The Swallowtails
Oppenstein Brothers Memorial Park, September 11th, 5:30 PM
Bio: The Swallowtails are a genre-bending acoustic duo that fuses rock, pop, and folk genres by-way of their unique instrumentation. Featuring Miki P on acoustic guitar/vocals, and Rachel Lovelace on bassoon/vocals, the songwriting duo from Kansas City is making waves throughout the Midwest and beyond.
Established in 2018, they have released 2 full-length albums of original music: Right Where We Are (2020) & The World Still Spins (2023). In November of 2024, the band won “Best Local Band” in the Kansas City magazine The Pitch. The Swallowtails latest release is an EP named Lucky Penny (2024), marking the beginning of a new musical direction for the duo as co-songwriters. NPR’s 90.9 The Bridge says about the EP, “A lovely confluence of pastoral folk and baroque pop, these songs evoke the understated but poignant movements that we all encounter throughout life – in celebration, struggle, regrets and realizations.” Miki’s rhythmic guitar paired with Rachel’s soaring melodies creates an endearing and charismatic stage presence. The Swallowtails are redefining what a live music experience can encompass.
In connection to the theme: For our performance, we plan to play all new original unreleased songs we’ve written in the past year. The songs are about growth, acceptance, and empowerment. In order to seek wonder, you must be present. We want to encourage our community and listeners to be present. We believe performing music not available on phones or streaming platforms will allow people the opportunity to experience the art in its natural raw state. Wonder, be curious, and focus on the lyrics and how the sounds emphasize specific phrases.
Socials:
Instagram: @theswallowtails
Artist Interview
By: Lilly Gerend
The Swallowtails are a genre-bending acoustic duo that fuses rock, pop, and folk genres by-way of their unique instrumentation. Featuring Miki P on acoustic guitar/vocals, and Rachel Lovelace on bassoon/vocals, the songwriting duo from Kansas City is making waves throughout the Midwest and beyond.
Within their performance at Oppenstein Brothers Memorial Park on September 11th they will perform their own original music, including focusing on songs of theirs that are currently unreleased. “We wanted to focus on performing songs that are unreleased, because there are so many ways to hear music online. However, performing live allows the listeners to be present and focus on what is happening in the moment,” they say. Miki and Rachel are looking forward to widening their reach and playing for new audiences and meeting new artists and people at their performance.
For Miki and Rachel, they mention how their connection to music has helped to shape them as people. “Writing songs is a great way for us to be vulnerable and honest with ourselves and to our audiences,” and how “the Kansas City art community is diverse. It is a great place to develop your art and collaborate with others.”
Through the form of song both Miki and Rachel are able to express themselves, while still having the opportunity to explore and grow, sharing their experiences with listeners and audience members. We encourage you to join us for their performance in Oppenstein Brothers Memorial Park on September 11th, at 5:30 P.M.
