Larkin Poe
Bluesfest | 9–13 April 2020
Nashville based sisters, Rebecca and Megan Lovell, are Larkin Poe. They named their band after their great great great grandfather who was a distant cousin of writer Edgar Allan Poe. That’s pretty cool. These Atlanta born sisters are pretty cool too – steeped in the traditions of Southern American music. These girls have fun – it’s worth checking out their Tip o’ the Hat video series where they sing classic rock songs acoustically in the car – or wherever they are, straight to camera. It’s clear what huge charisma these two have.
‘We started shooting these little clips a few years ago because we wanted to keep it fresh’ says Rebecca. ‘We would learn new songs and film us singing them, and the response was so overwhelming we keep doing it. The fact people love them so much really is intriguing!’
Larkin Poe will be releasing a new album just before they hit Bluesfest.
‘We’re hoping to have the record out in March’ says Megan. ‘We’ll play songs from our new album but also from the back catalogue, because you want to give your audience the chance to sing along to some of their favourites!’
The girls are definitely moving to a more rattling, electric guitar riffing-rock sound. It’s quite a long way from their acoustic roots.
‘It’s been an evolution process’ says Megan, ‘that started in 2010. We were more acoustic, and we were influenced by music from our teens – we loved playing bluegrass. It feels now like we have found our voice – we know who Larkin Poe are. We know what they sound like. We love Thin Lizzy and Black Sabbath… I love a big rock show, we head-bang and it’s so much fun giving roots and blues a kick in the arse!’
Rebecca chimes in, ‘that’s one of our favourite things – oh yeah, whenever you are able to get on stage with a big old amplifier! When we play festivals we are cranking through some super reverb – get that amplifier cranking so high that it’s screaming! In the last few years when people are singing along with us, it gives us so much energy. We love playing festivals because it’s music lovers coming together to celebrate live music!’
As sisters the two have a close bond and a healthy respect. They work well together because they sincerely adore each other. It shows in their music.
‘We’ve been with each other for over 28 years’ says Megan. ‘We share our music, our business, then we go to family dinners – we get along really well and while we can push each other’s buttons, we try not to. Working together in the studio we are an oiled machine, we like to step away and not be personal about the ideas so we can let the best idea win and make something great, and not let feelings get in the way.’
Rebecca is fast to back Megan, ‘the relationship we have is one of the most important things in our mortal lives. The over-riding emotion between us is love and respect – I hate hearing about sibling bands that are hard on each other!’
The harmonious relationship allows the sisters to just have fun whether they are on stage or in the studio. They also produce their own albums.
‘The studio can be infuriating if you are developing something. You write a song, but you don’t know how it’s going to come out. You have to go into the dark room – sometimes you can’t figure how to put the song in focus’ says Rebecca. ‘Although Megan and I have learned to let it breathe and approach it tomorrow – that’s when the beauty of creativity comes in, and the genie helps the creative process. It really requires some elements of that, and leaps of faith. In saying that, we are really looking forward to going in the studio!’
Larkin Poe are one of the incredible international acts playing Bluesfest at Easter next year. For tickets and program info go to bluesfest.com.au
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
