Telling True and Imagined Stories of Gold Rush-Era Sex Workers in Alaska and the Yukon, Album Sisters of White Chapel Out Tomorrow
NPR Music All Songs Considered played a track from Annie Bartholomew’s debut album Sisters of White Chapel, which portrays gold rush-era sex workers in Alaska and the Yukon, a companion piece to Annie’s full-length play, and is out tomorrow.
NPR Music has also shared a track in its #NowPlaying column as well. Meanwhile, No Depression did a deep dive into the world of Sisters of White Chapel, calling her “a gifted storyteller.”
It’s all powerful buzz for a debut album by a vital fast-emerging folk music voice. Here’s what we’re reading and hearing:
“She’s a teller of tales with a love of folk traditions… awesome musical talents…”
–Bob Boilen, NPR Music All Songs Considered, June 13, 2023
“Sisters of White Chapel marks Bartholomew’s emergence as a gifted storyteller.”
–Jon Young, No Depression, June 15, 2023
“Bartholomew brings these women to life, extracting the emotional truth of who they were, why they risked everything to follow a gold rush, and their subsequent journeys and misadventures along the way.”
–Tom Brosseau, The Great American Folk Show, Prairie Public Radio, April 22, 2023
“Amazing… You really delved into the history… Such a moving album and such an eye-opener.”
–Ron Olesko, WFDU Traditions, May 28, 2023
“Fascinating.”
–Elena See, Folk Alley, June 3, 2023
“Annie Bartholomew’s upcoming album (out June 16) explores the incredible true stories of sex workers in Victorian-era Alaska.”
–Cindy Howes, Folk Alley, April 28, 2023
“A different kind of Alaska survival story… finding nuance in an often whitewashed history.”
–Yvonne Krumrey, KTOO (Juneau NPR affiliate), May 2, 2023
“A moving collection of well-thought-out lyrics accompanied by stunning musicality which personifies the characters.”
–Viv Fish, Americana UK, May 12, 2023
“Sisters of White Chapel is an important and lifelike document, with Bartholomew’s dulcet vocals and the balanced traditional music arrangements standouts.”
–Listening Through the Lens, May 2, 2023
“Her album tells the stories of female sex workers in the mining towns, and the sometimes surprising power and freedom they had.”
–Mark Sabbatini, Juneau Empire (AK), June 9, 2023
