It seemed Aunt Martha was everywhere in 2011. With four sets at Bonnaroo and six shows in CMJ (both booked with Sonicbids) and countless gigs around the US, chances are you’ve seen them live. And if not, put it on your 2012 to-do list. These New England folk-rockers know to capture the attention of even the most rowdy crowd with lead singer Tim’s cutting vocals and beautiful arrangements that include violin bad-assery. We asked Noyes to reflect on what may have been Aunt Martha’s biggest gig in 2011, playing Roo.
For the first time ever, Bonnaroo opened up their lineup to Sonicbids artists. What was your reaction to being one of the eight Sonicbids artists selected to play Bonnaroo?
I immediately cracked open a celebration beer with the rest of the band. And it was like ten in the morning when we got the phone call I think, ha. But come on, how many bands get to play Bonnaroo? That was a great day.
Everyone knows Bonnaroo is one of the biggest festivals in the US. How did you prep for your set?
Well we had the good fortune of playing four sets at Bonnaroo, and as amazing as it was it made for a lot of rehearsing because we wanted to play different sets each time. We were also playing with a new bass player, so it was a little stressful leading up to festival. Luckily we were in Nashville for a few days beforehand, and we camped out at my friend’s studio and just rehearsed like madmen. It all worked out.
Besides playing of course, what was the best part about the festival?
Catching so many great bands! I remember seeing My Morning Jacket and Arcade Fire back to back and just feeling so lucky to be there. And then there are a ton of small bands (like us) that I saw for the first time and now listen to all the time. Matthew and The Atlas were great; we got to tour with them a bit. And Tristen really impressed me too.
What did you learn from playing a major festival like Bonnaroo that you can share with other bands?
More than anything, just enjoy the experience. Touring and playing music has so many highs and lows, when you get the opportunity to play a festival like Bonnaroo you have to make it count.
What’s next for Aunt Martha in 2012?
A month off the road and then back at it. And I'd like to start working on a new record in the next few months. We'll see. I really never know.
Check out Aunt Martha's latest release Norway, ME and check out the video for their latest single, Tompkins Sq. below:
Aunt Martha - Tompkins Sq. [Official Music Video] from Aunt Martha on Vimeo.
