival, and as support for the Whitlams during their visit to Mildura.
The birth of the trio - “Jauntybelle”.
2007 was a busy year with lots of little gigs and some further development of song ideas. They were joined mid year by Chris Rogers who has known the girls all their lives, having played in several acoustic bands over the years with their father and assisting with recording the girls first CD with "Harem". Chris’s ability to play many instruments complimented the already strong rhythm guitar of Michaela and the tin whistle playing of Jesse. The trio worked solidly on arrangements for the original songs finding the combination of the twins strong harmonies along with the additional male voice a bit more challenging and rewarding, the fun was just beginning and much harder to stop.
The trio has played many local events during 2007/2008, supporting some touring acts and featuring in their own right at many major functions. Their regular performances at the Mildura Club provided valuable gig time that allowed the trio to refine their vocal arrangements and test the different instrumental combinations now available.
“Jauntybelle” play a mix of contemporary folk originals and some very carefully chosen covers, their signature sound being the seamless harmonies found only between sisters who have grown up singing together.
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Hey Dad & girls :) Hope the trip is going well! Um dad, Dan is going to be bringing people with him to play and as for my last exam best not to ask. Also I dunno whether you heard I'm getting a new car, well, van! Other than that back to work full time in 2 weeks for a little while whilst tax season is happening and getting one of my bands ready to support Ash Grunwald when he comes up here in 2 weeks. Oh and Dan and the band have scored upstairs at the exchange for the v8 supercars weekend for the thurs, fri, sat & sun so its going to be HUGE! Hopefully the rev heads will behave themselves. Found yourselves a camper yet? Talk to you soon Sal
