Described as indie-roots to progressive chamber-folk, West My Friend uses an acoustic blend of instruments and four-part harmonies.
West My Friend will be performing at The Old Schoolhouse Arts Centre on Nov. 13 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. as part of Music On Sunday.
Tickets are $18. For more info, call 250-752-6133 or visit their website.
Eden Oliver, who plays guitar and sings with the band, said West My Friend formed about seven years ago at the University of Victoria. Oliver said the other members were all in multiple bands, but decided to form one more.
“It was music for us to make that we weren’t playing in school,” said Oliver, adding that all of them were studying classical music.
Along with Oliver, West My Friend includes Alex Rempel (mandolin, vocals), Jeff Poynter (accordion, vocals) and Nick Mintenko (double bass, vocals).
The band features vocals with arrangements of bass, guitar, mandolin, and accordion that draw from a diversity of genres.
Oliver said West My Friend’s music could be described as indie folk or chamber roots.
“It’s basically indie folk written by quirky classical musicians,” she said.
However, Oliver said that while the musicians’ classical backgrounds do influence their writing, it’s not intentional.
Forged from a adventurous acoustic music scene on Canada’s West Coast, West My Friend is proving to be a key part of a new generation of grassroots folk music.
The wealth of musical experience and classical training in the group creates an interesting backdrop for their songwriting, allowing for levels of detail, intricacy, and counterpoint balanced with moments of simplicity.
Quiet Hum, which Oliver said was released in the spring, is the third outing from West My Friend. Their 2012 debut, Place, received several nominations from the Vancouver Island Music Awards. The follow-up, When The Ink Dries, was nominated for the Oliver Schroer Pushing The Boundaries award at the Canadian Folk Music Awards and received the Readers’ Choice award for Best New Sound of 2014 at Sleeping Bag Studios.
For more information on West My Friend, visit their website.
