Come and welcome the newest member of the Comox Valley鈥檚 music scene.

Ellisa Hartman has recently moved here from Victoria and has fallen in love with all that the Valley has to offer and she is very much looking forward to being able to offer her music back to the community. She performs Thursday at Joe's Garage in courtenay.

Fans of Haley Sales, and locals Helen Austin, and Emily Spiller will enjoy Hartman鈥檚 original music.

This talented young singer/songwriter is ready to leap into a high-profile role in the Canadian independent music scene. Her artistic presence, unique voicing and quirky instrumental timing bring an honest and charismatic sound to the folk genre.

"Ellisa Hartman is a highly promising young Victoria singer-songwriter. Her strengths include a gift for vocal phrasing and an ability to write melodic, hook-laden songs with thoughtful introspective lyrics..." says Adrian Chamberlain (Victoria Times Colonist).

This spring, Ellisa has received a nomination for 鈥淪ong of the Year鈥� at the 2011 Vancouver Island Music Awards which will be held this June and has been asked to perform a showcase at the Vancouver Island Music Business Conference, which will be June 26 at the Whistle Stop Pub at 6 p.m.

She has recently released her new EP Making War and will be celebrating these achievements with a tour of Vancouver Island in the upcoming weeks.

At 24, she has written a portfolio of significant songs that would be the envy of many established musicians. Drawing on the spirits of Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell and Eva Cassidy, her music moves all who hear it.

Her vocal prowess is enhanced by experience in a range of instruments with a unique form of finger-style acoustic guitar. Her ability to blend moments of unorthodox time signature into her songs make musical points that few can match.

Opening the night will be Cumberland鈥檚 Brodie Dawson, who calls her style a mix of soulful 鈥榝olky鈥� blues with a twist of pop and a twang of old-school country. True to all those genres she sings of life, love, searching and finding your way.

Brodie鈥檚 voice has graced coffee shops, pubs, festivals, community events, and radio shows such as CBC North鈥檚 Homemade Jam with Norbert Poitras and CBC鈥檚 The Vinyl Caf茅 with Stuart McLean.