The Cowichan Folk Guild Coffeehouse will have some sweet sounds percolating inside the Duncan United Church Hall on Oct. 12, as they serve up a double double of entertainment with musical acts From the Earth and Richard Grainger.
Root yourself into the uplifting harmonies and catchy ballads of Vancouver Island based folk duo From the Earth featuring singer/songwriters Michelle Loretta and Mike Bauche, who have both been in the music industry for well over a decade. As we slide into the spooky season, expect to hear some songs off the Halloween carols album that they released last year called Ghosts Have Feelings Too.
"From the Earth was a huge hit at the Islands Folk Festival this past summer and I wanted to book them as soon as they had a Saturday night free," said folk guild artistic director Jack Connolly. "I booked them because I knew that it might be an important opportunity to get some new faces down to the coffeehouse who might have seen them play the festival, and am really excited to have them perform."
For the second shot of talent music lovers will have the chance to get their folk on and possibly treat their ears to something new with the musical stylings of UK performer Richard Grainger. Grainger’s repertoire of original material includes traditional, maritime, industrial and humorous songs, as well as uplifting romantic ballads. Grainger has recorded 14 albums.
"We are trying to be alive to the opportunities as they present themselves," said Connolly. "I certainly feel excited about the opportunity to present both of these acts which have a real contrast in both their styles and approaches."
Coffeehouse regulars and local performers will have a shorter than usual open mic session.
"It will be an interesting chance to try out something that I've wanted to do for a long time which is having a one song, rapid fire open stage," said Connolly. "Usually performers sign up to perform two or three songs on the open stage and some performers feel intimidated by that. So this time I am challenging veteran performers to come and share their best short song and new performers to give one song a try. For audiences, open stages can be great but they can also meander a little bit, so this one should be like a little roller-coaster of entertainment."
The church hall doors open at 7 p.m., with the open stage starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 for members, or $10 for non-members.
"What we have down in the hall there is a really beautiful night of community and music that you really have to experience for yourself," said Connolly. "Our part of the deal is to try and always bring you an experience that is worth the effort of trying something new."