Guitarist/vocalist, Michelle Anderson, shared their favourite highlights (thus far), their favourite aspects of the local scene and why they love playing festivals like Harvest Sun.
How did Sweet Alibi come about?
Jess [Rae Ayre] and I knew each other from high school and would play music every now and then. Jess knew Amber [Rose] through her drummer of the band she was in at the time. I wanted to start a band with Jess, and Jess suggested Amber be involved. We wrote a song together the first time we met.
What would you say are some of the most notable changes you've seen over the years as you've evolved as a band?
We started off pretty folky, and over the years we've added more electric guitars and pop arrangements to our music.
What were your biggest influences when first starting out in music?
We all had different influences when we first started out. Amber had a lot of country influences. Jess had blues, and I was listening to a lot of Indie music like Feist, Hawksley Workman, Wilco etc.
This has been a busy year for you already. You kicked it off in Europe and continued with several tours. What have been some of your favourite highlights from this year so far?
Europe was definitely a highlight for all of us. It was our first time going over there, and everyone was so amazing, from the audiences to the promoters, and our driver. We felt like rock stars!
The music community is so tight and supportive in Manitoba. It's always fun to play a festival in our home province, because we've known all the local musicians for years, and have made lasting friendships from hanging out at festivals.
As big as the band has gotten, you still stick to your roots and play local and more intimate shows and fests liked Harvest Sun. What is it about these venues that keep you coming back?
Festivals like Harvest Sun treat the musicians so well, and that's the main reason we keep coming back. The audiences are also really appreciative, and again I would say that we love hanging out with the other musicians that we've known for years.
What are you most looking forward to in regard to playing Harvest Sun?
I'm going to sound repetitive, but I'm super excited to hang out with all the musicians this year and see them play. The lineup this year is amazing!
Catch Sweet Alibi at The Harvest Sun Music Festival in Kelwood, MB - August 17 - 19th. Early bird tickets are available until August 1st.
Follow Sweet Alibi on Facebook, on Instagram and on their official website.
Be sure to check out @harvestsunmusicfest on Instagram on July 21st, as Sweet Alibi takes over our account for the day!
Janet Adamana is the Founder/Editor-In-Chief of Sound, Phrase & Fury Magazine - a Winnipeg-based digital publication dedicated to promoting independent artists and industry professionals from all over the world. More than just about inciting hype, she interviews/writes to capture an artists’ essence and their greatest passions to ignite meaningful connections between fans and really great bands.