Pieces fall into place

There is a certain kind of symmetry to the pairing up of Bunbury singer songwriters Nick Long and Peter Blankendaal.

The acoustic pop duo, The Fallen, have their debut concert, Live@The Chapel, in the Bunbury Regional Art Galleries on Saturday night, but it took a remarkable turn of events to get the pair together.

About two years ago a mutual friend set up a PA system so his ‘‘muso mates’’ could entertain guests at his 40th birthday party. Long and Blankendaal did not know each other then, but when Long played a few of his original tunes it took Blankendaal back to a Bunbury Show performance he saw by Long and his brother Simon, more than 20 years earlier.

‘‘Nick left behind his book of songs at the showgrounds so I had them for a couple of weeks before I got them back to him,’’ said Blankendaal, who was helping with the sound production at the show.

‘‘I just thought they were great at the time and then when I heard Nick sing I encouraged him to come along to the Bunbury Performers Club.’’

Up until then Long’s original songs had been ‘‘banished to the bathroom’’ by his family, but the club gave him the encouragement he needed.

After a while he suggested to Blankendaal they try a couple of songs together.

Blankendaal’s natural ear for harmonies and multi-instrumental talents were the ideal partnership for Long’s strong vocals and solid rhythm guitar.

Club coordinator John Sherwood said Long’s emergence was typical of what the club was about.

‘‘We formed the club to bring musicians and poets together and encourage creative performances,’’ Sherwood said.

‘‘Peter is a fantastic musician and has nurtured other musicians, and in his two years at the club, Nick has honed his considerable skills.

‘‘He is a powerful presence on stage and the synergy between the two is a pleasure to experience.’’

The concert starts at 7.30pm with proceeds to Make A Wish Foundation. Joining The Fallen at the concert will be bass guitar, cello and violin trio BACHing Mad and outstanding performance poet Kate Wilson.

Tickets cost $15 and are available at Vibrations in Spencer Street, Bunbury.