Po' girl co-conspirators Trish Klein, Allison Russell and Diona Davies deliver soulful roots, jazz, country grooves and occasional murder ballads. Po' girl revives all the grit and spirit of the old-time sound through their beguiling original songs and distinctive adaptations of traditional songs. Their contrasting vocals and strong musicianship create a compelling variety of textures, moods, and emotions. Po' Girl's sound is timeless and timely; these girls are urban minstrels for the twenty-first century. Trish Klein is a founding member of The Be Good Tanyas, the internationally acclaimed female alt-folk trio. Her accomplished musicianship and gorgeous vocal harmonies are a strong feature of the band's beautifully nostalgic sound.
A musician and songwriter with a distinctively natural style, Trish plays banjo, acoustic and electric guitar, harmonica, fiddle and mandolin. Her many and varied musical influences include the likes of Taj Mahal, Keith Jarrett, Lucinda Williams, Joan Armatrading, Olu Dara, Gram Parsons, Fugees, Al Green, Bob Marley, Bob Dylan and Bessie Smith.
Trish has spent the last several years touring internationally with the Be Good Tanyas, performing at music festivals, concert halls and skanky dives throughout North America, Australia and the UK.
Montreal-born Allison Russell is an impassioned performer, natural musician and gifted vocalist. Her broad musical palette has taken her from the French language Festival du Bois with the gypsy swing of Le Hot Club de Mars, to the Vancouver International Jazz Festival with Ache Brazil's capoeira enhanced sambas.
During her two-year stint with Vancouver Celtic folk band, Fear of Drinking, Allison was described by Geoffrey Kelly (Penguin Eggs Magazine), as "a mighty combination of Tracy Chapman and Natalie Merchant taking refuge in the book of British folk rock." Her rich soulful singing, clarinet, pennywhistle, bodhran and acoustic guitar playing, have won over audiences across Canada and the US.
Diona Davies started playing the violin at five years old in the small mill town of Port Alberni, B.C., on Vancouver Island. Piano was the next instrument to be added to her repertoire shortly after picking up the violin. Tuba, trombone, guitar and everything else followed over the years. After two years of formal training at the Royal Conservatory in Victoria, B.C., she decided to move on from the classical focus, and move she did. Her first band, The Derby, originated in a backyard in Fernwood ,Victoria then travelled across country touring with seven people and a baby in a van. Her next band, The Red Eyed Rounders, born of the Derby, traveled south, touring the Western States.
During and since she has been playing many various styles of music; Gypsy, Celtic, country, bluegrass, punk, funk, to Klezmer, and most importantly the profoundly inspirational original music of fellow musicians she's met along the road. As well as playing, Diona has taught music and composed soundtracks for many short films. With an uncanny knack for improvisation and adaptability of style, she's been able to play with many well-respected musicians such as Carolyn Mark, Geoff Berner, Billy Bragg, Fred Eaglesmith, Corb Lund and more. While touring has taken her all over North America and Western Europe she is now based on Galiano Island. Having recently joined Po' Girl, with the inspiration flowing, it is only onward and upward for little Fiddle D.
