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) who play a dark and anachronistic twist of folk, blues, jazz, rock, and country. With a name that captures the essence of their music, Bitter Pill delves into the bittersweet complexities of life, death, love, hate, and the downright silly. Their lyrics are a poetic exploration of everyday life and harsh social commentary, accompanied by melodies that range from hauntingly melancholic to explosively anthemic. They offer a musical remedy that is both bitter and sweet – a pill to swallow, an experience to savor – let the music be your cure.

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: bitterpilltoswallow@gmail.com

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

bitterpillband.com