The Sunny Cowgirls – Sophie and Celeste Clabburn – will rock their way to Geelong as part of their national tour for their latest album.
“We’re always looking forward to getting down that way,” said elder sister Sophie.
“It’s always a really good vibe and a great crowd down there.”
The Cowgirls released eighth album Here We Go in September, which Sophie described as “up-tempo, toe-tapping classic Sunny Girls”.
“We really wanted to get back to where we came from,” she said.
Sophie first picked up the guitar at age 10, learning her first song at 11.
“Basically I roped my little sister into it,” she said. “I said ’listen to me, we’re going to be a duo and play as the Sunny Cowgirls’.”
“Celeste picked up the bass guitar and sort of taught herself.”
The Sunny Cowgirls take their name from family farm Sunninghill at Dunkeld, near the Grampians.
The sisters grew up in in both WA and regional Victoria, cutting their teeth performing at rodeos and shows across WA.
They were in their teens when they released their debut album in 2005, after catching the eye of producers at Tamworth’s Academy of Country Music.
The album Little Bit Rusty peaked at number three on the ARIA Country Charts.
The two have played with numerous Aussie country greats, as well as opening for Taylor Swift in the Snowy Mountains eight years ago.
“Work hard, play hard is our ethic!” Sophie said.
The sisters live apart: Celeste lives in WA while Sophie lives in the small NSW town of Gunnedah.
“I met my man over here at an agriculture show,” she said.
The arrangement works perfectly for the sisters – despite the airfares – as they prefer to write music separately.
“Half the songs are hers and half are mine,” Sophie said. “Being sisters we can be a little too honest with each other.“
It’s been a few years since the eight-time Golden Guitar nominated duo have been out on the road.
“We’re looking forward to bringing our new show to a heap of small towns across Australia.”
Up and coming country musician, Jemma Beech, has been opening for the Cowgirls on their latest tour.
She will join them again when they play at the Gateway Hotel next Friday.
“She’s doing a great job – country crowds just love her,” Sophie said.
