Voices Three will be in concert at the Mex Pub on Friday February 12 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door for $15 per person. This local trio combines the talents of songwriters Helen Austin, Sue Pyper, and Judy Wing. Each of these women are independent performers and recording artists with their own unique songwriting styles, however the synergy of their voices and musicality offers a spine tingling blend of harmony and perspective. (Voices Three is most noted for their annual benefit concerts in support of the Comox Valley Hospice Society, however this particular performance will not be a fundraiser.) Their shows visit multiple genres, themes, and rhythms, with a wide range of instrumentation, lyrical depth, wit, and musical comedy. Joining them for this evening of music will be Jim Stepan on drums, Bruce Wing on bass and guitar, and Cam Boyce on fiddle.
Helen Austin is originally from Durham, UK, and moved to Canada with a successful comedy career to her credit. Here she launched a more serious musical career as a songwriter, arranger, performer and producer has since gained impressive momentum. She has received a Juno award, a Canadian Folk Music Award and The John Lennon Songwriting Competition's Song of the Year and is keeping busy to the delight of her many fans with over 70 synch placements on ads, television and movies and a brand new duo called Big Little Lions which won Ensemble of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards this year.
Sue Pyper was also inspired to embark on a musical career after immigrating to Canada from London, UK. Audiences love her candid personality and the gentle and compelling sincerity of her music. Sue also received nominations in five categories for her first CD "Before You Learn to Fly" and won "Song of the Year" at the MPower Independent Music Awards in 2002. Sue's music can be gentle, humourous, political and poignant and she creates a memorable connection with her audiences. In addition to the fine sounding Taylor guitar she plays, Sue has also been exploring clawhammer banjo techniques, adding this flavour to her own repertoire as well as the recordings of other artists. Her creative talents are not limited to beautiful vocals and song writing, and have expanded over the past few years to new areas of fine arts include detailed paintings, abstract nature images, pendants, and pyrography.
In contrast, Judy Wing brings a rural perspective having spent many years in the small Finnish community of Sointula on Malcolm Island where she discovered a love for songwriting and collaboration. Judy writes and performs with her husband Bruce Wing who also accompanies the trio on bass and guitar. The Wings have released four albums, and the duo was awarded Roots Song of the Year in 2014 for their song Miss Your Exit at the Vancouver Island Music Awards. Judy and Bruce are hosts of two open mics and organizers of the 1st Tuesday Fundraiser Concert Series, now in its 8th season.