Raising our voices, raising each other ...
"What an entertaining and heart warming trio. Magical harmonies and lyrics like spring."
- Auntmama (Mary Anne Moorman) KBCS
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We are so excited to begin scheduling live events again! Thanks for your patience as we move forward with both caution and hope, to ensure everyone can enjoy live music safely.
Upcoming Shows
Sunday, Sept. 12th - Orcas Island Farm Concert: 5pm / 4:30pm Doors
SOLD OUT!
Bring your lawn chairs, picnics, and eager ears to enjoy live music outside! $20-30 suggested donation for the music. Email jasparlepakmusic [at] gmail.com to join the waiting list.
aBOUT rAISING HAZEL
Raising voices, raising children, and raising hell (in their own way), singer-songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Avery Hill (Portland, OR), Jaspar Lepak (Seattle, WA) and Mandy Troxel (Orcas Island, WA) are Raising Hazel, a brand new acoustic folk trio. Formed in the spirit of friendship and a love of musical craft, these multitasking mamas have their recipe down: powerful songwriting, intricate harmonies, and a healthy pinch of attitude. Performing songs with the intimacy and authenticity of stories passed down through the ages (usually around a kitchen table), Raising Hazel represents what women have always known: there is a lot one can do on her own but the richest experiences are the ones we share together.
With musical inspirations spanning women from all eras of folk music, Raising Hazel unapologetically sings about the truths of life, relishing the simple and unpacking the complicated. They sing with the earnestness of Hazel Dickens, one of the first women in bluegrass and a fierce advocate for women's and worker's rights. They tell stories of complex emotion and understanding in the vein of Nancy Griffith, Dar Williams, and Patty Griffin. Their voices gorgeously blend in the tradition of trios such as “Trio” by Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton, and The Wailin' Jennys. Somewhere at the intersection of Folk, Country, Bluegrass, Gospel, and a little Tin Pan Alley, you’ll find Raising Hazel looking for the best way to showcase each story they have to tell.
Above all, Raising Hazel seeks to bear witness to those who mistakenly believe they are ordinary and to remind listeners of the capacity we all have to raise our voices and to raise each other up.
band members
Avery Hill
www.averyhilltunes.com
Avery Hill has developed a singular style of "story-singing", integrating her understanding of the past into observations of life today. Her musical style is hard to pin down, as she borrows from several styles and genres from the vast history of folk music, but the stories and images of her lyrics ring true. After releasing her first full-length album Dreams & Ghosts: A Family Album in 2015, she went on to open Song by Song (www.learnsongbysong.com), a school of ukulele and music classes, to help people discover the musician within them.
"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." ~ Tom May, River City Folk.
Jaspar Lepak
www.jasparlepak.com
Jaspar Lepak 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: Tucson, Minneapolis, Durban, and currently Seattle. Sweeping across landscapes with an emotional depth that is extraordinary, her lyrics expose a brave vulnerability while her clear, pure voice touches the heart.
"You'll find more than enough beauty and original charm to make you a fan." ~ Rolling Stone South Africa.
mandy troxel
www.mandytroxel.com
Juxtaposing the beauty of her home in the San Juan Islands with the connection and humor of small town living, Mandy's songs acknowledge the dark moments in life, while also underlying a certain optimism. On island, she works full-time as a farmhand, and can most often be found in the barn singing to goats.
"Mandy Troxel’s songs have the feel of an old friend, pulling the listener into heartfelt conversation with lyrics both wistful and wise.” ~ Jan Krist