Mama’s Broke

On “Reunion”, Mama’s Broke’s third album, Amy Lou Keeler and Lisa Maria touch the darkest aspects of human life with openness and admirable musical originality. The Nova Scotia duo weave Appalachian and Eastern European traditions into songs that touch on economic inequality, violence against women, and stunningly beautiful, lyrically enigmatic ballads in the spirit of Time (The Revelator)-era Gillian Welch. They find something worth saving in the dark.

Mama’s Broke announce their new album “Reunion,” out August 28th via Free Dirt Records and Forward Music Group, and share the 16mm video for the single “The Nameless.” Following the JUNO-nominated Narrow Line, the Nova Scotian duo hold a mirror to a fracturing world of broken communities and systems that no longer deliver. We trace the announcement through our archive.

Mama’s Broke — Nova Scotia’s Amy Lou Keeler and Lisa Maria — share “Heaven,” the first single from their forthcoming album, out now via Free Dirt Records and Forward Music Group. “We’ve been left with a system collapsing under the weight of its own greed and corruption,” the duo say of a song about stepping back from urgency and devoting time to what you love. North American Analog Tour announced.

Filmed in the Sierra Nevada by Sweet Harmony Sessions, Mama’s Broke deliver a powerful performance of “Pick the Raisins from the Paska”, during which the duo merge the percussive art of Cajun fiddlesticks with a Ukrainian-influenced melody. The song, named for a family memory of picking raisins from Easter bread, perfectly captures the duo’s signature blend of tradition, heart, and astonishing skill.

Taken from their new album Narrow Line, Mama’s Broke share a humorous new video for ‘How It Ends’ – a breezy fiddle-led ballad that is an out-and-out relationship break up song.

We talk to folk duo Lisa Maria and Amy Lou Keeler, AKA Mama’s Broke, ahead of the release of their second album ‘Narrow Line’. Plus, watch their new video for October’s Lament.

Whilst sounding vintage in style, Narrow Line could belong in no other era than the present day. Mama’s Broke may seem traditional, but their tales of modern life have too much bite to be nostalgic, they are new and unique voices in modern, rootsy Americana that must be heard.

Our single of the week comes from Canadian folk duo Mama’s Broke featuring Lisa Maria and Amy Lou Keeler. Taken from their forthcoming sophomore album Narrow Line, listen to their lead single Just Pick One.

Watch Canadian folk duo Mama’s Broke performing ‘Dirty Mattresses’ in the doorway of Brían Mac Gloinn (Ye Vagabonds) home in Dublin in the company of woodcarver Feargus De Brún and Taylor the dog.

While at Sidmouth Folk Festival, Canadian folk duo Mama’s Broke were led to one of Sidmouth’s iconic seafront shelters, where they performed “What Can May Come” from their debut album “Count the Wicked.”

Canadian folk duo Mama’s Broke deliver a strong debut with ‘Count the Wicked, a journey through rural early 20th century Americana that’s fizzing with melodic ideas and tales to tell. Debut albums as strong as this should not be ignored.