about

The Pegwells are a band of folk playing the old time tunes of the Appalachian mountains. Our aim is to present another untold story of American folk music, one that challenges and dismantles the myth of an intrinsic whiteness. We understand the history of Old Time to be one of the colonial experience, blending British Isles and Celtic tunes with West African rhythms.

The band was formed in 2021 by Bianca Wilson (banjos) and Rebekah Bouche (guitar) as a space to protest the tokenism of existing as a marginalised gender in the traditional music scene, applying a queer lens to the sound and making room for ourselves to play this music that we love. Whenever possible, we’re joined by Ray Aggs and Annalise Lam on fiddles, Rosetta Carr on double bass, and if it’s a square dance Alice Bradley as caller. We’re always on the lookout for more weirdos to join us on our mission, each new connection bringing a unique musical background and identity, evolving and expanding the sonic tapestry of the group.