Vintage country artists and triple threat fiddle champions, the Quebe Sisters, will bring their Southern roots to the Sellersville Theater Sept. 22
By Samantha Bambino
The Times
So many artists try to reinvent themselves to keep up with the times. Just look at Taylor Swift… But this isn’t always necessary. Sometimes, just staying true to your roots will keep fans coming back for more. This is certainly the case for the Quebe Sisters. On Sept. 22 at the Sellersville Theater, audiences can experience the siblings’ harmonious vocals, authentic Southern vibe and title-winning fiddle skills in a night of good old Americana music.
Today, the voices of Grace, Sophia and Hulda Quebe blend effortlessly in their staple sound of western swing and bluegrass, but this wasn’t always the case. In fact, they’re the first generation in their family to pursue a career in music.
It all started in Burleson, a southern suburb of Fort Worth, Texas, in 1998 when the sisters attended their first local fiddle competition in nearby Denton. Though Grace, Sophia and Hulda were only 12, 10 and 7 years old, respectively, at the time, they were fascinated by the instrument and knew that’s what they were meant to do. According to Grace, it was love at first sight.
Soon after, the three began taking fiddle lessons where they honed their skills and expanded their musical horizons under the influence of their teacher, who introduced them to western swing. When reflecting on the experience of learning the new instrument, Grace explained how the fiddle is no more or less complicated than the guitar or piano.
“Each instrument has its own peculiar thing that makes it difficult,” she said.
The three also had each other to lean on for support. Looking back, Grace admits lessons would’ve been harder if she didn’t have her sisters by her side for encouragement and to push her when she thought about giving up. Still, performing as a three-piece has its challenges as well.
“There’s a lot more stuff going on,” Grace said of the harmonies.
By 1999, the sisters had already begun winning state and national fiddle championships in their respective age categories for solo and group performances. This continued for the next several years with the girls gaining a steady local following.
“We started performing here and there around town, and the band came out of that,” Grace said.
Once all three reached high school, the Quebe Sisters were an official band performing full-time, something they never dreamed would happen in just a few short years. But it was their honest sound and humble demeanors that attracted fans of all ages. The Quebes were simply being themselves and doing what they loved, which is what ultimately resonated with audiences.
Throughout the past decade as a band, the sisters have released three albums, which include Texas Fiddlers, Timeless and Every Which-A-Way. They’ve headlined their own shows to ever-growing audiences across the country, and have had the pleasure of sharing stages with music legends such as Willie Nelson, George Strait, Merle Haggard, Connie Smith and Marty Stuart to name a few.
Now about midway through their nationwide tour, Grace said she and her sisters are excited to head up to the Northeast. Despite the stark cultural contrast from their Southern upbringing, their talent receives a warm welcome no matter the location. On Sept. 22 at the Sellersville Theater, audiences will experience a mixture of acoustic Americana, bluegrass and swing which will showcase the Quebes’ voices both individually and as a group.
The highlight, of course, will be their fiddling harmonies, something they’ve truly mastered over the years. Whether someone is a vintage country fan or not, the sisters’ talent alone should be enough to capture their attention. ••
If you go…
The concert will take place Friday, Sept. 22, at the Sellersville Theater, located at 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at st94.com/event/1506173-quebe-sisters-sellersville. To keep up with the Quebe Sisters, visit quebesisters.com, soundcloud.com/quebesisters or youtube.com/quebesisters.
Samantha Bambino can be reached at sbambino@newspapermediagroup.com
