Hailing from Los Angeles, He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister will take the Nelsonville Music Festival’s main stage Friday with its brand of music and showmanship.
Singer and percussionist Rachel Kolar describes the group as “a new quirky genre,” adding the labels “glam-a-billy,” “circus-folk” and “vaudeville blues” to encapsulate the band’s music.
“We’re known to put on a party,” Kolar said. “(Ours is) a show where people end up dancing (and) are meant to have a good time. (We’re) celebrating.”
Founded by Kolar and brother Robert, vocalist and guitarist for the group, He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister expanded to become a five-piece band with drummer Lauren Brown, upright bass player Oliver “Oliwa” Newell and Aaron Robinson on slide guitar.
They’ve attended numerous festivals and events including the Sundance Film Festival and South by Southwest. The group has also performed with Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and Fitz and the Tantrums.
The band released its first full-length album, Nobody Dances in This Town, last October. The group began its summer tour May 1.
“We’re super excited to come (back) to Ohio,” Kolar said. “It’s one of the first places we started touring.”
Kolar said the set list for the festival will include a few new songs, along with the group’s repertoire from its album, EP and singles.
“It’s as much of a visual spectacle as auditory,” she added, citing the example of the group’s drummer Lauren Brown, who tap-dances while she plays the drums. Tap is used as a main rhythmic element in the track “Clacking Heels.”
Kolar said the group’s typical performance style works well at music festivals.
“There’s something very liberating about being at a festival,” she said. “You’re kind of in an alternate world. There’s a different moral and artistic vision, people are especially open and excited to be there. We definitely add to that experience, add to the feeling of being at a festival.”
eb104010@ohiou.edu
If You Go:
What: He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister at Nelsonville Music Festival
When: 6 p.m. Friday
Where: Main Stage
Admission: $75 Day Pass, $120 Weekend Pass
