Rider Essentials: The Weeping Willows

Golden Guitar-winning alt-country duo, The Weeping Willows (partners in life, love, and song, Andrew Wrigglesworth and Laura Coates) are a couple of old souls, steeped in bluegrass tradition and draped in Gothic Americana imagery. They regale their audiences with stories of sunshine and romance, God and The Devil, murder, and decay. 

They celebrate the release of their long-awaited third studio album, You Reap What You Sow, with their brand new single, House Of Sin. True to form, with earthy new single and cautionary tale, House of Sin, the pair considers the irresistible flame of temptation and the wages of iniquity that follow in its train. 

The Weeping Willows have performed at AmericanaFest (USA), Folk Alliance Int. (USA), Maverick Festival (UK), Port Fairy Folk Festival, Queenscliff Music Festival, Out On The Weekend and the Australian Americana Music Honours, and supported Lukas Nelson & POTR, Hayes Carll, Iris DeMent and Willie Watson.

We caught up with Andrew Wrigglesworth and Laura Coates from The Weeping Willows to find out the things they always take on the road with them for this week’s Rider Essentials.

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1. Our own mics, the industry standard ‘Shure’ SM58s.  

Even in pre-COVID times, this was important. Best for safety and hygiene but also because you never know what you’re going to rock up and find at a gig (sometimes one mic, sometimes no mics!) Also, just generally, ‘better the Devil you know’!

2. Boots!

We’re a country duo after all! I [Laura] have managed to whittle it down to just two pairs (one black, one tan), I used to bring four or five but they took up most of my suitcase… Andy has some good ol’ faithful Windsor Smith’s that he’s had for over a decade and just keeps getting repaired.

3. Portable car fridge

This year, we finally bought a portable car fridge, which our dear friends and frequent tour buddies, Great Aunt (duo) named ‘Coolio Iglesius’. He has already saved us so much money, being able to BYO supermarket food instead of stopping at ‘servos’ along our tour route. A lifesaver!

4. Friends’ CDs!  

Heading out on tour and spending hours on the road is the best time to catch up on new tunes, especially albums our friends have put out recently. We have a ‘green bag’ full of CDs that lives in Andy’s Camry station wagon that’s continually updated with current music, as well as some old faves thrown in.

5. Pillows

… partly to keep comfy on the long drives but also to have a touch of home. It’s often nice to know that when you get back to the hotel after a day of driving and/or a late gig that what you lay your head down on is something soft and familiar.

6. Coffee percolator 

… we’re from Melbourne after all!

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Keep up to date with everything Weeping Willows and follow them on Facebook here.

For more of our Rider Essentials series, go here.