If you love the gorgeous harmonies of folk trio Good Lovelies, make sure to nab tickets to one of their upcoming shows. It’s to be one of their last for a good while.
After 18 years of writing, touring and recording, it’s time to take a break, says Sue Passmore, one-third of the group. “We’re going to take a little sabbatical next year,” she says. “We’ve been at it for 18 years and it’s time for a refresh.”
So for 2025, Good Lovelies plan to focus on their families and their own projects.
“It’s been amazing,” Passmore says, of the band’s run this far. “I think it’s just time. A little pause, some time at home and we’ll come back fresh.”
They were in their mid-20s when the group came together. “It was a lot of silliness,” she laughs. “We were just having such a good time. Everything was so novel. We were sharing one hotel room, driving around in a station wagon … we had a puppet who traveled with us, Jacques. It was so much fun.”
They had no plan to start a band, she says. They just ended up playing a show together. It went well, one show led to another, which led to a festival, and they never looked back. “It started growing and that was that. We were a band and it just kept going. It blows my mind a little that it’s been 18 years. And that we are still going. And still having a lot of fun. Despite this little break from the road the friendships are still as strong as they were on Day One.”
A new friendship they’ve struck up lately is with Canadian performing icon Raffi. Good Lovelies were playing a house concert near his home in British Columbia earlier this year. He came to the show, sat in the front row, took notes and then called the next day to share his thoughts.
“We just struck up this fast friendship. Raffi’s become a pal,” Passmore says. He asked if they’d sing on a record and a few songs ended up being 10. The album ended up being Penny Penguin by “Raffi with Good Lovelies.”
The trio also joined him for several performances this fall. “It was like a master class in doing a completely different kind of show,” says Passmore. “We’re there in Massey Hall and it’s full of children. The audience is kind of a living creature of constant motion and sound, and he’s just incredible to watch.”
“I grew up with Raffi so it’s really crazy to me that he’s a pal and we’ve done a record.”
Good Lovelies are playing Fort Macleod on November 14, Edmonton on November 15, Calgary on November 16 and Sylvan Lake on November 17. All with special guest Mia Kelly.
“Tip to Toe” by Good Lovelies:
