Folk Bitch Trio are arguably one of the most exciting folk acts to make a name for themselves in recent years. Beautiful songwriting, sweet-sounding harmony, and memorable tunes flood their debut album, Now Would Be A Good Time, to the point it’s borderline overflowing. It’s that songwriting excellence that makes them a great alternative for fans of The Travelling Wilburys; however, there’s a bit more to it than that.
Not only do Folk Bitch Trio have great songwriting ability, but there is a togetherness there which you only get in certain bands. It resonates in a sense of freedom with which they approach their songs. This allows them to harmonise and perform together in a unique and profound way. They have their own sound and it’s a truly excellent thing to listen to.
Big Thief are one of the best bands in modern music, with a sound that doesn’t fit into one specific genre but instead lands in a category that can only ever be described as: Big Thief. Folk, rock, acoustic, stripped back, impactful, all of it is contained within the sound of this dynamic musical outfit.
It’s not necessarily that Big Thief have a sound which is akin to Travelling Wilburys, rather, they have a sound which encompasses so much, it will appeal to fans of a lot of bands. The range, versatility, and songwriting ability transcend genre. Simply put, it’s just something that you need to listen to.
The Traveling Wilburys were a unique musical outfit due to the fact that they were made up of some of the greatest songwriters in music at the time. This is a combination which could have gone either way, but in the case of the Traveling Wilburys it worked incredibly well. Rather than a number of creative minds generating friction, each member’s styles fold into one another and create a strange blend of some kind of wonderful.
First Aid Kit brandish a very similar quality, as they have a sound which merges country music with folk and pop. Left in the hands of lesser musicians, these conflicting genres could become a problem, but First Aid Kit championed them in the same way that Traveling Wilburys were able to.
There is something about an atmospheric sound which is well and truly enchanting. When a band predominantly focuses on one genre like rock, but are able to expand upon it and add a layer of atmosphere that makes the music sound broader, it’s a real treat. War on Drugs manages to do this incredibly well, and it’s one of their unique qualities that will appeal to fans of Traveling Wilburys.
The Traveling Wilburys didn’t just write songs, but they crafted music which felt like it took you on some kind of journey. That combination of minds managed to create something which was borderline cinematic. While War On Drugs may not sound exactly like them, these qualities exist in both bands, and it’s something that people will no doubt enjoy listening to.
When we talk about great songwriters, we often fall into the trap of focusing on the past, naming a lot of artists who, let’s face it, all wound up playing in the Traveling Wilburys. There was a profanity to the songwriting efforts of people like Bob Dylan and George Harrison that other artists just can’t quite achieve.
That being said, the talent of songwriting is something that persists throughout the decades, and with that in mind, one person who truly pushes the boundaries of theme, narrative, and beauty within their writing is Laura Marling. Marling has a quality comparable to the greatest songwriters who have ever picked up a pen, so if you’re looking for great tunes with meaning, look no further.
There was an excitement to Traveling Wilburys before they’d even put a song together, why? Because of who was in the band. If you’re a music lover and you see that such an avengers style supergroup has been put together, you’re going to be a huge fan before a song has even reached your ears. You just don’t get these kinds of supergroups knocking about anymore… or do you?
If you want a modern supergroup that can get you excited about the current musical world, then you should consider giving Snocaps a listen. The band is made up of Waxahatchee, Allison Cruthfield, MJ Lenderman, and Brad Cook. That’s one hell of a lineup, and you’ll be happy to find out that the quality of their music lives up to the big names making it.
Having longevity in the modern age of music is incredibly difficult. When you look at the indie bands who made a name for themselves during the indie band scene some 15 years ago, there are very few who are still releasing imaginative, new-sounding music today. Of course, every rule has exceptions, and in this instance, it’s Wolf Alice.
Wolf Alice’s newest album, The Clearing, offers a brand new look into the band, one that keeps their original sound close to its heart but doesn’t come across as a carbon copy of it either. The band continue looking for new ideas, pushing themselves creatively, and in doing so, they cement themselves as an absolute must listen for music lovers across genres.
There is a lot of music knocking about in the modern age. The increase in the amount of music which is available is the direct result of the fact that it’s easier to learn, make, record, and release it in 2025 than it ever has been previously. This is great for DIY artists, but it does mean that there are some bands out there who leave something to be desired. There are plenty of indie bands releasing new material, and it means it’s hard to stand out from the crowd. Enter Divorce, who are one of the few who peek their heads above the surface and make themselves unignorable in the process.
The way that Divorce harmonise, play together, and are able to deliver a sound which can be full-bodied, stripped back, fragile, and all things in between, is of a standard that other bands wish they could achieve. Similar to Traveling Wilburys, they’re operating within a very popular genre of music, but they manage to deliver something so stellar they can’t help but stand out.
The Red Clay Strays debut album, Moment of Truth, despite being incredibly popular, didn’t do the band justice. It showcased their unique songwriting ability and heartfelt sound, but it didn’t give listeners the full scope of the band. That came with their second record, Made By These Moments.
What their second record did that their debut struggled with was pretty clearly show listeners just how much the band had to offer. They’re a country offering, but they also have an edge, one that delivers a rock-infused sound with a lot of range. It’s well worth a listen for anyone who is a Travelling Wilbury fan.
We can talk about the different aspects that make Travelling Wilburys so great (as we have done for this entire article) however, at the heart of absolutely everything is heartfelt songs. These can be with a full band or with a good voice and acoustic guitar. When someone can deliver on this front, it’s undeniable.
Orville Peck is one of the best songwriters out there when it comes to offering both these full sounds and stripped back ones, while keeping his heart very firmly on his sleeve with every word. He captures what many songwriters have in the past and what keeps music so timeless, which is the emotional power of honest music.