LA GRANDE — Madison and Mckenzie Lindsay grew up in Wallowa County and were raised in a world of music.

Their mom was a singer.

Their grandma was an opera teacher.

Both girls had eight years of opera lessons and 12 years of piano.

“It wasn’t what my voice was meant for,” Madison said of the opera lessons. “But we learned a lot of skills that we use now.”

Mckenzie didn’t mind it so much — although it was a bit rigid.

“Opera was very structured,” she said. “With our music now we have a lot of freedom.”

After high school, Madison toured Europe for a while before settling in Walla Walla, Washington.

Mckenzie went to culinary school — then to an open mic night in Walla Walla.

“I wasn’t really taking it seriously,” she said. “Then I had four hours of music memorized.”

The sisters founded Calico Bones in 2016.

“My other bandmate left, so we decided to start our own,” Mckenzie said.

They started playing around Walla Walla, then in their home country of Wallowa County.

“Then we started branching out,” Mckenzie said.

They’ve played gigs in the Tri-Cities, Hood River, across Eastern Oregon and into Idaho. This August, they head to California.

Calico Bones has been their full-time job for about two years. They write songs both together and separately.

“Mckenzie starts a lot of the songs and we finish them together,” Madison said.

“Madison is more of a ballad writer,” Mckenzie said.

Their music style is broad — their first album was folk/Americana, and their upcoming release is more “old-timey and humorous,” Mckenzie said.

Shows

Calico Bones plays the Riverside Concert on Thursday, Aug. 8, at Riverside Park in La Grande from 6-8 p.m. Attendance is free to this concert series, which is a project of La Grande Parks and Recreation.

On Aug. 9, they head to Wallowa to play for a “raise the roof” fundraiser supporting the historic grain elevator that houses Timber Bronze, which was severely damaged in the 2022 hailstorm. This event runs from 5-8 p.m. at 101½ E. First St. Ghost Wind will also play music.

Then, on Aug. 12, the sisters play at Boardman Marina Park, 1 NE Marine Drive, from 5-7 p.m.

To follow their tour schedule, follow Calico Bones on Facebook and Instagram.