By Rae Porter

Monday Magazine contributor

A chance meeting on Saltspring Island. A love story. And now one of VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 most intriguing new bands.

Ocie Elliott is Jon Middleton (of Jon and Roy) and Sierra Lundy, herself a talented artist and musician. I once described Ocie Elliott as being B次元官网网址榯he aural equivalent of indigo painted skies and the first summer stars,B次元官网网址� and this remains one of the truer statements IB次元官网网址檝e uttered in my time.

Their contemporary indie folk blend is both immediately familiar and yet startlingly unique. Middleton and LundyB次元官网网址檚 complementary vocals, gently teasing in their harmonious melodies, layer atop stripped back instrumentals. Think Angus and Julia Stone with softer edges, or Gillian Welch sans the twang. Their music seems borne of Vancouver IslandB次元官网网址檚 deep green forests, grey-laden skies and crashing waves.

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ItB次元官网网址檚 been somewhat of a whirlwind rise for Ocie Elliott, who recently signed with Vancouver-based Nettwerk Records. Their self-titled first EP was released in October 2017 and instantly struck a chord with listeners. In a world where the all-mighty digital stream can direct a bandB次元官网网址檚 success, the duo are darlings; on Spotify alone the duo has 100,000 monthly listeners and feature heavily on the siteB次元官网网址檚 folk-focused playlists.

Of course, Ocie ElliottB次元官网网址檚 draw is not all apps and algorithms. Their thoughtful, intimate sets at last yearB次元官网网址檚 Song & Surf and 2017B次元官网网址檚 Rifflandia were poetic highlights of each festival, and the last 18 months have seen them open for Roo Panes, Mason Jennings, Kim Churchill and even a jump across the pond to support Sons of the East in Europe.

With their first full-length album, We Fall In, due for release Feb. 8, this is shaping up to be a big year for Middleton and Lundy. Each song is a tender moment of joy; a snapshot of the love and connection between the pair. The first single, B次元官网网址淗old My NameB次元官网网址� is a particularly poignant poesy to the subtleties of love, and their newest single B次元官网网址淢ingle in PineB次元官网网址� is the whimsical intertwining of a gentle love story with natural imagery.

The duo will enchant the fine folk of Tofino with back-to-back nights at the Maq Pub on Feb. 8-9, before heading back to Victoria for their album release concert at the Upstairs Cabaret in Bastion Square on Sunday, Feb. 10.

Fintan, the West CoastB次元官网网址檚 answer to Shawn Mendes, will kick the night off and Davers (of Current Swell) will be providing direct support with his new buzz-worthy solo project. With cabaret style seating and an intimate atmosphere, this night with some of VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 best is not to be missed.

Tickets are $15 and are available from LyleB次元官网网址檚 and the Ticket Rocket headquarters on Meares Street, or online at o.

editor@mondaymag.com
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