Two beaming faces burst onto stage, accompanied by a guitar, a ukulele and a gloriously shiny accordion. The Reformed Whores – also known as Marie Cecile and Katy Frame – are on their first international tour with
An empowering shake-down of country music clichés and tired pop parodies that the industry is long overdue.
A raucous celebration and randy parody of all things country & western, from gentle blues to hillbilly high notes, this duo have nailed a perfect pastiche of the musical genre. Their pervasive All-American enthusiasm brings an unshakeable lift to the evening: as Katy Frame sings of her first true love (clue: it’s an inanimate object) with a beatific grin and an insanely catchy chorus, I defy you not to smile right back.
Genuinely endearing and unflinchingly upbeat, the pair race through an hour that is jam-packed with original tunes on a filthy array of topics that you certainly won’t be playing to the kids at home. These are not designed to be merely taboo-breaking showpieces for the sake of it: moreover, each one treads the line between hilariously relatable and unnecessary excess, resulting in songs about stalking your ex and ticking off your carnal bucket list that will have you humming the chorus for the rest of the festival.
You’ve probably guessed as much by now, but Grand Ole C*ntry is one pretty dirty hoedown, so if that’s not your bag then it’s time to look elsewhere. The real delight in this show, however, is not just a giggle at a few naughty words: more than that, it is an empowering shake-down of country music clichés and tired pop parodies that the industry is long overdue. If you’re looking for something a little different to try, this could definitely be it.
