UCR Interview • Marie Bradshaw of The Lower Lights
Marie Bradshaw is a vocalist in the American Supergroup, The Lower Lights. They will be performing a run of concerts at Kingsbury Hall from December 11-13. I’ve had the opportunity to see Marie perform not only in The Lower Lights but with her band, The Hollering Pines. She has an incredible voice. These shows are not to be missed. And she is a huge reason for that. Marie took the time to visit with me during what is no doubt a busy week of rehearsals and preparation for these shows. I enjoyed our conversation and hope you do as well!
Interviewed by Kevin Rolfe
Utah Concert Review: This is an exciting week. There are so many people that are anticipating this time of year, and it just doesn’t feel like the holiday season without seeing a Lower Lights concert. How has it been for you preparing and leading up to this week?
Marie Bradshaw: Oh, it’s kind of intense. We have a lot of members who live out of state, so we get together in these smaller groups and brush up on stuff. But then, the last few days leading up to the concerts, it’s like crunch time because everyone’s finally in town, and so it’s a little bit crazy, but it’s fun.
UCR: Oh yeah. I guess I don’t really think about the ones coming from out of state. Do the ones here get things started, and then once people get into town, they plug in, type of thing?
Marie Bradshaw: Yes, definitely. We brush up on everything and refresh our memories about how everything goes. But I don’t know, it’s not the same until you get like bass in the room, but we hold it down pretty well.
UCR: Well, I’m excited! I’ve seen you perform many times, whether it be with The Lower Lights or with The Hollering Pines, but I don’t really know much about your musical history. Would you mind going over some of that with me? How early on did you start singing and performing?
Marie Bradshaw: I did musical theater and stuff in junior high, and then in high school, I started Marie Bradshaw band, and we would play around. Nothing too crazy, but we had a couple gigs, and then I started the Folkadots.
UCR: That’s a great name!
Marie Bradshaw: We played like folky, bluegrassy kind of country acoustic music.
We did that for a few years, and that’s actually how we met the Lower Lights. That’s how I got linked up with them. We opened for one of their earlier concerts, I think 2013. We did like an opening set for one of the Christmas concerts, and then we just kept hanging around. That’s where I’ve met most of my music community is through The Lower Lights. My other band is The Hollering Pines. We have a lot of members in common with The Lower Lights, and I think that’s it, that’s where we are today.
UCR: I think the first time I saw The Lower Lights was in 2016. Over that time, I’ve seen you go from being somewhat of a featured artist to more of an integral and essential member of the band. Even more so when various original members have had to take a year or so off or moved away. Then you were really on that front line. Which I just loved. It’s been fun to see you become more and more a key vocalist in The Lower Lights. How did you initially get invited to join the group? Were you opening for them with the Folkadots, and they were just like, “Hey, you should join forces with us?”
Marie Bradshaw: Pretty much. We knew Ryan Tanner originally. He kind of was like, “Come do this,” and then he kept inviting us. I’m not sure if everyone else was like “yeah, invite them.” We at least had Ryan being like, “Just come on down.” So I think you just hang around enough and eventually you’ll be up on the front row singing a song.”
UCR: Oh, that’s good to know. I interviewed Debra Fotheringham recently about her new album release, and I told her the same thing: anytime you need a singer, like if somebody gets sick or can’t make it, give me a call, I will step in. It’s a dream of mine to sing with you guys! I mean, realistically, I know that would never really happen. The roster is so talented! But now I guess I just gotta kind of just hover around you guys and maybe there’s a chance!
Marie Bradshaw: Yeah, just make yourself useful, and yeah, eventually they’ll be like “okay fine, come on up.” That’s the cool thing about The Lower Lights, though, is that it’s, I wouldn’t say it’s a specific combination of people. The Lower Lights is this thing, and then people come and go, and it remains no matter who’s involved.
UCR: I love that. What is this experience like for you? What is it like performing in front of 1,500 people a night on this run?
Marie Bradshaw: It’s so cool! I think that’s the reason I keep doing it. When am I gonna play for that many people by myself? And play these songs that everyone knows and loves? I think it’s the closest outcome to being on tour with an amazing band, and everyone’s like writing hard for the songs you’re playing because they love them. People take it seriously. We’ve got people who come every year with their whole giant families.
It’s cool because it’s very low pressure because there’s so many people, but everyone’s so good at what they do that there’s like no nerves about I hope we sound okay, or I hope nobody messes up their part, because there’s so many people that carry each. Everyone’s such a pro at what they do. That’s one of the coolest parts. I know a thousand percent it’s gonna sound really good, and I just get to play a little part in that. It feels nice.
UCR: I have no doubt! And the way these audiences react to these songs and the way you guys perform them is an experience unto itself.
Marie Bradshaw: Those are the best. I mean, you know this, you’ve been to so many shows where it’s like the collective vibe of the audience is different every night, and those nights when people are jumping up and dancing, it’s so fun. We have a symbiotic thing going on.
UCR: As you’re performing, are you able to catch these moments going on in the crowd?
Marie Bradshaw: Oh yeah, for sure. I definitely notice when people are out there having more fun than usual.
UCR: Are there any that have stood out over the years?
Marie Bradshaw: I can’t think of a specific time, but there are times when people just feel like they should get up and dance in the aisles. Like it’s contagious, you know? Those are the shows that are memorable to me. One person gets up and does it, and then it’s just like a chain reaction.
UCR: I love it. Those are some of my favorite moments in the shows. Ok, last few questions. Do you remember the first concert you went to?
Marie Bradshaw: I do. The first concert I went to, I actually don’t have any memory of, but my dad did say he took me to John Denver. But the first concert I remember going to was my mom took me to the Indigo Girls. I think they played Roy High School, or Layton High, one of the high schools around here. They just played in the theater, so that’s the first concert.
UCR: What a random venue for them. How old would you say you were when you saw that show?
Marie Bradshaw: Pretty young. Probably nine or ten. I’m trying to think of the first concert I went to where I was like Oh, I want to try that. My dad did take me to Alison Krauss a few times, and I think I could see myself being like, “yeah, I could get up there and do that.”
UCR: Do you remember the first time and not not necessarily like a high school musical or choir concert, but a show where you performed live?
Marie Bradshaw: I think it was Kilby Court. I don’t even know when that would have been, but yeah, I think Kilby Court was our first little concert we did. I’m sure I invited all these adults in my family who were like, “What is this place?” “Where am I?” But yeah, I think that was it.
UCR: Do you remember what that feeling was like?
Marie Bradshaw: I’m sure I was nervous. It was different. I mean, doing musical theater and stuff like that, it’s like you’re performing for a lot of people in a dark room, you know, then you go do something like Kilby Court, and there’s like 10 people, and you’re all in very close proximity, so I don’t know that’s kind of nerve-wracking. I’m sure I was nervous about that.
UCR: What’s the best concert you’ve been to? I’m sure you’ve been to a bunch, so if you can’t narrow it down to one, I’ll happily accept a few.
Marie Bradshaw: I’ve been to a lot of Brandi Carlile concerts, and for a long time, she was my number one. Like obsessed. She’s just such a good live performer; she just brings so much energy and confidence, and obviously, it sounds amazing too. So those are always like Wow, that’s a great performer. I did take my daughter to the Eras Tour a couple of years ago. That was really cool to see because I’ve never been to a concert that size. I’ve never really been to one of those big pop concerts that are a whole production and a whole like, there’s costumes and there’s sets and there’s a storyline. So that was really cool too. Very inspiring.
UCR: Do you have an experience as a performer that’s been your favorite?
Marie Bradshaw: Paul Jacobson will put together these tribute concerts. I love doing those because it’s the same idea. You’re with all these super talented people, and people already know the music; they already love it. They come listen, and that’s always really fun.
It’s also just been fun to like be able to open for so many artists that I look up to and be invited to share a stage. We had one time, it’s very random, but it’s an example of how it’s kind of cool to put yourself out there and then see what opportunities come your way. Me and my sister Kiki and Corrine, we used to be the Folkadots. We got invited to sing backup harmonies for Rick’s Springfield. I don’t know how long ago that was maybe like four or five years ago. It’s just stuff like that I love. Just getting a random invite to just come do backup vocals or you know open for somebody.
UCR: Who are so who are some musicians or bands that you’ve opened for?
Marie Bradshaw: Marty Stewart. We’ve opened for John Hyatt, Josh Ritter. When I was with the Folkadots, we got to open for Nico Case. The Head and The Heart, oh my gosh, I don’t know, there’s just so many, it’s been really cool.
UCR: I really appreciate you taking the time to talk with me. I’ve been a big fan for a while, and you sing some of my favorite songs in these concerts. It was good to chat with you and get to know you. I’m looking forward to this weekend!
Marie Bradshaw will be performing with The Lower Lights during their run of annual holiday concerts at Kingsbury Hall from December 11-13. To purchase tickets, go to thelowerlights.com
For more information on Marie Bradshaw’s other band, The Hollering Pines, click here.