Lindsay Lou

Lindsay Lou
Lindsay Lou performing live
Background information
Born
Lindsay Rachel Petroff[1]

1986 or 1987 (age 38–39)[2]
Missouri, U.S.[3]
OriginLansing, Michigan, U.S.[4]
Genres
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active2009–present[5]
Formerly of
  • Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys
  • Sweet Water Warblers[6]
Websitewww.lindsayloumusic.com

Lindsay Lou (née Lindsay Rachel Petroff; born 1986 or 1987) is an American singer-songwriter and indie folk musician. She began performing bluegrass music professionally in 2009 with The Flatbellys in Lansing, Michigan. The band issued Release Your Shrouds in 2012, and their second album Ionia three years later. In 2018 Lou released the acclaimed Southland, and followed that up with the critically lauded Queen of Time in 2023.[4][7]

Early life and career

Shortly after she was born in the Missouri coal mining country where her father was working, Lou's family moved to Iron Mountain in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.[8] Lou's mother was one of a dozen siblings, which resulted in "cousins, aunts and uncles jamming together" at large, musical family gatherings in the remote northern area.[2] While attending Michigan State University in 2008, Lindsay Petroff met The Flatbellys after singing at an open mic night at Dagwood's Tavern. When asked to join the group she took a stage name and began a ten-year run touring as Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys.[4]

The group, originally consisting of Lou, mandolin player Joshua Rilko, Joshua Brand and Jesse Myers, recorded and released the album Release Your Shrouds in 2012. The band toured heavily, while Rilko and Lou were married in 2011 and released a duo album Time & Luck in 2013. Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys followed up with Ionia, named for the couple's Ionia, Michigan residence, with additional band members P.J. George and Mark Lavengood in 2015.[4]

With Mark Lavengood leaving The Flatbellys, the group name was dropped in 2018 for the release of Southland by Lindsay Lou.[9] The album was called "an experiment in stretching the boundaries of bluegrass to breaking point, with infusions of blues, jazz, roots and soul."[10] Queen of Time was released in 2023 with Lou by now embarking on a solo career. In an interview, Chris Parton described music where "lyrics and voice weave together into something like a sonic dreamcatcher – snatching ethereal truths from the cosmos and translating them in ways the mind can just begin to process."[11] The voice of Lou's grandmother is heard on the album, and reviews noted the memories of her grandmother provided Lou with inspiration throughout a difficult period.[2][6]

Personal life

Lou graduated from Michigan State University in 2008 with bachelor's degrees in human biology and Spanish.[2][3] After marrying, Lou and Rilko moved to East Nashville, Tennessee, spending some time living across the street from fellow musicians Molly Tuttle and Billy Strings.[2] Rilko and Lou were divorced in 2020.[7]

Discography

Studio albums[12]

Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys:

  • Release Your Shrouds (2012)
  • Ionia (2015)

Joshua Rilko and Lindsay Lou:

  • Time & Luck (2013)

Lindsay Lou:

  • Southland (2018)
  • Queen of Time (2023)

References

  1. ^ Sinkevics, John (December 20, 2013). "Flatbellys offer bluegrass magic". The Holland Sentinel. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e Woodward, Garret K. (December 8, 2023). "Lindsay Lou Is Poised to Be the Next Bluegrass Queen". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Hanson, Geoff (September 17, 2025). "A secret weapon of bluegrass". Aspen Daily News. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d Bonfiglio, Jeremy D. (February 12, 2015). "Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys Come Into Their Own". No Depression. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  5. ^ Fahey, Linda (May 9, 2015). "Folk Alley Presents: Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys". NPR. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  6. ^ a b Snyder, Christopher (August 25, 2023). "Lindsay Lou: An Artist Who Pours Her Heart Into Her Music". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  7. ^ a b Budnick, Dean (January 10, 2024). "Spotlight: Lindsay Lou". Relix. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  8. ^ Enrique Olmos; John Sinkevics (August 11, 2021). "Loving Hoxeyville: Lindsay Lou, Billy Strings set for rousing return of beloved festival". Local Spins. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  9. ^ Boldrey, Ryan (April 10, 2018). "Michigan Album Reviews: Lindsay Lou, Southland". Local Spins. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  10. ^ Brown, Winston (August 15, 2018). "ALBUM REVIEW: Southland, Lindsay Lou, Lindsay Lou Music, Out Now". LincsOnline. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  11. ^ Parton, Chris (November 3, 2023). "Lindsay Lou Conquers Personal Challenges on New Album, 'Queen of Time'". The Bluegrass Situation. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  12. ^ "Lindsay Lou". Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  • Media related to Lindsay Lou at Wikimedia Commons
  • Official website
  • Lindsay Lou at AllMusic
  • Lindsay Lou on Bandcamp
  • Lindsay Lou discography at Discogs
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