THE MAE TRIO

With their roots firmly planted in folk tradition, Australian award-winning band The Mae Trio are a breath of fresh air on the contemporary folk scene. Incorporating stellar three-part harmonies, complex arrangements and lyrical sophistication, these youngsters are on a rapid rise. Recipients of the Folk Alliance Australia Youth Award, the prestigious Maton Class Act Award and the NFSA Folk Recording of the Year for their debut album Housewarming, this year has seen The Mae Trio make a colourful splash including international performances from Celtic Connections to Folk Alliance International in Kansas City and MIDEM Festival in Cannes, not to mention a string of shows at Australia’s leading festivals from Port Fairy Folk Festival to Blue Mountains Music Festival.

Maggie Rigby (banjo, ukuleles, guitar, marimba and vocals), Elsie Rigby (violin, ukulele and vocals) and Anita Hillman (cello, bass and vocals) started playing together in 2011, and the last year has seen the band burst onto the international scene. Their debut album Housewarming was produced by Luke Plumb of Shooglenifty and features percussionist extraordinaire James Mackintosh also of Shooglenifty fame.

Following a brilliant UK debut at Celtic Connections in January where they shared the stage with internationally renowned folk music greats for the Burns Night concert, The Mae Trio return for a summer tour that includes performances at Cambridge Folk Festival, Wilderness Festival and Maverick Festival.

It is a rare treat to experience such unique instrumentation and spine-tingling harmonies, and The Mae Trio promises bucketloads of both.