A packed house filled The Bowery Stage on Saturday evening as East Texas bluegrass favorites The Purple Hulls delivered an intimate acoustic performance that kept the audience smiling, clapping and, as one attendee joked, “setting a new record for toe-tapping.”
The Aug. 1 concert featured twin sisters Katy Lou and Penny Lea Clark, along with upright bassist Sarah Mae Berkland. The trio showcased traditional bluegrass with nothing more than acoustic instruments, tight vocal harmonies and engaging storytelling.
Rather than relying on elaborate production, the performance centered on two vintage condenser microphones positioned at center stage. The vintage microphones complemented the group's traditional sound and gave the performance the feel of an old-time radio broadcast.
Throughout the evening, the sisters blended original compositions with bluegrass standards and beloved gospel hymns. Their harmonies were precise and effortless, the product of a lifetime spent singing together.
Just as memorable was the connection they established with the audience. Katy and Penny’s relaxed humor, genuine personalities and natural stage presence made the performance feel more like an evening with old friends than a formal concert.
The concert also gave audience members a glimpse into the sisters' musical journey. Born into a musical family, the sisters grew up singing hymns around the piano before discovering the genre at the Overton Bluegrass Festival. In an interview after the performance, Katy recalled that those festivals introduced them to the music that would define their careers. She said they later acquired an old banjo from an uncle and began learning its traditional style while still in high school.
After graduating from high school, the twins attended South Plains College in Levelland, where they initially balanced basketball and music before devoting themselves fully to the college’s nationally recognized commercial music program. Katy said countless hours of practice outside class prepared them for the monthly ensemble performances that became an important part of their musical development.
After college, the sisters moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where they toured with country artists, worked at the Grand Ole Opry and wrote songs for Sony/ATV before eventually returning home to East Texas.
During the concert, the sisters shared how a visit home changed the course of their lives. What they expected would be a brief stay became permanent after learning their father had been diagnosed with a terminal illness. They said that difficult season reaffirmed the importance of faith, family and home—values that continue to shape both their lives and their music.
Today, The Purple Hulls perform across the United States and internationally while remaining based on the family farm near Kilgore, where, fittingly, they still grow the purple hull peas that inspired the band’s name.
When asked about the future, Katy said the group plans to continue touring while beginning work on another collection of songs. She added that performing live remains at the heart of what they love most.
Berkland, who joined the group on upright bass, described traveling with the sisters as both musically rewarding and personally enjoyable. She said performing with two like-minded musicians has created lasting friendships both on and off the stage.
For those in attendance Saturday night, the concert offered more than an evening of exceptional musicianship. By the time the final encore ended, it was clear the audience didn't need elaborate staging or special effects. The Purple Hulls proved that strong harmonies, skilled musicianship and heartfelt storytelling were enough to hold the room from beginning to end.