People’s Fair Art & Music Festival Preview – Trout Steak Revival – Bevin Foley
by Alex Teitz
Trout Steak Revival is a Colorado band known for its mix of indie folk and bluegrass style. Their music blends country, bluegrass and folk into a sound that is both majestic and airy. They came to prominence winning the Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band competition is 2014. They’ve put out 3 albums with the latest being Spirit to the Sea.
Colorado Native Bevin Foley is the fiddle player and vocals in the band. She brings the spirit to the music and a keen songwriting sense. FEMMUSIC was honored to speak to Foley about Trout Steak Revival and how the scene has changed.
Trout Steak Revival will be at People’s Fair Art & Music Festival June 1-3, 2018 in Denver.
FEMMUSIC: What was the biggest challenge making Spirit to the Sea?
BF: The biggest challenge for me personally was the fact that my Father began losing his battle with cancer as we started recording this album. We made this album and released it during the hardest six months of my life so far.
FEMMUSIC: What were your goals with Spirit to the Sea
BF: To put out our new songs in a way that reflected the ways that we have grown as a band over the last few years. To stay genuine to ourselves and our experiences
FEMMUSIC: You worked with Chris Pandolfi again on Spirit to the Sea. What does he bring to the project?
BF: He brings an outside voice and opinion that is really valuable. He helped us put together the final arrangements of the songs for the album and helped us take chances and explore new sonic territory with our sound.
FEMMUSIC: How has your music changed over time? What do you wish you’d learned earlier?
BF: I think that our music has become more and more genuine over time. We continue to learn who we are and are able to express things we want to say in authentic ways. Writing our own music in our own voices.
FEMMUSIC: You’re a native of Colorado. How has the music scene changed? Are there any things you miss?
BF: The music scene has blown up in the last few years. It is a great time to be a musician in Colorado. The community is growing and full of inspiring and talented people. Denver feels like it has become a hub for amazing musicians to live and perform. I wouldn’t change that.
FEMMUSIC: Can you describe your songwriting technique?
BF: Melodies come easier to me than chords and lyrics, so most of my songs start with a melodic idea. I know I have something special if I can get some chorus words added to the melody that get stuck in my head. Song writing is not an easy or natural process for me, so I take my time and keep chugging along.
FEMMUSIC: What song (not your own) has had the biggest influence on you and why?
BF: I’m not sure that I could name just one song that I have been most influenced by. I’m sorry.
FEMMUSIC: As a woman in the music industry have you been discriminated against?
BF: I think that every woman, no matter what industry they are in, has experienced some form of discrimination. Intentional or just as a symptom of societal norms. So yes.
FEMMUSIC: Whom would you most like to collaborate with, or tour with? Why?
BF: We have a lot of friends that we get to see as we travel around touring the US. There are amazing bands that I would love to do some shows with. Fruition, Front Country, The Lowest Pair, Mandolin Orange, and The Little Smokies, to name a few. I have so much respect for the bands coming up in the acoustic music scene right now and it is always really special when you get to collaborate and/or tour with creative people that you are inspired by and respect as performers and artists.
FEMMUSIC: What one thing would you like to change about the music industry?
BF: I would like to see more women on show and music festival lineups. There are so many incredibly talented females creating amazing music right now.
