BASKERY

The three sisters can't recall when or why they started playing, the music’s always just been there. In their late teens, the sisters joined forces with their dad, who for decades, was a one man band playing old blues and country tunes for a living. They named the band Slaptones and released two albums on EMI Sweden. This foundation of classic "roots music and Americana" settled in their hearts, but also awoke the urge of breaking the rules of traditional music. 

 

Baskery is a band built on what three people can do together and it's all about turning the music on its head, blending the straightforwardness of punk with the subtlety of singer/ songwriting. 

The first album, "Fall Among Thieves" (2008) was recorded in Stockholm, co-produced by Lasse Mårtén (Pink, 'Peter, Bjorn and John', Kelly Clarkson). 

"New Friends" (2011) the follow up, the band referred to it as the "gypsy album" since it was mainly tracked on the road in various hotel rooms and band apartments, then mixed in Berlin by Blackpete (Depeche Mode, Joe Jackson, Peter Fox). 

As a contrast to the first two albums which took several months to make, the third one "Little Wild Life" was recorded during ten days in an old dance studio converted to a studio in former east Berlin, co-produced by Matt Wignall (Cold War Kids, J. Roddy Walston). 

 

All three albums received great acclaim by the press and are released in numerous countries. The releases in combination with relentless touring have given the band a reputation as one of the music scene's most noticeable live acts. Independency has always been important to the Bondesson sisters and in 2012 they founded their own production and publishing company, Mother Tarantula / Spiderling , under which they have produced and released two albums and one live DVD. Their projects are supported by the Swedish art council which aim is to preserve unique art and music. In both 2011 and 2013 the sisters received individual awards for their songwriting skills by Swedish composer’s society STIM . 

 

In early 2014 the band started working with Kobalt Music Publishing. Baskery has successfully toured all over the world, performing at festivals such as Glastonbury (UK), Shrewsbury Folk Festival (UK), SXSW (US), Colours of Ostrava (CZ), Portland Waterfront Blues Festival (US), California World Fest (US), Four Corners Folk Festival , (US), Winnipeg Folk Festival ( CA), Calgary Folk Festival (CA), Woodford Folk Festival (AUS), Peace and Love (SE), Storsjöyran (SWE), Lowlands (NL), Azkena Rock (ES), Bergen Fest (NOR), Toender (DK). In 2015 the band toured in Europe and North America, performing with legendary artist Robbie Williams . The girls have toured with Gary Clark Jr , and Brandi Carlile , earning critical acclaim from Q magazine , Mojo magazine, Uncut magazine , and many more. The band continued touring throughout 2016, dotting Europe and North America with performances of their already legacy-laden career.

 

2017 was a busy year with multiple trips to the US. The band performed at festivals like Bonnaroo, Newport Folk Festival, Arroyo Seco, UtopiaFest and Bottlerock alongside artists like Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Alabama Shakes, Dr John, Mumford and Sons, The Meters, The Avett Brothers and more. They were invited to perform at the renowned live radio show E town in Boulder, sharing the bill with Fruition out of Portland. New music was recorded at their longtime collaborator Ray Kennedy ’s (Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, Ron Sexsmith) studio in Nashville. 

 

In October 2023 Baskery released their 5th studio album,“V End of the Bloodline”, the first full length in five years. As the members live in three different countries, the appointed recording had to be postponed when the pandemic struck in March 2020.  

If the 2018 release, ”Coyote & Sirens” was all for the collective and the group identity, their latest album reveals more personality and individual reflections. That said, the sibling trio quickly absorbed each song and shaped them into Baskery signatures. When it came to finding the right studio, the band sought and found a secluded Devon farmhouse, where the wooden structure offered just the perfect place for a classic live session format.

The choice of producer fell on fellow musician, the award winning Sean Lakeman (The Levellers, Imelda May, Equation, Billy Bragg) whom the band first got to know back in 2008, supporting his brother Seth Lakeman and band across the UK. His vision of the coming recording harmonised with the band’s, to use as many live takes as possible. In order to achieve that they buried themselves in high quality vintage gear and surrendered to the grand room’s potential.

 Apart from inviting Seth Lakeman to play the viola on two tracks, ”Little Lonesome Hate” and Wolf Hook” the sisters conduct all instrument parts on their own. All arrangements and compositions can also be credited to the band. The mixing of the twelve tracks came to be divided between Victor Van Vugt ( Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Beth Orton, Depeche Mode, P.J. Harvey, The Pogues, Alison Moyet, Gogol Bordello), Lasse Mårtén (Lykke Li, Peter Bjorn and John, Chrissie Hynde, Primal Scream), Al Scott (Oysterband, Levellers, Eliza Carthy) and Sean Lakeman. 

”The V” is a generous record in the sense that is allows each member to shine and comfortably take on the lead role, as well as giving room for the 4th entity, which is the band.