The Ladles are known for their signature harmonic blend, intricate arrangements and commitment to human connection. Imagine the tight, sisterly harmonies of The Staves meets Madison Cunningham’s songwriting ingenuity. At a Ladles show, you can’t help but feel part of something bigger. Swept up in their ethereal soundscapes, you can easily forget what separates you from the person next to you. Based in NYC and San Francisco, The Ladles are Katie Martucci, Caroline Kuhn, and Lucia Pontoniere.
“WHEN ALL THREE VOICES COME TOGETHER IN HARMONY, THE SOUND LIGHTS UP THE SPACE LIKE A FIREFLY IN THE NIGHT.”
“UNIQUE AND AUTHENTIC, THE LADLES’ ARRANGEMENTS AND HARMONIES HOLD THE LISTENER UNDER THEIR SPELL. THEIR PERFORMANCES ARE ALWAYS MOVING AND INSPIRED. THE LADLES ARE A POWERFUL LIVE EXPERIENCE! ”
Before they were The Ladles — Katie, Caroline, and Lucia were the only three undergraduate women in New England Conservatory’s Contemporary Musical Arts program. Katie Martucci (guitar/vocals), Caroline Kuhn (banjo/vocals), and Lucia Pontoniere (fiddle/vocals) formed their trio after discovering an effortless chemistry playing music in their college dorm rooms. The group got its name from a mislabeled bathroom sign at the Conservatory that read “Ladles” instead of “Ladies.”
Each member of the band stands alone as her own impressive artist, but for The Ladles, making music has never been about the individual. The Ladles cherish community, and they use their artistic magnetism to create a sense of connection and belonging for their audiences. In line with their collective nature, each member of The Ladles writes songs and sings lead vocals; there is no clear front-woman. Each Ladles voice has a unique texture, but the real “voice” of The Ladles is their signature harmonic blend. When The Ladles harmonize, you’ll swear you’re hearing one voice, somehow replete with delicious overtones that give them a fuller sound than you’d ever expect from a trio.
Their collective sound feels like The Staves hiking the Appalachian trail with the Punch Brothers. Their music defies definition by a singular genre, and they have put in the years to discover how their sound fits into (and expands) larger traditions. With influences from indie pop and old time to chamber and choral music -- The Ladles embody a rare balance of technical prowess, emotional intuition, and creative exploration.
In many ways, The Ladles have grown up together. They have navigated a decade of managing a bi-coastal band (NYC and SF), figuring out creative ways to collaborate during the pandemic, and being there for each other, both musically and personally, through the many challenges of their 20s. There’s something inextricable about the way The Ladles music has blossomed as they’ve grown together as people.
At a Ladles show, you can’t help but feel part of something bigger. When you’re swept up in their ethereal soundscapes, you can easily forget what separates you from the person next to you. You’ll feel a collective resonance. And that’s exactly what this band’s after, because, to The Ladles, everything’s better when shared.
tour
we’re making a record!
This November, we are headed to Big Sky Studio in Trumansburg, NY to record our third full length album. We’ll be working with friends and collaborators Dylan McKinstry (producer), Paul Martin & Rosie Newton (engineers / studio hosts) and Dan Klingsberg (bass) to record nine (9!!!) new songs and we are so excited.
Although we have decided not to run an “official” crowdsourcing campaign, we wanted to reach out to you, our community, to ask for your help in funding this record.
Your donations will go towards paying for studio time, compensating our recording team and covering food and travel expenses. (Basic budget below! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about the specifics.) Additional funds will be put towards making content for the release i.e. music video(s), album artwork, and new merchandise :)
Unlike previous recording sessions, the arrangements for these songs have not been pre-determined by years of performance. In fact, most of the songs we will be recording were written during a short summer residency in Maine. During that week of writing, we found ourselves gravitating towards themes of growth and self-understanding, as well as a desire to relate from a place of empathy.
Since our last record, our sound and our understanding of ourselves as a band has really solidified and matured into something concrete. We’re feeling so excited to take this perspective (and this fresh material) with us into the studio and see what we create!
Thank you for reading and thank you for being here.
Lots of love,
Katie, Lucia and Caroline
PS Once you've donated (any amount!) take a screenshot of your payment and use that to claim the Ladles merch item of your choice at the next show you attend! (CD, shirt, postcard etc.)
PPS if you’re interested in more sustained support, consider joining our patreon!
Everything That Grows by Katie Martucci
(Live from Crabtree Sessions)