A folk trifecta is coming to Old Poway Park’s Templar’s Hall on Saturday (March 6) as the San Diego Folk Heritage presents an evening with Triptych, a group that brings together three local musicians with deep ties to the San Diego folk music scene.

Peggy Watson, David Beldock and Joe Rathburn say the evening should be full of good songs, intricate guitar work (Beldock and Rathburn are virtuoso players) and soaring harmonies powered by Watson.

The concert starts at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:15 p.m.)

In a phone interview, Rathburn said the three friends decided to form the group about two years ago, and since then have played about six shows under the Triptych moniker — which defines a work of art with three parts hinged together — mostly a few house concerts and also a show at a North Park theater.

In addition, both Beldock and Watson have joined Rathburn on stage regularly as part of a folk music showcase Rathburn hosts regularly at a Mission Valley coffee house, though those collaborations are more freeform jams.

“When we play as Triptych we put together more of a show,” Rathburn said. “We decide in advance what tunes we’re going to play and work on them and polish them. We work on the show’s pacing and on harmonies.”

The concert will also allow audience members to get a sampling of each of the musician’s work, said Rathburn, adding that they each have distinct writing styles that are different but complement one another well.

For his part, Rathburn classifies his style as part of the Positive Music genre, crafting songs that are meant to impact society and help people.

“It’s more than just, ‘hey baby, let’s dance,’?” Rathburn said, noting that he’s decided to only write songs that “would be from my heart and help people out.”
He said it’s not an easy thing to write only positive songs.

“It’s been said that it’s harder to write a good happy song

than it is to write a good sad song,” he said. “It’s difficult to do that without making them sound smarmy or preachy.”

For his part, Beldock, who also sings in rock bands around town, said his songs, in tone “tend to be more cynical than Joe (Rathburn’s).

“But that’s what’s nice,” said Rathburn. “It’s like ying and yang, and all of the styles go together pretty well, and the audience will be getting three styles instead of one.”

Watson concurred, adding that the show presents several musical dimensions.
“Both (Rathburn and Watson) are stellar guitarists, two of the best in town, and it’s a joy to work with them,” she said.

Watson, who works as a school counselor at a South Bay school, described her style as eclectic, noting that although she’s primarily a folk singer, she also incorporates elements of jazz, blues and even Broadway music to her sets.

“What I really love are songs that have some kind of meaning to people, which touch them in some sort of way,” she said.

Tickets are $18 and can be purchased online at www.ticketweb.com by searching for “Triptych.” Templar’s Hall is at 4134 Midland Road.