Don’t miss an evening that will take you far from the hills of Vashon to the glorious reaches of the Rocky Mountains as you revel in the stories and songs of The Wardens — a trio whose mountain music rises from the very land they have collectively protected as Canadian National Park Wardens for decades.

The Wardens will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at Vashon Center for the Arts on Saturday, Nov. 23, at 7:30 p.m.

I had the great fortune to see The Wardens perform in 2023 at The Reser Center in Beaverton, Oregon.

As the curtain rose, I was greeted by a video montage of an evergreen wilderness projected on a giant backdrop, and standing in front of it were what can only be described as three mountain cowboys with instruments in hand.

I honestly had no idea what to expect. Their performance was part of the Arts NW Conference, featuring a host of regional, national, and international artists promoting upcoming tours.

But from the moment these charismatic cowboys introduced themselves as Canadian National Park wardens, I was intrigued. Their musicianship is second to none — these are musicians who have been songwriting, fingerpicking guitars, and fiddling around campfires together for decades.

Combined, they have been park wardens for more than 50 years. Their harmonies as a trio are haunting — the comfortable trust in each other is evident — but how could it not be when they’ve experienced the deep wilderness of the Canadian Rockies amidst all its ruggedness and natural wonder?

The stories they weave throughout their performance are riveting, filled with daring rescues, fearsome grizzly bears, and the occasional comedic mishap of amateur campers and park explorers.

The Wardens were one of the best musical acts I saw last year, hands down. There is a kindness and weathered grace to their interactions and storytelling. And their sounds remind me of their fellow countryman Gordon Lightfoot’s folk-style ballads. I hear the Rocky Mountains, but I also hear the country fiddle styles of Appalachia. It is soul-stirring and heart-warming music.

Who are these mountain men? Scott Ward, Ray Schmidt, and Scott Duncan comprise the core trio.

Ward has been a park warden for more than 30 years in Banff National Park, working as a search-and-rescue dog handler and technical alpine specialist.

Schmidt co-founded The Wardens in 2009 with Ward. Posted in Jasper National Park, he has worked in several parks, including Banff, Glacier, and Mount Revelstoke. He is currently working with grizzly bears and other abundant wildlife in Jasper.

Duncan is a sought-after touring musician and considered the group’s “Deputy Warden,” joining them whenever they hit the road.

The trio has performed widely across western Canada, and and in the U.S., from Alaska to California. They have performed at Folk Alliance International, Canmore Folk Festival’s main stage, and for a royal audience in Edmonton, Alberta. And now, they are coming to Vashon.

It’s the kind of show you’ll remember for a long time, and I hope to see you there.

Find out more and get tickets at vashoncenterforthearts.org.

Allison Halstead Reid is the executive director of Vashon Center for the Arts.