Cheersquad Records and Tapes are proud to present the new single from esteemed Melbourne singer-songwriter Barb Waters.

A duet with her daughter Jeanie Pilkington of Folk Bitch Trio, “Farmer’s Wife” was produced by Barb’s partner and Jeanie’s dad Craig Pilkington (who also played bass on the recording), making for a real family affair.

Says Barb, “‘Farmer’s Wife’ came about after I was driver for my daughter’s group Folk Bitch Trio, when they played Port Fairy several years ago. On the journey home I made a bet we should use the festival inspiration to all write a song.

“I played an early version of the tune at a Writers Block show in Melbourne, and Folk Bitch Trio performed the song with me for the vinyl launch on Cheersquad of Rosa Duet at the Brunswick Ballroom in 2024.

“Later we headed into Real World Studios in the U.K to capture a duet version of the song, with the two voices being the points of view of a mother and daughter.

“Set in the English countryside and surrounded by huge glass windows looking out onto the garden and brook draped in mist and rain, the outlook was perfect for the song’s introspective, Wintery vibes. We laid down opened-tuned acoustic and reverb-infused guitars and our voices. Chris Tabone played drums later at Audrey Studios in Melbourne.

“Produced, mixed and mastered by Craig Pilkington, and featuring our daughter Jeanie, ‘Farmer’s Wife’ is somewhat of a family affair.”

Barb Waters has been a feature of the music landscape for many decades. Through her work with Chris Wilson’s Crown of Thorns, The Hollowmen, and fronting her bands, Barb Waters and the Rough Diamonds, Bad Audrey and the Mothers of Pearl, Barb has significantly contributed to Australia’s roots-country-rock movement. Barb has released the albums, Til the Morning Comes and Buffalo Mountain Girl, as a singer-songwriter and guitarist, receiving favourable airplay and reviews. Barb’s album of duets, Rosa Duet made in-roads into the European radio network, garnering airplay across the UK and Benelux countries, spending weeks in the Euro-American charts, and leading to a headline show at London’s Borderline.