August, is coming to Valemount on March 20 – four delightfully fun-filled, witty women, each award-winning recording artists and songwriters in their own right. Linda Kidder, Beverley Elliott, Meg Tennant, and Rae Armour from the lower mainland.

Why the name August?

“It’s metaphorical… you’re harvesting crops, there’s lots of heat, it’s warm, sunny, vibrant, outgoing. The four of us, having our own solo careers, some for 20 years or more, came together as friends wanting to share our music, harvest all our experience and put it together in a really lovely, wonderful, humorous, inspiring format,” Armour said. “The noun ‘august’ also means a woman who stands up and looks after herself. Things ripen and mature in August – we’re women of a certain age.”

Obviously, their combined life experience offers them a bountiful harvest of songwriting material. Topics are broad and include such universal themes as childhood memories, love, human idiosyncrasies, menopause, and finding one’s path.

“We want people to leave saying ‘That was fun... You’re never too old to be a child,’” Armour said.

As for genres, August encompasses folk, blue grass, jazz, a cappella, pop, and a little country.

All of August songs are originals and include solos, four-part harmonies, storytelling, and original humor. Their concerts contain a lot of spontaneity, no two are ever the same.

These incredibly gifted women provide a powerful musical experience. In addition to their lovely voices, Armour and Tennant play acoustic guitar, Kidder plays bass and Elliott plays percussion from spoons to washboard.

They feel blessed to have their own brilliant guitar virtuoso, Darryl Jahnke, playing solo and accompaniment on acoustic guitar.

August’s list of accomplishments is very impressive.

Most recently, they performed at the Olympic torch relay in Lynn Valley, and again at Lynn Valley Square. “Playing for the torch relay was an incredible experience... 9,000 people attended that night,” Armour said.

Kidder wrote “Canada Welcomes the World” a.k.a. ‘The Torch Song’, which was performed by August at Robson Square on Olympic closing day, February 27. It tells of the band’s Olympic experiences.

The band has performed extensively in B.C. since January 2006, with a few gigs in Ontario and Washington.

In 2007, August won an award from the North Shore Arts Council – the Don S. Williamson award which is given to artists showing the most promise and commitment to artistic expression in their community.

The accomplishments of each member are also impressive. They’ve rubbed shoulders with Jim Byrnes, Ray Forbes, The Oakridge Boys, Shari Ulrich, Long John Baldry, The Countrymen, Rita MacNeil, k.d. lang, and Ian Tyson, to name a few. 

Their CD, ‘The Sweetest Day,’ will be available for purchase, as will their solo CDs.

 For more information on August and links to their individual websites visit augustmusic.net.

The concert will take place at the Valemount Community Theatre at March 20 at 7 p.m.

The Valemount Community Theatre is known for its quality and variety in live entertainment. Two free tickets to the next performance are given away at every concert.