The Martlet

The sweet sounds of Victoria’s newest bluegrass trio filled a crowded Solstice Café on Friday, Jan. 15. The Sirens, in only their second live show, packed the narrow venue right to the back.

It no doubt helped that the band was supported by Colin “Doozie” Boland, a fellow Victoria bluegrass musician with a growing reputation. Around 7:30 p.m., against the rustic, red brick wall of Solstice Café, Boland got the show in progress by plucking away on his guitar and serenading the audience with his Pacific Northwest lilt.

Much of Boland’s original music calls to mind different natural characteristics of Island and coastal life. One such song tumbles forward through quintessential Vancouver Island imagery (like surfing Long Beach in Tofino) and ties it all together with the lyric “living on the Island is a pretty good life.”

Other songs reference Boland’s adventures on his sailboat and fishing with an old friend. At the end of his set, Boland was surprised with an announcement that he had been selected by the Victoria Bluegrass Society to receive their annual bursary to attend the B.C. Bluegrass Workshop in Sorrento, B.C.

By the time the Sirens hit the stage, the café was full. Guitar player Jamie Elliott, mandolin player Lisa Feeney and banjo picker Caroline Tanner Venters all share singing responsibility and often alternate verses, then come together in beautifully harmonized choruses.

Each Siren has her own uniquely enjoyable voice. Feeney, who sings the largest share of lead vocals, does so with a steady and purposeful tone. Her voice carries with it a certain amount of reverence for the traditional music they specialize in. Elliott’s voice has a gentler quality, with a hint of playful bashfulness. Perhaps the most enjoyable thing about seeing Tanner Venters sing is her glowing smile, which was perfectly suited to her boisterous delivery.

The Sirens’ set list consisted of traditional bluegrass numbers like “Fall on My Knees” and “Rueben’s Train,” with original touches added to the arrangement. On the song “Been All Around This World” they really took advantage of their combined talent, mixing up the arrangement with smooth and effective transitions between single and multiple vocalists.

The three voices complement each other nicely, and this was definitely on display in the a cappella, gospel-esque intro of “Skillet Good n’ Greasy” — a song that got the crowd clapping and stomping along.

The show ended with Boland and Brad Decker, who make up the Meares Street Family Band, joining the Sirens on stage.