The Washboard Union’s beginnings can be traced back to a union between two families. When Chris Duncombe was 13 years old, his father met future bandmate Aaron Grain’s mother, and the two parents soon began dating. Duncombe and Grain, who would eventually become stepbrothers, developed a bond of their own.
“We knew we had music in common right away, so we were writing music together from the time we were kids,” Duncombe recalled.
The pair later moved to Vancouver, where they met David Roberts. The three began singing and eventually moved in together. The band’s name originated from an unusual feature in their home.
“There was an old washboard that hung on the wall in our rehearsal space,” said Duncombe.
Duncombe described harmony as the band’s defining characteristic, with their three voices blending into one. Drawing inspiration from diverse groups across genres, they mixed these influences to create their unique sound — a formula that has led to significant success.
In total, The Washboard Union has won 35 awards, including a Juno Award for Breakthrough Group of the Year, and nine Canadian Country Music Association awards, including three for Group of the Year.
“I think we’ve been blessed to receive the awards from the industry that we have over the years,” Duncombe reflected. “It’s always a nice thing to have happen after you’ve put out a project […] it’s great to have that recognition and be part of that family of contributors to Canadian music.”
The band has experienced many proud moments throughout their career. Duncombe highlighted performing across the world and hearing fans sing their songs back to them, describing it as an “incredible feeling.”
Duncombe also noted the connection he has with Grain and Roberts and their longevity as a group.
“When you get to [perform around the world] and look over and still see the same two guys that you met when you were a kid […] I think those moments stand out for me as something that I will cherish forever,” Duncombe said.
The group’s latest album Westerly, was released this past July. Duncombe described the album as a “diverse” record. One track, “New Paint,” about a romantic experience that makes everything seem brighter, gained attention from CBS and will feature in an episode of the American television series Tracker.
Other songs Duncombe highlighted included “Good Me Bad” and “Heartbreak Hall of Fame,” but he said that his favourites on the album change all the time.
The Washboard Union are currently on their Grab the Wheel and Go Tour. Their desire for the tour was to play in smaller towns, places they had never played before and personal favourite tour stops that they could not wait to get back to. According to Duncombe, these shows will allow fans to get to know the band better than ever.
The band performed in Winnipeg on Nov. 15. Winnipeg holds a special place in the band’s heart as it was in the dressing room at Princess Auto Stadium (then IG Field) where they opened for the Zac Brown Band that they were discovered and signed to their management company.
“After Winnipeg and Manitobans gave us a standing ovation, that’s where really things kicked off for us,” Duncombe said. “I will always hold Winnipeg in such a special place.”
After Christmas, the band will be travelling to Australia in 2025. They have no plans of slowing down from there — new music and festival appearances are in the works for the remainder of that year.
Duncombe promised that The Washboard Union will be returning to Manitoba in summer 2025 and looks forward to performing here again.
“Manitoba has been so good to this band, it’s such an important place for us, and we just can’t wait to bring this tour to Winnipeg,” he said.
The Washboard Union are currently touring across Canada with the Grab the Wheel and Go Tour until Nov. 22. For more information on upcoming shows, visit thewashboardunion.com.
