“I write songs, that is my thing, I have been doing that forever,” Louise said, who previously performed with the folk-acoustic band Louis and the Pride, and currently collaborates with Daniel Mays in their recording project, Longley Lane.
Louise typically performs either solo or alongside Sam Pollock from The Ratbags.
“Sam does some amazing effects and electric guitar to add beautiful vibes to me and my guitar,” she said.
Her musical influences span across various genres, drawing inspiration from iconic acts.
“I am heavily influenced by a bit of a mix, like Crowded House, Fleetwood Mac, Tori Amos, Portishead and Madonna,” she said.
“The Eagles were heavily rotated in my household growing up.”
Louise has new and fresh material from a recent artist residency at a French château.
“We just dedicated time to our art and had little moments where we could trek off and see live music, galleries or old ruins for inspiration,” Louise said.
“It was just magical, and I haven’t been anywhere like that before, so I thought I would make it worth my while and lock in some gigs while I was over there, playing shows in Paris, Le Mons and London, with a couple of open mics in Edinburgh.”
After a successful set on the Homegrown stage in 2024, at this year’s Winter Blues, Louise will perform three sets of her own, featuring new material developed during her international travels.
“Sam and I have been working on arranging, making new arrangements for my new songs,” she said.
“I will be doing a fair bit of Louis and the Pride songs, just in a different way, because they lend themselves to Winter Blues.”
At this year’s Winter Blues, Louise is excited to watch sets by her fellow Bendigo boys, expressing admiration for fellow musicians, particularly Luke Harrington and Bill Barber.
“I also find the Checkerboard Lounge very inspiring” Louise said.
“I don’t often get to see them, and when I have, I just sit there and, Oh my gosh, the voice on that guy, the type of songs, just sweep me away.
“I always walk away inspired as a musician.”
Louise Macgregor plays Winter Blues:
Saturday, July 26 at the Beechworth Bakery at 10am
Saturday, July 26 on the Winter Blues Festival Stage in Little Hopwood St at 2.30pm
Sunday, July 27 at the Echuca Wharf at 10.30am.
