EP Review: Bidibids

Te Whanganui-a-Tara based Folk trio Bidibids (Sarah August – banjo/guitar; Simon Carryer – cello-banjo; Brendan Schenk – mandolin/guitar) first came together at the 2020 Wellington Folk Festival whilst playing in other groups. And as is the nature of these festivals, many late-night jams occurred leading to a true cohesion between the three. Eventually a new group, Bidibids, was born.

It’s very clear from the six tracks on their debut ep that their love of folk, Americana and bluegrass the brand on show here.

The music is written mainly by August and Schenk, with simple down-home structures. Those who went to WOMAD last year and saw Abigail Washburn and Béla Fleck will immediately be thinking of their high country/Appalachian folk. But there’s a more local flavour to the Bidibids, too. Maybe the accent shines through, in the vocals and the playing. That’s not a thing you can signpost. Because as with all things truly Kiwi, it’s more nuanced at times. But it’s definitely there.

As these songs emerge, we can see they wear their influences on their sleeves. There are hints of similarities to their favs such as American bluegrass and folk acts like Watchhouse, Nickel Creek, and locals like the Eastern and Marlon Williams. So, you can understand the desire to establish an authentic folk tradition that truly belongs to Aotearoa.

Fall In Again begins the collection with one of several simple, yet catchy ballads held together with the barest of string pickings and chords.

Alone Is Not So Lonely is even more sparse, led by the strumming of a mandolin and perhaps a banjo. The chorus moves to a more upbeat tempo, and perhaps in a live setting, such as the Mussel Inn or Moon Bar, where they are regulars. A bass, drums and a violin would be helpful additions to help get the toes tapping and the knees slapping.

I’ll Take It All seems to drift across the ears. Again, there’s the prominence of the mandolin and August’s dry-as-autumn leaves vocalis. I love the darker chord-turns on this one, they hint at a slight revolution. The harmonies of each three players warm up the chorus and invite the listener to hum along. After all folk music works best when we all participate, don’t you think?

If there was a support for heartbreaker in this set, it’d be Sinners Rejoice. The title suggests some kind of parable or religious experience. It’s more a call of support – “I’ll be there, it’s been a long time coming… It’s a burden, a burden needs a lot’ sings August.

Every folk album needs a wise old soul song. This one is Lay In My Grave. I get the gist is about making the most of what we have. Although that’s open to interpretation. “One day I’ll lay in my grave / One day you lay in yours, too/ You’ll want me and hold me and come back for more and the rest of between us we share”.

Perhaps the most is empathetic of these numbers is the slow strum ballad Tell Me Do You Worry. Lines like “I was just enquiring. Would it be a crime to waste your time on me?” Usually, that second line appears in those shy ‘what about me’ style pop songs. But here it seems more like an offer of support, hope even to move on. “Any place is gotta be better than being in a backward town”

On this, there’s a conversation between August (offering help) and Schenk (receiving). It’s a nice, careful but optimistic finish. Again, hope is offered in the song as the trio of strings blend into the harmony and the sunset emerges across the big screen of the imagination and the credit start to roll.

As promised in their publicity, this is an intimate, personal and heartfelt collection. The songs don’t necessarily stand out individually. This is more a set that works together, like a mini concert. The absence of a instruments gives a small pub or campfire vibe to the listen. But that doesn’t stop you filling up the space with your own additions. So, in lieu of actually seeing them live, I’d imagine the best place to listen this summer is in the shade of a porch or on the deck, with an iced tea or a cold beer. Sure, that sounds like a bit of a cliché but what’s wrong with one of those, once in a while. And remember, you are allowed to sing along, too!