Getting Out

Alicia Healey and Wes Wedell are Seattle singer/songwriters who draw inspiration from their rural roots and have collaborated musically for more than two decades.

The two perform in concert at 3 p.m. Saturday at St. Germain's Episcopal Church, 600 N. Lake Cushman Road, Hoodsport. Admission is a suggested donation of $15, but no one will be turned away.

Each will perform a set of original songs. "I will be backing him up, and he'll be backing me up," Healey said in a joint telephone interview with Wedell and the Journal.

Wedell has recorded six albums, and Healey has been involved in five of them, he said.

The musicians say their rural roots are reflected in their tunes - she's from Dubuque, Iowa, and he's from Pullman. The two met at the turn of the century.

"My friends knew my 19-year-old self needed to get a producer," he said. The ideal match was Healey, who owns and operates a recording studio in Seattle, the Winterblue Room.

Healey recorded and co-produced Wedell's first album, "My Northwest Home," in 2001, which includes songs set in Mossyrock, Walla Walla, Port Angeles and the Palouse. The album came about as part of a Mary Gates Venture Fellowship from the University of Washington.

"It was traveling music," Healey said. She has recorded four albums: "For the Love of Basics," "Live at the Mansion," "Quiet Here" and "We Gonna ..."

"He writes paintings, I write quick photographs," Healey said.

Wedell said "Americana" is the phrase most often used to describe his music. Healey describes her sound as "old country that can get rocky at times."

"They're very personal songs," she said. "They're storytelling songs, but always centered on people trying to get through things."

"She's an incredible vocalist," Wedell said.

What should the Hoodsport audience expect Saturday?

"I think they'll get some great stories, I think they'll get some great imagery," Healey said.

"Expect a lot of harmony," Wedell said.

IF YOU GO

WHO: Singer/songwriters Wes Wedell and Alicia Healey

WHEN: 3 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: St. Germain’s Episcopal Church, 600 N. Lake Cushman Road, Hoodsport

ADMISSION: Suggested donation of $15, no one turned away

INFORMATION: 360-877-5862