An eclectic cultural combination of musicians, who only could have come together in Montreal, are treating The Palindrome to their distinctive sound, as Rainshadow Recording and Bertram Levy present the international trio “Les Arrivants” on Sunday, Aug. 11.

Between the summers of 2019 and 2020, Israeli-born Amichai Ben Shalev, who plays the bandoneon, and Jordanian Abdul-Wahab Kayyali, who plays the oud, found their way to Montreal alongside Iranian percussionist Hamin Honari, who plays the tombak, daf and frame drums.

As the three musicians met each other and became acquainted with their new home city, in the midst of COVID lockdowns and what Shalev referred to as “other uncertainties” permeating their lives, they shared their respective backgrounds in Arabic Classical, Argentine Tango and Persian Classical musical traditions.

Shalev credited Montreal with possessing such an innately diverse and cosmopolitan musical scene that he finds it difficult to imagine where else a trio as unique as Les Arrivants could have come together — “maybe New York City, or Berlin” — before he specifically cited the band members’ shared project residency in the city’s Centres des Musiciens du Monde (literally “World Musicians Center”) as key to the group’s development.

Shalev noted how Les Arrivants’ repertoire reflects “the highs and lows” of the band members’ resettlement experiences, with their “nostalgia and longing for places and people left behind,” and their searches “for new comforts and goals,” brightened by “the joys of seeing friendly faces in times of great uncertainty and turmoil,” which were in turn offset by their “anger at global injustices and inequalities exacerbated by the pandemic.”

Shalev added, “It’s in our name — Les Arrivants — because all three of us arrived in Montreal.”

Due to COVID, Les Arrivants rehearsed and recorded their first album, 2022’s “Home,” largely under lockdown, and weren’t able to start performing in public until 2021 and 2022, although they’ve since traveled to a broad spectrum of venues throughout Canada and the U.S., from churches and concert halls to folk festivals.

Shalev touted the trio’s adaptability to various venues, although he acknowledged they’re looking forward to the “intimate setting” promised by Rainshadow Recording at The Palindrome, which he believes should allow audiences to connect more closely with their music, and to “appreciate its subtleties.”

Indeed, Shalev was introduced to Port Townsend by Levy, as a prospective venue between Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, British Columbia, and not only has Shalev found the Pacific Northwest as a whole to be highly receptive to Les Arrivants’ avant-garde experimentalism, but he spoke glowingly of Port Townsend in particular as “a beautiful place.”

For those who are wondering what sort of musical experience Les Arrivants might deliver, Shalev described “an introspective sonic experience” that channels “complex emotions associated with migration and travel,” but he also assured audiences that it would not be “difficult to digest,” and would instead be “easy to listen to, if you have an open mind.”

Shalev concluded by teasing previews of music from Les Arrivants’ upcoming second album, which is set to be released later this year.

The show starts at 7:30 p.m. at The Palindrome, at the Eaglemount Winery and Cidery, at 1893 S. Jacob Miller Rd. in Port Townsend.