Armed with instruments, great songs, their sense of humour and a tour van rented from Rent-A-Wreck, The Good Lovelies will bring their charming sounds to Golden on August 5.

As part of the Summer Kicks concert series, this all girl band will perform along side local talent Travis Pickering and his aptly named band, The Bad Uglies.

The aptly named Good Lovelies are Caroline Brooks, Kerri Ough and Sue Passmore, all of them best friends and all former soloists.

Often described as “flirty-bluegrass”, the Toronto-based trio have perfected three-part vocal harmonies, clever songs and an onstage presence sure to have the audience laughing right along with the ladies.

The Golden Star caught up with the Lovelies as they were on-route to the Calgary Folk Festival last week.

Kerri Ough said that last year was The Lovelies’ first trip to Golden and the ladies had a great time.

“It was a really good trip and one of the highlights of our summer tour last year,” said Ough, adding, “We are really looking forward to this show although we are wondering about taking our rental vehicle over Roger’s Pass.”

Not a surprise when Ough explained that the vehicle came from a company called Rent-A-Wreck.

“Yeah, we rented a van with dog hair and stains,” she jokes as laughter can be heard in the background.

Actually, Rent-A-Wreck just offers rentals at very competitive prices and we at The Star are sure they come clean and free of dog hair.

When queried about playing alongside the Bad Uglies, the girls were all giggling, (we think they had been in the van too long) and Ough explained that the irony lies in the fact that the girls have sometimes called themselves the Bad Nasties after late night shows.

“We haven’t heard their stuff, but I think when we get to the Calgary Folk Festival we will do some spying to see what these guys are all about!”

The Star asked Ough how the Lovelies had come together to perform the style of music that they do.

“I don’t know that it was a conscious decision,” said Ough, adding, “With three vocalists and instrumentalists, it all just sort of came together. We sing what we write and that fact that we all compliment each other was just a magical accident,” she said laughing - no pun intended. Ough said the girls all have a wry sense of humour that surfaces sometimes in their music, but most often in the stories they tell between songs during their shows

Having been together for two-and-a-half years now, the Lovelies all decided to take the full leap into show-biz last year when they left their “real jobs” to begin the Riches to Rags tour.

“We all had very good employers and great jobs, but we decided that we wanted this more. That began our crazy two-month tour,” said Ough.

The Lovelies agree that this tour has been much more civilized, although there seemed to be a lot of laughter coming from the van upon hearing that description.

Ough told The Star about one of the Lovelies’ experiences on the last tour.

“At the beginning of last summer’s tour we ventured into an unnamed Ontario town.

When we drove by the venue, it had our name up on the Marquee reading: The Good Lovelies tonight only $3. It was very exciting to see our name up there. While we were doing our sound check we noticed what looked very much like a stripper’s pole in the the middle of the dance floor.”

As things got started, the Lovelies said they realized that the people in attendance may have been anticipating a different kind of show.

“We were paid in a 24 of Labatt 50 and when we were heading to our room (above the establishment) we were approached by a cop who asked where we were staying. When we explained that we were staying in a room above the establishment, he asked us if we had a gun...That was the beginning of a great and long running tour.”

The Lovelies said that touring and playing music is what they have planned for their future as well as an upcoming Christmas CD. The band has also just released their newest music video for “Baby I Got My Way” which can be viewed on their website or on You Tube.

Travis Pickering is a well known local musician who most performed at the Relay For Life, which he said was a very important show for him.

Pickering said he is really excited to play in the upcoming Summer Kicks series.

“I really wanted to participate last year, but it didn’t work out. So, when Bill [Usher] asked me to perform this year I jumped on the opportunity.”

Pickering will be playing with his father Larry Pickering and some surprise back up guests. The guys have dubbed themselves the Bad Uglies for the show.

When queried as to whether they will will keep the name, Pickering laughingly said maybe.

Pickering and the Bad Uglies will play a 40 minute set and concert goers can expect to hear a mix of originals, mainstream and oldies said Pickering.

Pickering, who has been writing and playing his own material for the past three years says he is a self-taught guitarist from a musical family. Though he has a full-time job on the side, Pickering says he lives and breaths music.

“When I am not working I am playing. I just got a new guitar and I can’t even walk by it without picking it up.”

Pickering says he hopes to pursue a career in music and will probably stick with a country-rock feel as that music comes naturally to him

This is his first time opening for a bigger band and he says he is excitedly anticipating the show.

“I love playing outdoor venues, they’re my favourite.”

Pickering, who was born and raised in Golden, said he has mostly stuck to the valley with his playing and has received great home town support along the way.

“Golden has always been amazing to me.”

He would like to expand his career and said he hopes to begin working on getting himself out in the music scene.

“The next big step is to really step out of my comfort zone and try to get myself out there. I have had a taste now of things that can happen and I think that if I really apply myself, things could really pick up for me.”

Catch The Good Lovelies and The Bad Uglies on August 6 down by the fountain. Bring your lawn chair.

This week, don’t forget to catch Vishten, with their brand of new-traditional Acadian music sure to have toes tapping. Vishten will perform at the fountain starting at 7 p.m. on July 30.

For more information, visit www.kickinghorseculture.ca