Victoria band, West My Friend, is heading north this week. The self-dubbed “quirky” folk fusion group has a concert at the McMillan Arts Centre this Friday.
Guitarist Eden Oliver said that the band is known for their pun-filled banter, clever songwriting and intricate arrangements.
It’s the latter, though, that really sets West My Friend apart from regular folk groups. Their tightly written original songs with four-part harmonies and a specific blend of acoustic instruments — which are influenced by the lessons learned during the members’ time in the UVic music program — are nearly impossible to jam to.
All of the musicians in West My Friend are talented multi-instrumentalists, though Oliver said everyone sticks to just one in the group.
There will be a bit of a line up change for the Parksville show, however. While Oliver will play guitar and Jeff Poynter will be on accordian as usual, Nick Mintenko will be filling in on bass and the group’s usual bass player Alex Rempel will play mandolin for the evening.
Since their formation in a Victoria cafe in 2009, West My Friend has released two albums, Place and When the Ink Dries. The group has also done a lot of touring in the past six months. Most recently, its “Spring Fling” tour took them across B.C., Alberta, Washington and Oregon.
This summer will similarly take them around B.C. and northwestern Washington.
“We’re in this for the long haul,” said Oliver.
West My Friend will play at the MAC on June 19 at 7 p.m. Doors to the show open at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets are $12 for OCAC members and $15 for general admission, and are available at the MAC.
For more information on the concert, you can call the arts centre at 250-248-8185.
For more information on West My Friend, visit their website at westmyfriend.com.
—NEWS Staff/MAC