Today we’d like to introduce you to Grace Peach.
Hi Grace, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Ever since we were young, Hattie and I (Grace) have been interested in music, as we grew up in a very musical family. Our dad, John Peach performed in a cover band called The Blue Ringers for many years, and both him and our mom, Tammy, always kept music playing throughout the house. Hattie started off taking violin lessons and shortly after, I enrolled in piano lessons. When I was around 10 years old (and Hattie, 14), we started toying with the idea of singing together and possibly performing. Started off with karaoke tracks for fun, but eventually Hattie learned how to play the ukulele and guitar, and we started to run with it. I learned how to play bass, and our dad of course played the part as our drummer. We started out playing some smaller breweries, weddings, and in an annual country music Christmas show. We were very fortunate to have some really incredible role models to help us find our way.
We recorded our first EP in 2021 when I was a senior in high school and Hattie was in her final year of college at UMD. The five songs we released were written by Hattie and her experiences from age 15 to 21. Once we got that ball rolling, we kept going. I started writing some songs as well as Hattie, and we released our full length album last August (2024)! It has been an absolute pleasure playing these incredible venues around the Duluth and Twin Cities area and connecting with such wonderful people in the music community. We even gained a guitarist (our dad’s past bandmate from The Blue Ringers) Tom Kolter. It’s been a wild ride and it just keeps getting better!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Naturally, there are challenges when it comes to being musicians, but we’re incredibly fortunate to have friends and family supporting our every step. Of course, the cost of musical equipment and recording can create some challenges, as well as the lack of compensation for shows. We come from all across the state when we perform together. It started out with Hattie up in Duluth while our dad (John) and I were in Southern MN, then we swapped places. Now I live in Duluth, Hattie is in Minneapolis, and our dad and Tom are both in Southern MN, so no matter where we play, someone is driving from far away. Additionally, we all have full time jobs and do music on our own time, presenting another challenge. Hattie and I have to strategically figure out which shows we can do with limited time. Spring and fall can get pretty hectic with our dad farming when the sun shines, and the hours of driving add up quickly for all of us. A 7pm show turns into a 7 hour time commitment. It’s doable, but unfortunately we do have to turn shows down sometimes. Of course, this is something that could be avoided with bandmates in the same zip code, but we do it for fun, not for money. In reality, we enjoy excuses to travel around and hear incredible musicians we’re on a bill with.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Our band, The Penny Peaches is a family band based all around Minnesota. I’m (Grace) up in Duluth, Hattie in Minneapolis, and John and Tom are both in Southern Minnesota. We don’t feel like we match one specific genre, because we draw inspiration from all sorts. Some may say folk/americana, maybe singer/songwriter, alternative indie, or something completely different. Some have said we are similar to “the Swedish sister duo ‘First Aid Kit’ but without the accent”. We put emphasis on our blood harmonies like First Aid Kit, as well as the Secret Sisters and the Avett Brothers – to just name a few. We recently released our first full length album, ‘Good For Me’ last August, and it’s been a dream sharing it with everyone. We spent a week locked in during a snowstorm at Honeytone in Neenah WI in January of 2024 at this gorgeous historic mansion playing instruments we could only dream of. Personally, I geeked out getting to play a Hofner bass for the album, especially as a bassist with a Beatles obsession. Patrick Boland and Jeff Patlingrao did an incredible job with recording — it was such a special experience and we hope to be back there soon!
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
If you ask Hattie what I was like, she’d probably say “annoying” lol. It’s true, we definitely had a big sister/little sister dynamic, we didn’t get closer until I was finishing up high school and became less annoying.
Growing up, I had a strong interest in music. I took around 7 years of piano lessons which gave me an appreciation for playing music. I was in choir and other music shows, and in my free time I’d play a lot of video games, play with our precious kitties, or watch TV shows with Hattie. Our most impressive achievement was finishing all 11 seasons of X-Files in one summer — it was a great summer, very grateful for that knowledge and experience.
Hattie was involved in the Mankato orchestra and took many years of violin lessons. She spent most weekends traveling to learn and perform. We grew up in a very small town of around 1500 people, so any bigger music opportunities usually ended up being a few towns away. She was also involved in track and field, and went to state her senior year of high school. Music as a family band was very much on the back burner until Hattie was in college, then things started rolling. She’s an extremely talented visual artist as well, and has always had a knack for writing. Her first song, “Forgiveness” was written when she was 15 years old and can be found on our first EP.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/thepennypeaches?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAadOijnj-c-dmNLT_7kFg7DLIMrvmc5fm-bbj_SoS3fp5xKZdMUumWJVQi5nZA_aem_p-33Ace2Qgqkhwzw0vxphA
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepennypeaches/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepennypeaches/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePennyPeaches
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5CYJiOAuoRN13f5B8Vm4Ik?si=ezURCilGSteCLwXqnaV_Ng
