The talent: Katie Roche (percussion/accordion/glockenspiel/flutes), Marcy Rosenbaum (guitar/mandolin), Katie Burnes (cello), Nicole Upchurch (banjo/percussion) and Annie Savage (fiddle/concert harp)

The sound: “Purdified” folk

The gigs: CD release party, 4:30 p.m. Oct. 17 @ The Mill

The rest of the story: www.awfulpurdies.com

Purdify — v. To give something the property of being created and/or modified by the all-female group Awful Purdies, especially songs. See also “psycho-folk” and “new folk.”

They may not have quite made Merriam-Webster’s (yet), but Iowa City’s Awful Purdies certainly speak, and sing, a language unique to them.

This all-female quintet is an eclectic collection of musicians who banded together out of the shared experiences of creating music across genres and being female in a male-dominated industry.

“We’re driven by a desire to create a community and sisterhood,” says percussionist/“the ever sexy glockenspiel” player Katie Roche. “It’s not a moneymaking project; we’re not driven by the typical motives.”

What they are driven by is the music, and each other. Playing something akin to folk music (the members of the group described their style as “new folk,” “psycho-folk” and “eclectic”) — the principle elements and storytelling nature lend themselves most closely to folk music comparisons — the Awful Purdies have used the group as an outlet to their talents and sense of community and friendship.

The group was founded by Annie Savage and Amy Finders (no longer with the group) in 2006 as “the answer to the question, ‘Is there a musical life for women after children, family and career?’” The answer was yes, as the five Purdies have balanced new children, families, careers, moving and losses both for the band and personally.

Despite considerable life changes in a short amount of time, the Awful Purdies consider it a point of pride that they’ve made time for the music, even releasing a self-titled album that will be officially released Oct. 17 at The Mill in Iowa City.

Though the sound can be classified as folk music, every song has a distinct flavor that often bears little resemblance to the previous track. This is partially due to the album being about 40 percent covers, but the women taking turns writing and providing vocals. The women are each distinctive singers and songwriters, and the mix and match nature of the songs means the sound never gets tired or repetitive.

The origin of the band’s curious name is something of a guarded joke, though each member was pretty open with what it means to be an Awful Purdy. On one hand, some think of it as a clever pun, as in “Well, aren’t you awful’ purdy.” Roche thinks of it as a statement on women with musical talent who can do more than just look good on stage.

The Awful Purdies are awfully talented and an awfully original take on the Eastern Iowa folk scene.

— BLAKE