Life changed dramatically when a friend suggested booking Crofts and her mates (Georgia Mooney, Elana Stone and Katie Wighton) for a show with three weeks to prepare.

The four had all studied music previously, including jazz improvisation, and figured becoming a bluegrass band in 21 days wouldn’t be too difficult.

“I owned a ukelele but did not know how to play it; Georgia went out and bought a mandolin; Katie had never played a gig on the guitar and Elana didn’t know how to play the accordian,” Crofts said.

“Basically we learnt 25 minutes worth of music for that one show and then kept getting booked for other shows and suddenly it’s four years later.”

Collectively known as All Our Exes Live In Texas, the women have settled on an indie-folk sound after discovering bluegrass was more ambitious than first thought.

It worked in their favour as The Oils chose them as supports for a string of dates in the US and in turn brought them a new legion of male fans.

“So many people talk about getting Triple J support, but we’re not a band that a 16-year-old is wanting to go and hear,” Crofts said.

“To get a fan base we have to tour because I think the second you get in front of people they buy your CD then they come back to your show. Especially as we’re such a live band, so much of our music is also our personalities and our banter.”

They supported the Australian mega-band in Denver, Los Angeles, Oakland, Portland and Seattle (where they received a standing ovation).

Crofts said the biggest thrill was watching a well oiled machine, still “energetic” after 40 years.

“They’re in the middle of doing a seven month world wide tour and they do these shows that are two hours long. They’re more energetic than any punk band I’ve ever seen,” she said.

“It was really inspiring to see a band that’s been together for so long being so nice to each other and have so much respect for each other.”

All Our Exes headline their own show in the Illawarra at the end of the month.

“Katie and I did solo gigs in in Wollongong about five years ago and I think the only person who watched us play was the support band,” Crofts laughed.

However they have had success touring as a group support the likes of Boy and Bear and the Backstreet Boys.

All Our Exes Live In Texas, Bulli Heritage Hotel, June 30. www.allourexesliveintexas.com

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