Bitter Pill

Influenced by a wide spectrum of genres, Bitter Pill creates music that defies easy classification. They are a tight-knit family (literally, a father and daughter) wicked New Hampshire roots band that is dark, funny, theatrically Americana. Part bluegrass band, part blues act, part backwoods cabaret. Their songs are about people having a really bad time in really entertaining ways.

Bitter Pill is roots music for people who like their folk music a little stranger, their stories a little darker, and their humor just this side of dangerous. They sound like an Appalachian string band wandered into a Tom Waits show, got drunk with Shakespeare, and decided to put on a musical about the end of civilization. Their songs move from traditional string-band sounds and bluesy grooves to darkly comic narratives, spoken-word passages, and unexpected musical turns. The result is a sound that feels both familiar and completely unconventional: Appalachian roots music with a New England edge and a dramatic streak.

Bitter Pill released their first album, “Prepare Your Throats,” in the fall of 2018. It is a collection of traditional and original songs from the soundtrack of their staging of William Shakespeare’s violent, bloody, grotesquely ridiculous abomination of a play, “Titus Andronicus.” They followed this with their second album in May 2020, titled “Desperate Times on the New Hampshire State Line” – a whimsical collection of foot-stomping, hand-clapping, spirited cross-genre tunes. In May 2022, they created “Children of the Grim,” a neo-gothic musical play featuring original and traditional children’s stories, nursery rhymes, and folk songs. It had its theatrical workshop premiere at The Players’ Ring Theatre. Bitter Pill’s third album, “livin ain't cheap, dyin ain't free,” was released in July 2022.

“Smart, dramatic, visual, evocative compositions that cross genres and casts shades of Tom Waits and Shane MacGowan.”

“This ain’t a slice of the floppy hat, fancy boots, folk boom throwback found at vacant pop-folk festivals ‘round the world. This is the real deal, punch you in the gut and keep you coming back looking for more goods.”


BOOKING: [email protected]

Emily Butler – Vocals, Ukulele
Billy Butler – Vocals, Cello, Guitar, Accordion, Piano
Dave Hamilton – Drums
Tomer Oz – Acoustic Guitar
Jon McCormack – Electric Guitars

bitterpillband.com