A Songwriting Class in the Afternoon, Then a Concert in the Evening

Class: Saturday, June 2, 2 – 3:30 p.m., Library

Concert: Saturday, June 2, 7 p.m., The Grange

— from Mandy Troxel —

On Saturday, June 2, local singer songwriter Mandy Troxel is bringing two songwriting friends, Jaspar Lepak and Avery Hill, to the island for two unique opportunities for island music lovers. This dynamic trio of musicians is pleased to offer a songwriting workshop Saturday afternoon, and a concert at 7 p.m. at the Grange.

“Finding Your Voice: Inspiration for Songwriting” is a songwriting workshop from 2-3:30 p.m. in the Library Community Room. Join Hill, Lepak and Troxel as they share songs, discuss their craft, and offer writing exercises that will help you connect with your authentic voice. Bring a notebook, a favorite pen and all your songwriting questions. This all ages workshop is for beginner to experienced songwriters, and is free, although donations will be much appreciated.

At 7 p.m., there will be a “Songwriters in the Round” concert at the Grange. This intimate format will have all three musicians on stage together, sharing songs individually and collaborating. They promise lots of storytelling, three part harmonies, and snacks! Tickets are $10 at the event, doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Hill, Lepak and Troxel met at the FarWest Folk Alliance conference in Bellevue and a year later shared a concert in Conway, WA. Troxel says “I couldn’t stop thinking about how much Islanders would love Avery and Jaspar’s music. And the show was such a fun thing for me — I realized how much I wanted to share this experience with my fellow islanders.” This will be Hill and Lepak’s first concert on Orcas Island, and Troxel is hoping for an enthusiastic island welcome.

More about the musicians: Jaspar Lepak (jasparlepak.com) is a folk/Americana songwriter whose remarkable gift for melody is only surpassed by her poetry. A child of the Sonoran Desert, her songs are deeply influenced by the many places she has called home. Lepak started writing songs in 2002 while living in Minneapolis. In the fall of 2009, she moved to Durban, South Africa with her husband Kale. Her music found an enthusiastic audience, and in 2011, she recorded “Forgiving Wind” which Rolling Stone South Africa hailed as an album full of “beauty and original charm.” Lepak moved to Seattle in 2012 and released her 8th album “Close to Me” in September of 2017—just two weeks before her daughter was born.

Family legend has it you could hear Avery Hill (averyhilltunes.com) singing before she even came out. Since then, she has taken a winding road to music, which has contributed greatly to her singular style of “story-singing”, integrating the past into observations of life today. Now based out of Portland, Oregon, when not performing, she runs Song by Song (www.learnsongbysong.com) a fledgling school of ukulele and music classes. Says Tom May of River City Folk, “This emerging singer-songwriter has a memorable, lilting voice and is already penning songs that could someday be classics. She is an extraordinary young talent.”

Orcas Island music lovers are well acquainted with the music of Mandy Troxel (mandytroxel.com). Fans often share the similar story of being swung around by the clear bell of her voice and then rooted to the spot by lyrics that have the feeling of a conversation with an old friend. Mandy describes her music with a dash of self-deprecating humor, labeling her genre “Country Western Pathetica” and “Island Mama Americana.” Juxtaposing the beauty of her island home of 15 years with the connection and humor of small town living, her songs acknowledge the dark moments in life, while also underlying a certain optimism.