Queens of The Castellows

The Castellows are heading out on tour. The sisters are supporting Little Big Town and Sugarland on their mammoth ‘Take Me Home’ tour. But before 2023, the three Balkcom siblings hadn’t considered that they could be country musicians – how exactly did these sisters from Georgia become one of the most exciting bands in country music? 

Georgia girls 

Eleanor (Ellie), Lily and Powell Balkcom hail from the small town of Dahlonega, Georgia. Dahlonega is famous for being the place where the first gold rush took place in 1829, a circumstance that spawned one of the best-known misquotes in history, from Mark Twain’s ‘The Gilded Age’: “There’s millions in it”. For The Castellows, golden-haired as if to give their fans a hint of their origins, a cattle farm would be the place they grew into the women making their names known in country music.  

Growing up in a close-knit family with deep southern roots, music was always a part of their lives. Their father, a bluegrass musician, often filled their home with the sounds of banjos and fiddles, while their mother’s love for classic country provided the soundtrack to their upbringing. However, it wasn’t until their late teens that the idea of forming a band took shape. In 2022, a series of local performances started gaining attention. The sisters, who initially played music for fun, began to notice that their harmonies and unique blend of traditional and contemporary country resonated with audiences. A pivotal moment came when they uploaded a cover of a Dixie Chicks song on social media. The video went viral, garnering thousands of views and catching the attention of local radio stations and music producers. 

Encouraged by the positive feedback, the sisters decided to take a leap of faith. In early 2023, they packed their bags and headed to Nashville, the heart of country music. The journey wasn’t easy; they faced scepticism and the daunting task of breaking into a highly competitive industry. However, their authentic sound and compelling stage presence quickly set them apart. Their big break came when they were invited to perform at the famed Bluebird Café, a Nashville institution known for launching the careers of many country stars. Their performance was a hit, leading to a recording contract with a major label. Their debut single, ‘Southern Nights’, a nostalgic ode to their Georgia roots, climbed the charts rapidly, solidifying their place in the country music scene. They were signed to Warner Music Nashville and Warner Records simultaneously, the rest, as they say, is history.  

Read the full feature in our free digital magazine here: https://bit.ly/3WUe56j

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Hannah Larvin, Editor, Maverick Magazine
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Email: editor@maverick-country.com