The members of the Colorado-based Sturtz acoustic quartet are no strangers to the Pacific Northwest, but this summer will mark their first performance in Port Townsend, as they’re set to be hosted by The Palindrome at Eaglemount Cidery, as part of the Rainshadow Concerts series, on Saturday, July 13, at 7:30 p.m.

The quartet is named for lead singer and guitarist Andrew Sturtz, who’s joined by Jim Herlihy on the banjo, Will Kuepper on bass and Sturtz’s partner, Courtlyn Carpenter, on the cello, as they play what they describe as “sweet, yearning melodies, driven by tasty banjo-picking, floating on a bed of soothing cello harmonies.”

The Sturtz quartet toured through the Pacific Northwest last summer, visiting friends and family in the area, while also making contact with Matt Miner to take part in the Rainshadow Concerts series this summer, which is how they came to the conclusion that Western Washington might be even more inclined toward their musical stylings than their native Boulder, Colorado.

Sturtz said while Colorado is a hotbed for folk music, the Sturtz quartet’s music falls closer to “the intersection of folk and soul,” for a level of experimentalism that was well-received during the quartet’s trek out west last summer.

“We’d always heard good things about Port Townsend,” he said. “The sound that’s out in your neck of the woods seems really fitting for our blend of genres. Last summer, we felt like the mood of your region matched up to what we had to offer pretty well.”

Sturtz likewise expressed enthusiasm for the chance to perform in front of Pacific Northwest audiences again, whom he found to be attentive and receptive to the quartet’s sound.

According to Sturtz, the crowds his quartet draw in the region actively “wanted to listen,” and he credited those audiences’ willingness to engage with his band’s music, making it easier for band members to be “more dynamic.”

“We’ve played a lot of smaller venues, and having more intimacy allows us to take advantage of a more introspective energy,” Sturtz said, expressing optimism over the prospective atmosphere of The Palindrome.

Carpenter said while Colorado’s sound can be a bit more “head-bopping,” the folk music of the Pacific Northwest complements their own “softer” sound, which is still “fun,” but has more of a “rainy-day vibe” to it.

Sturtz promised that those who attend The Palindrome concert will be treated to “very strong” vocals and harmonies over lower string instrumentals. Carpenter pointed to quartet’s planned new album release slated for September, with the July 13 concert providing an early opportunity to listen to the new material

The Sturtz quartet has toured across the United States, opening for groups like the Eli Young Band, Trout Steak Revival, Lillie Mae and Smooth Hound Smith. NPR’s “All Songs Considered” described the band as “a reassuring breath of fresh air that pulls me back to simpler times” in its April 2020 blog.

Tickets are available online at ticketstorm.com or at the door.