Hitting the road to go on tour is almost like a family vacation for three Virginia siblings who front a five-piece band with their dad and younger brother.
Gold Heart, featuring sisters Tori, Jocey and Shelby is headlining this weekend’s Bluegrass Music Festival in Chemainus on Saturday and Sunday.
“We’re so excited about performing in British Columbia,” Tori Gold told the Chronicle of their first visit to the province.
The local stop is part of a two week pacific northwest tour that takes the harmonic-laden vocalists to Washington following the weekend stop on the Island.
Tori said exposure to different genres by her parents led to a musical upbringing as well.
Her mom also took the opportunity during long drives in the country to teach the girls to sing harmony.
“We were headed to church one Sunday morning and there was a bluegrass radio station that came on and we just fell in love with it,” she said. “We were just drawn to the music and the stories and over the years that’s just led to our own style of bluegrass music.”
Gold Heart officially formed in 2005 and have played extensively at venues and festivals in the U.S. and recently completed a European tour that included stops in Germany and Austria.
The band has recorded four projects, the latest of which is the 12-track album Places I’ve Been. The single Ain’t That Crazy hit #2 on the Bluegrass Today Radio Charts after it was released in 2015.
”Places I’ve Been, it’s been really good for us,” Tori said. “We had a great time recording it and then touring with the songs.”
Intertwined throughout the album are topics of family, love and heartbreak.
“The three of us sisters, we all switch around singing lead and harmony,” said Tori. “I think of it as a really pure music because what you play and sing through the microphone is what everyone hears.”
In addition to vocals, Tori plays the mandolin, Jocey, the guitar, and Shelby, the fiddle.
Dad, Trent plays upright bass and sibling Kai joined the band in 2015 and lends his talents to the banjo.
“It’s really band-oriented so everyone really works together to help each other shine in their moment,” Tori said. “It’s really cool to see that, especially live.”
For more information about the Chemainus Bluegrass Festival: http://www.chemainusbluegrass.com/