Tour Guise
Imagining life on the road with indie rockers Beach Bunny.
Photographs by Ashley Armitage.
Let’s face it—even if you’re Taylor Swift and can travel in plush comfort, going on tour can be a grind.
So what’s it like if you don’t have a Swift bank account? Diners, rest stops, lugging your own gear, a vehicle that you’re not sure is up to the task… It might not sound like fun, but for this fictional tour journal featuring Chicago-based up-and-comers Beach Bunny, photographer Ashley Armitage finds a way to keep it cute. —Kristina Feliciano
GIGANTIC: First things first: Are you a music person?
ASHLEY ARMITAGE: I loveeeee music. My love language is making playlists for my friends.
What brought you and Beach Bunny together? Did you already know their music, or already know them?
I was already such a fan of Beach Bunny! I have a confession to make: One time I sang their song “Prom Queen” at a karaoke party! Shhhhh!
Where'd you shoot them?
This was a one-day shoot and we hit up a bunch of cute spots around my neighborhood in Chicago, including one of my favorite go-to greasy spoons. Yum!
What was the concept or story you were telling?
We wanted to tell the story of a band on the road. Beach Bunny were just about to go on a national tour, and these photos were supposed to feel like the in-between moments on tour: stopping at a diner for breakfast, getting gas and drinking Slurpees at the gas station, and driving, driving, drivinggggg.
Anything interesting happen on set?
Something suuuuuper cute happened on set. When we were at the diner, the teenage daughter of the restaurant owners stopped by to get a photo with [Beach Bunny front woman] Lili [Trifilio] because she was a mega fan!
Ashley Armitage is a photographer and director based in Chicago. See more of her work at asharmitage.com and @ladyist.
Follow Beach Bunny at @beachbunnymusic.