Hailing from Fremantle, the music and arts capital of Western Australia, Helen Townsend and Shannon Smith are an Americana/Folk Duo quickly gaining recognition for their sublime harmonies, incisive song writing and on stage chemistry and charm. Reminiscent of Welch/Rawlings and Harris/Crowell these two capture your imagination and heart.
Their first EP "Love, Lies 'n' Leaving" debuted at #2 on the National AIR Independent Music Charts, with two singles "Devils Curse" and "Where Are You Now" topping the AMRAP Charts. Further still "Devils Curse" was a finalist in the 2020 International Songwriting Competition and 2021 WAM (West Australian Music Industry) roots category "Song of the Year".
"Where are you Now" was a finalist in the bluegrass category in the International Acoustic Music Awards (IAMA) with the "Love LIes 'n' Leaving" EP a finalist for "EP of the Year" in the 2022 WA Country Music Awards.
The Duo have recently returned from a successful US EP Launch landing them the #6 Album in the US Folk Alliance International charts for September. Backing up their release they played in San Antonio, Austin, Franklin & Nashville and performed for Sounds Australia at The Bluebird Cafe, Old Red and the 5 Spot at the prestigious AmericanaFest Australian Showcase.
Since the release of the EP in 2021 the Duo have also performed to multiple sell out shows and appeared at many festivals including Nanga Music Festival, Fairbridge Festival, Strings Attached Festival, Folk in the Forest and Red Country Music Festival, quickly becoming crowd favourites.
Since the release of the EP in 2021 the Duo have performed to multiple sell out shows and appeared at many festivals including Nanga Music Festival, Fairbridge Festival, Strings Attached Festival, Folk in the Forest and Red Country Music Festival quickly becoming crowd favourites.
"History will judge ours as among the worst of times. We can’t say that out loud right now, because we have to keep our heads down and live through them, but we know it. Which is why light among the darkness is so important, as is community, as is music. This evening, at Kidogo Arthouse, Helen Townsend and her muse and musical partner, Shannon Smith, brought their audience music, community and light. She may not have meant it, ostensibly this was the launch of Townsend’s latest EP, Love, Lies ‘n’ Leaving, but tonight’s event and others like it will come to be remembered with the same folkloric reverence as Londoners in the blitz singing Vera Lynn songs in the tunnels of the Underground. ...Even the spirits that inhabit Kidogo Arthouse ceased their business to stand and watch for a moment. It was magic”
- Andrea Thompson "Around The Sound"
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“We’re Through” is an upbeat break up song with a sweet flavour and bitter message. Weaving between melody and harmony Helen and Shannon perform a duet that has you bopping along, but feeling forlorn for a love that was, but is no more.
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A deviation from her usual country flavours, ‘Devils Curse’ is a rootsy, slow stomp with an Appalachian vibe and a slick southern slide. It steers away from the traditional frantic energy of Bluegrass, bringing the kind of laid-back, lazy eyed ambience that has become synonymous with music from Western Australia
- Aminah Hughes "Around The Sound"
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