Words Jo Barnes
Photo Sarah Hartley Photography
Taking their name from the building where they rehearse, local band The Haven has managed to successfully achieve a cohesiveness and connection that is remarkable given the short space of time together and their diverse backgrounds.
The dynamic group, consisting of Peter Bacsalmasi, Don Carscadden, Natalie Foley, Keith Bjorndahl and Matt Bullock, performs a blend of rock, pop and original music that audiences are thoroughly enjoying, and it all stems from a collaborative and respectful approach within the group.
Bassist Don shares: “I have a commercial space and the ‘haven’ is part of that name. The upstairs is mostly a hangout space and this morphed into a space for music. The band rehearses there. ‘Haven’ also means it is a safe and welcoming space. We all gel well and agree on song choices and arrangements. But the respect for others, the caring and the sense of humour really seals the deal.”
Adds Keith: “We all work very hard, very collaboratively, and we all have a creative voice in each and every song we bring into our repertoire.”
Peter, musical director, does video and music production for the band. He plays multiple instruments and has been performing music professionally for many years across various genres including rock, pop and jazz.
After retiring from law in 2021, Natalie decided to pursue music and started learning guitar as well as taking vocal coaching. She auditioned for the band and was enthusiastically welcomed. “As a little girl I loved performing and my grandfather was a concert pianist,” she relates. “I started singing seriously and joined the band in 2023.”
Don plays bass guitar and takes care of band bookings and other business minutiae for the group. He learned basic guitar as a child and recently returned to playing and developing his skills. “A few years ago, I got interested in picking up a guitar for a bit, remembered a few chords, and started playing folk songs with a circle of eight people once a week,” he says. “My background is engineering so the structure and mathematics of music appeals to me. But I also love the creativity of it all.”
Drummer/Back-up Vocalist Keith shares: “I grew up musically in a drum corps environment, as well as playing percussion in a symphonic environment.” As well as bringing his skills with drums and percussion, Keith has an IT background and takes care of the band website and technical issues.
Matt, guitarist and vocalist, has been playing guitar since his teens, holds a Master’s degree in Archaeology, and has been performing professionally since 2019. He comments enthusiastically: “Any day where I have the opportunity to perform is a good day.”
These musicians come from different walks of life, but together they create dynamic, energizing music. “We try to play what people want to hear. We try to tailor our set list to a particular event such as up-tempo songs for a dance,” relates Natalie. “We also love creating original music too. When it’s something you’ve created, it’s very emotional.”
The band’s music and performances have met with positive response. “We often get complimented for our harmonies,” comments Natalie. “People love the variety of our playlist and often say ‘You’re such a tight band.’ They think we have been playing together for a long time.”
Band recognition is building primarily through word-of-mouth. Performances have included The Seaside Music Festival, Canada Day celebrations, Saanich Peninsula Hospital & Healthcare Foundation fundraisers, local car shows, yacht club events, Deep Cove Folk Nights, and Brentwood Bay Village Empourium. In addition, they recently debuted Red and Blue, a double album of 20 original songs that took two years to create and represents a first in terms of songwriting and also recording.
It’s been a whirlwind of rehearsing, polishing songs and performing, all of which is bringing rewards. At the heart of it all though is mutual support and respect among band members.
Don relates: “I think our success is due to numerous factors. We rehearse diligently and take our craft seriously. These are just super nice people, and I couldn’t be happier than when we all get together for rehearsal, or tear down, or set up, or sound check, or gigs, or just socially.”
“We want everyone in the band to express what they are good at,” shares Natalie. “There might be a drum solo by Keith, guitar solo by Peter or Matt, or vocal solo by myself. This way everyone gets an opportunity to shine.”
With summer in full swing and fall around the corner, The Haven is busier than ever performing for the local community such as North Saanich Farm Market, Peninsula Celebrations Society Summer Sounds, and the Mary Winspear 25th Anniversary. It all adds up to more opportunities for audience members to tap their toes, get out on the dance floor and be welcomed into the haven of great music.
www.thehavenmusic.com
