News & Local Articles

Eventful results in "marblehead,massachusetts"

Ellis Paul

Age Limit: All Ages

Ellis Paul




When: Oct 5, 2012 8 PM in Marblehead, Massachusetts
Cost: $20 Adv / $23 Door (Fri, 05 Oct 2012 20 )

Kat Quinn

Opening for Ari Hest!

When: Mar 2, 2012 7 PM in Marblehead, Massachusetts (Fri, 02 Mar 2012 19 )

Red Cross Blood Drive

Donation Types: Blood, Autologous, Double Red Cell Donations

When: Feb 16, 2012 1 PM to Feb 16, 2012 7 PMin Marblehead, Massachusetts (Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13 )

Bob Franke and Bill Staines at the me & thee coffeehouse

Bob Franke: By Scott Alarik, November 2009 "I always think of Bob Franke as if Emerson and Thoreau had picked up acoustic guitars and gotten into songwriting." Tom Paxton, songwriter "Bob Franke writes the kind of songs that will still be sung a hundred years from now." Christine Lavin, songwriter "I believe that [Bob Franke's] 'Hard Love' is one of the best songs written between 1950 and 2000 - and that includes Dylan and Joni." Bill Staines: "Any new song that can live comfortably beside the well-worn songs of folk tradition has a good chance of surviving the test of time. Such, we believe, are the songs of Bill Staines" -- Charles "Sandy" Paton, Folk Legacy Records



When: May 4, 2012 8 PM to May 4, 2012 11 PMin Marblehead, Massachusetts
Cost: 20 - 20 USD (Fri, 04 May 2012 20 )

Jeremy Lyons Family Concert

"Delta-Silly" is roots music for children. With charm and irreverent humor, Jeremy Lyons entertains the whole family, introducing a new generation to the national treasure we call American folk music. "His CD, "Delta-Silly Music for Kids" is a real gem He has a very down-to-earth folk sound that everyone loves and his acoustic guitar is just amazing." BostonChildrensMusic.com Jeremy sings playful songs that many of us grew up with (parents tend to enjoy his shows as much as the kids) and writes a few silly numbers of his own. He likes to share a variety of instruments and sounds with his audiene. He sings, plays guitar and six-string banjo (a Peanut Butter Cup-type collision of two instruments... "you got your banjo in my guitar...!"). He also dabbles with the harmonica, ukulele, diddley bow (a sort of homemade guitar), jaw-harp (also known as the jews harp) piano, and 5-string banjo. Jeremy has performed for kids at schools, summer camps, street corners, concert halls, toy stores, birthday parties, picnics, living rooms, his front porch in New Orleans, his back-deck in Cambridge, and he's sure some other places in between. Jeremy says "Playing for young people is fun. None of the preconceived notions, none of the prejudiced "tastes" (or lack thereof) with which many of us older (and un-wiser) people tend to hamper ourselves. Hear music, clap, dance, move, sing. Simple as that. Join us!" Jeremy has performed and led music workshops at the Boston Children's Museum and the Children's Museum of Louisiana in New Orleans, and continue to perform in schools, at school events, birthday parties and festivals throughout New England and Louisiana. http://www.myspace.com/jeremylyonsdeltasillymusicforkids



When: Mar 3, 2012 2 PM to Mar 3, 2012 3 PMin Marblehead, Massachusetts
Cost: 5 - 20 USD (Sat, 03 Mar 2012 14 )

Larry and the Bluescasters

Blues trio with Russ Lane and Ray Sykes

When: Feb 24, 2012 8 PM in Marblehead, Massachusetts (Fri, 24 Feb 2012 20 )

An Evening with Tom Rush at the me&thee coffeehouse

Tom Rush is a gifted musician and performer, whose shows offer a musical celebration...a journey into the tradition and spectrum of what music has been, can be, and will become. His distinctive guitar style, wry humor and warm, expressive voice have made him both a legend and a lure to audiences around the world. His shows are filled with the rib-aching laughter of terrific story-telling, the sweet melancholy of ballads and the passion of gritty blues. Rush's impact on the American music scene has been profound. He helped shape the folk revival in the '60s and the renaissance of the '80s and '90s, his music having left its stamp on generations of artists. James Taylor told Rolling Stone, "Tom was not only one of my early heroes, but also one of my main influences." Country music star Garth Brooks has credited Rush with being one of his top five musical influences. Rush has long championed emerging artists. His early recordings introduced the world to the work of Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne and James Taylor, and in more recent years his Club 47 concerts have brought artists such as Nanci Griffith and Shawn Colvin to wider audiences when they were just beginning to build their own reputations. Tom Rush began his musical career in the early '60s playing the Boston-area clubs while a Harvard student. The Club 47 was the flagship of the coffee house fleet, and he was soon holding down a weekly spot there, learning from the legendary artists who came to play, honing his skills and growing into his talent. He had released two albums by the time he graduated. Rush displayed then, as he does today, an uncanny knack for finding wonderful songs, and writing his own - many of which have become classics re-interpreted by new generations. (It is testimony to the universality of his appeal that his songs have been folk hits, country hits, heavy metal and rap hits.) Signed by Elektra in 1965, Rush made three albums for them, culminating in The Circle Game, which, according to Rolling Stone, ushered in the singer/songwriter era. In the early '70s, folk turned to folk-rock, and Rush, ever adaptable, saw more room to stretch out. Recording now for Columbia, he toured tirelessly with a five man band, playing concerts across the country. Endless promotional tours, interviews, television appearances, and recording sessions added up to five very successful but exhausting years, after which Tom decided to take a break and "recharge" his creative side at his New Hampshire farm. Rush returned with a splash in 1981, selling out Boston's prestigious Symphony Hall in advance. Time off had not only rekindled Rush's love of music, it had re-ignited music audiences' love of Rush. He instinctively knew that his listeners were interested in both the old and the new, and set out to create a musical forum - like the Club 47 of the early '60s - to allow established artists and newcomers to share the same stage. In 1982, he tried it out at Symphony Hall. The show was such a hit it became an annual event, growing to fill two, then three nights, and the Club 47 series was born. Crafting concerts that combined well known artists such as Bonnie Raitt or Emmylou Harris with (then) unknowns like Alison Krauss or Mark O' Connor, Rush took the show on the road. From the '80s to the present day, Club 47 events have filled the nation's finest halls to rave reviews, and have been broadcast as national specials on PBS and NPR. In 1999, Columbia/Legacy released a Tom Rush retrospective album that covers his recorded musical history from 1962 to the present, including tracks recorded for Columbia, Elektra, Prestige and his independent years. Entitled "The Very Best of Tom Rush: No Regrets", the 17-track compilation includes as a bonus a brand new Tom Rush composition, "River Song," which features vocal contributions from Grammy winners Shawn Colvin and Marc Cohn. A live CD, "Trolling for Owls" released in 2003 and published by Tom's NIGHTLIGHT RECORDINGS, captures Tom's complete performance and includes, for the first time, some of the spoken stories that have endeared him to audiences. "How I Play (some of) My Favorite Songs", a DVD released in 2005 by Homespun Tapes. It shows how he plays ten of the memorable songs and guitar arrangements that have long made him one of America's most beloved performers. In 2009, Tom recorded his first studio CD in 35 years. Recorded in Nashville, "What I Know" was produced by Tom's long-time friend Jim Rooney and includes original Tom Rush material, as well as harmonies by Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Bramlett and Nanci Griffith. Today, Tom Rush lives in Vermont when he's not touring. His voice has grown even richer and more melodic with training, and his music, like a fine wine, has matured and ripened in the blending of traditional and modern influences. He's doing what he loves, and what audiences love him for: writing and playing ...passionately, tenderly...knitting together the musical traditions and talents of our times.



When: Apr 27, 2012 8 PM to Apr 27, 2012 11 PMin Marblehead, Massachusetts
Cost: 35 - 35 USD (Fri, 27 Apr 2012 20 )

Pierce Pettis - Connor Garvey

Pierce Pettis and Grace Pettis at the me & thee coffeehouse From CMT.com on Pierce Pettis: You know you've got a shot when Joan Baez covers one of your songs. That's what sparked the career of Alabama singer-songwriter Pierce Pettis in 1979 when Baez chose to include "Song at the End of the Movie" on her Honest Lullaby. From there, Pettis was involved with the Fast Folk movement in New York in the '80s alongside artists such as Shawn Colvin and Suzanne Vega. He continued to write songs and eventually embarked on his solo career in 1987 with the independent release of Moments, an album which some still consider his finest. Following that, Pettis made his way onto High Street Records, issuing four releases between 1991 and 1996. Tinseltown, While the Serpent Lies Sleeping, Chase the Buffalo, and Making Light of It all garnered much critical praise, but failed to find a widespread audience. What Pettis did find were fans in other artists who began adding his original tunes to their own repertoires. Dar Williams snagged "Family" for her Mortal City disc, while Garth Brooks tapped "You Move Me" for his hit Sevens. Maintaining his status as a songwriter has always been a focus for Pettis, from his time at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios to his work as a staff writer for PolyGram Publishing in Nashville. Making his name as an artist is another matter, and one that Pettis continues to pursue. In 1998, he aimed himself in a slightly different direction, he signed on with Compass Records and released Everything Matters. A fine collection of poignant character sketches, Everything Matters has a more refined, mature sound than previous efforts, perhaps due to the production of Grammy winner Gordon Kennedy who is best known for his work on Eric Clapton's "Change the World." ~ Kelly McCartney, Rovi http://www.piercepettis.com/index.php ------------------------- Grace Pettis: "It might be expected that the daughter of singer/songwriter Pierce Pettis would make music that's both brainy and quietly spiritual. Grace Pettis displays a winning idealism and an awareness of the world's injustices. "Nine to Five Girl" is a bittersweet portrait of a harried working woman that earned Pettis top honors in the 2009 Mountain Stage NewSong Songwriting Competition. The rock-tinged "Heard Enough Now" confronts an authority figure with a defiantly questioning attitude. More introspective are the dreamily jazzy "A Bird May Love" and the ruminative, Sarah McLachlan-esque "The Gypsy's Code." "What you Didn't Want to Know" is an engaging slice of lovelorn torment. While Grace can't be called carefree in attitude, she does allow herself a lighthearted moment with "Italy," a sunny travelogue. All the tunes benefit from Pettis' clear, emotive vocals, distinguished by her keening upper range. Grace Pettis is heartfelt and free from affectation and its fresh outlook is its strength." -OFFICIAL ITUNES REVIEW "In the marriage of word and melody, Grace Pettis sets the bar at a jaw-dropping high level...I can't force you to purchase a copy of this gem encrusted Grace Pettis. If you do I can guarantee a musical voyage that will have you pressing the repeat button with regularity." -ARTHUR WOOD OF MAVERICK MAGAZINE, UK "There is a wisdom in Grace's observations about life that makes her music go right to the heart. She sings and shares so honestly that it is inevitable listeners will hear themselves in her songs." -JILL PHILLIPS "This first outing for Grace Pettis is just great...These are fine songs from a brave, transparent young woman. She has a voice that reminds me of Karla Bonoff or a young Linda Ronstadt." -LARRY BAUMGARTNER OF VICTORY REVIEW ACOUSTIC MUSIC MAGAZINE http://www.gracepettis.com/

When: Feb 10, 2012 8 PM in Marblehead, Massachusetts (Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20 )

Rose Polenzani

Age Limit: All Ages

Rose Polenzani




When: Mar 16, 2012 8 PM in Marblehead, Massachusetts
Cost: $16/$19 at the door (Fri, 16 Mar 2012 20 )

Glass Onion

Glass Onion at a great venue in Marblehead. The sound is great at Hungry Betty's and the food is even better.

When: Mar 10, 2012 7 PM in Marblehead, Massachusetts (Sat, 10 Mar 2012 19 )

Steve Forbert at the me&thee coffeehouse

Steve Forbert: Growing up in Meridian, Steve Forbert first picked up the guitar at age 10 and spent his high school years playing in a variety of local bands. Frustrated with his job as a truck driver, the restless singer/songwriter moved to New York City at 21, where he performed for spare change in Grand Central Station before working his way up through the Manhattan club circuit. Performing at Folk City and eventually opening for artists like Talking Heads and John Cale at CBGB, Forbert became something of a local sensation and signed his first record deal with the CBS-distributed label Nemperor. Released at the height of the new wave explosion, his 1978 debut Alive On Arrival offered a first look at his colorful mix of spare acoustic introspection and scrappy rock 'n' roll and became one of the year's most acclaimed albums. While critics tagged himlike Bruce Springsteen and John Prine before him"the next Dylan," Forbert never put too much stock in the comparison and forged his own path, expanding his audience substantially with 1979's commercial breakthrough Jackrabbit Slim and his era defining hit single, "Romeo's Tune." By this time, the heyday of the classic 70s singer-songwriters was quickly fading. Songs by America, Carole King, James Taylor and Gordon Lightfoot were quickly giving way on the pop charts to Van Halen, Foreigner and Pat Benatar. As the seventies gave way to the eighties, Forbert's plainspoken, heartfelt early recordings were among the few keeping the joyful and innocent spirit of the genre alive. Given the mythic nature of Forbert's early career, one can be forgiven for wondering what he's done since parting company with Geffen Records after they released The American in Me in 1992. The fact is that Steve Forbert has never stopped writing, singing and performing and has released twelve studio albums, three live sets and four DVDs since 1978 - to say nothing of the several compilations and archival releases that are available through his website: http://www.steveforbert.com/index.html



When: May 18, 2012 8 PM to May 18, 2012 10 PMin Marblehead, Massachusetts
Cost: 22 - 22 USD (Fri, 18 May 2012 20 )

Session Americana at the me & thee coffeehouse

Session Americana sit tightly around a small round cafe table, ambient mics tuned to catch the complete sound of the voices and instruments. Players swap songs and instruments; a suitcase drum kit, an old electric bass, a field organ and a collection of acoustic instruments. The unique format feels fantastically theatrical and although the musicians face each other, the audience feels drawn into the circle by the warmth, joy and camaraderie that emanate outwards by the all-star cast of characters seated around the table. What keeps fans coming back show after show is the same thing that any audience member longs for; great songs performed by a great band. The core members of the band have brought enviable careers worth of experience to the "table", featuring (current and former) members of Treat Her Right, Patty Griffin, Lori McKenna, The The, Dennis Brennan, Kris Delmhorst to name just a few. The group has grown from a rag tag jam at a local pub to a regional institution, playing gigs from coffee houses to urban nightclubs, regional festival tents to theaters. "While seated pickers and singers can bring to mind campfire singalongs and hootenannies, banish those comparisons from your mind. These are seasoned veterans of the Boston music scene (and geographic points farther afield): Jim Fitting, Ry Cavanaugh, Dinty Child, Sean Staples, Jon Bistline and Billy Beard. With the exception of drummer Beard, all of them are songwriters (and for all I know he may compose as well, but given that he's the supple and undulating pulse of the band, he needn't do anything else to be appointed King of Session Americana). This ensemble elevate the format by dint of their skills as players. Their own songs, as well as those they cover, are at the center of the endeavor, but they also know how to trust the underlying foundation of the song and turn their attentions to one another, listening and playing off whatever transpires. With them all sitting on chairs, the sight creates a stunning series of surprises as their performances are filled with more pizzazz than many of their standing and leaping brethren. The only aspect out of place with Session Americana is their name. It conveys an identity that says "project," but this is a band through and through. Their camaraderie and interplay are very real, and there's no shortcut to that: You get together, play for a couple years, and voila: a world-class outfit. I'd give them 100 miles. That is to say, if they're playing anywhere within 100 miles of your home, you drive there and are grandly rewarded for your effort." David Greenberger samericana 3020 "Though it is easy to peg 'em as an Americana band, doing so would miss the point. The group finds the sweet spot between pop and alt country. Album opener "I Can't Get Out" is mesmerizing piece of pop confection with a haunting melody propelled by a persistent drum beat from drummer Billy Beard." -Twangville "Diving for Gold sounds gorgeous - a fun, fresh take on old-fashioned, and timeless, music." -The Boston Globe "The cream of the Somerville/Cambridge roots music community" -No Depression www.sessionamericana.com



When: Mar 16, 2012 8 PM to Mar 16, 2012 10 PMin Marblehead, Massachusetts
Cost: 16 - 16 USD (Fri, 16 Mar 2012 20 )

Caravan Of Thieves

Caravan of Thieves at the me&thee coffeehouse Gypsy Swinging Serenading Firebreathing Circus Freaks! For the past three years, this Caravan of Thieves has roamed the North American continent recruiting a family of avid thrill seekers at their high energy shows. Driving gypsy jazz rhythms, acoustic guitars, upright bass and violin lay the foundation for mesmerizing vocal harmonies and fantastic stories. It's theatrical and humorous. It's musical and intense. It entertains, dazzles and defies classification while welcoming the spectator to join the band throughout the performance in momentary fits of claps, snaps and sing-alongs. If Django Reinhardt, the cast of Stomp and the Beatles all had a party at Tim Burton's house, Caravan of Thieves would be the band they hired.

When: Feb 24, 2012 8 PM in Marblehead, Massachusetts (Fri, 24 Feb 2012 20 )

Ari Hest at the me & thee coffeehouse

Ari Hest became interested in music while still a teenager growing up in the Bronx. Though he'd taken piano lessons as a child, he taught himself how to play the guitar, mostly by listening to records from his parents' collection (Paul Simon) and alternative radio (Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews). While studying at NYU, Hest hit the East Coast college circuit, performing a mix of covers and his own material. The exposure built him a respectable regional following, which he nurtured with self-released albums in 2001 and 2002 (Coming Home and Story After Story, respectively). Hest signed with Columbia Records in 2003 and issued Someone to Tell a year later. Created with producer David Rolfe, the album was a mix of new and re-recorded material and fit comfortably into the well-appointed adult alternative territory of artists like Josh Kelley and John Mayer. The Green Room Sessions, an EP (on which Hest played all the instruments) recorded and mixed on the popular free program GarageBand, came out in 2006, and was followed the following year by another full-length Columbia release, The Break-In. In 2008 he began recording and releasing a new track on his own subscription service every Monday for an entire year. Fans voted on their favorites, resulting in the release of 2009's appropriately titled Twelve Mondays. Sunset Over Hope Street, his first album for Downtown Records' Mercer Street imprint, was released in 2011. Johnny Loftus, Rovi



When: Mar 2, 2012 8 PM to Mar 2, 2012 11 PMin Marblehead, Massachusetts
Cost: 18 - 18 USD (Fri, 02 Mar 2012 20 )

Michael Schott Memorial Circuit Race

Contact:
Geoff Hamilton

Email Contact:
hamilton.geoff@comcast.net



When: Apr 1, 2012 12 AM in Marblehead, Massachusetts (Sun, 01 Apr 2012 00 )

Amy Black Band @ Me and Thee coffeehouse w/ Danielle Miragalia

Americana songstress Amy Black has been taking New England by storm and this weekend she's playing in Marblehead, MA with Danielle Miraglia. Amy's rich vocals, high-energy, contagious melodies and top-notch band make her act one you won't want to miss. What the critics have to say about Amy Black... "...the beautifully imagined sound and soul of her originals make her a newcomer of note." - The Boston Herald "Black sings in a folk-styled country voice that suggests bits of Patty Loveless, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Judy Collins, edged by the blues of Bonnie Raitt and a hint of Jennifer Nettle’s sass." - No Depression "Lively blues, country and folk rhythms permeate Black's thoroughly enjoyable solo debut." - Maverick Magazine "From Chris Smither to Lori McKenna, New England has been home to a long line of singer/songwriters. Amy Black continues in that tradition with One Time, her second studio album." - ICON Magazine

When: Feb 17, 2012 7 PM in Marblehead, Massachusetts (Fri, 17 Feb 2012 19 )

Danielle Miraglia - Amy Black

Age Limit: All Ages

Danielle Miraglia

Amy Blackwebsite:http://www.amyblack.com


When: Feb 17, 2012 7 PM in Marblehead, Massachusetts
Cost: 10.00 (Fri, 17 Feb 2012 19 )

Ryan Fitzsimmons

Age Limit: All Ages

Ryan Fitzsimmons




When: Mar 23, 2012 8 PM in Marblehead, Massachusetts
Cost: $20 (Fri, 23 Mar 2012 20 )

Jonathan Byrd and Anthony Da Costa at the me & thee coffeehouse

Jonathan Byrd: "So deeply rooted in Tradition, yet growing in his own way" Tom Paxton "I thought I was listening to a young Doc Watson!" Jay Moulon Southeast Performer Magazine Anthony DaCosta: "Seeing Anthony da Costa on stage is a perfect storm talent, intensity, humor, passion, intelligence and charm all bouncing off the walls of the room he is playing" (Court House Concerts). Anthony's music combines folk, rock, Americana and pop, plus what it's like to be "a very young man, with a very old soul" (legendary New York DJ, Pete Fornatale).



When: Mar 9, 2012 8 PM to Mar 9, 2012 11 PMin Marblehead, Massachusetts
Cost: 18 - 18 USD (Fri, 09 Mar 2012 20 )

Jesse Winchester - Rj Cowdery opens at the me & thee coffeehouse

Jesse Winchester was the music world's most prominent Vietnam War draft evader, though his renown came from a body of wry, closely observed songs. After growing up in Memphis, Winchester received his draft notice in 1967 and moved to Montreal, Canada, rather than serve in the military. In 1969, he met Robbie Robertson of the Band, who helped launch his recording career. In the same way that James Taylor's history of mental instability and drug abuse served as a subtext for his early music, Winchester's exile lent real-life poignancy to songs like "Yankee Lady," which appeared on his debut album, Jesse Winchester (1970). He became a Canadian citizen in 1973. Despite critical acclaim, his inability to tour in the U.S. prevented him from taking his place among the major singer/songwriters of the early '70s, but he made a series of impressive albums -- Third Down, 110 to Go (August 1972), Learn to Love It (August 1974), Let the Rough Side Drag (June 1976), and Nothing But a Breeze (March 1977) -- before President Jimmy Carter instituted an amnesty that finally allowed him to play in his homeland. By that time, the singer/songwriter boom had passed, though Winchester continued to record (A Touch on the Rainy Side [July 1978], Talk Memphis [February 1981], Humour Me [1988]) and even scored a Top 40 hit with "Say What" in 1981. His most prominently covered songs include "Yankee Lady" (Brewer & Shipley), "The Brand New Tennessee Waltz" (Joan Baez, Ian Matthews), "Biloxi" (Tom Rush, Jimmy Buffett), "Mississippi, You're on My Mind" (Jerry Jeff Walker, Stoney Edwards [for a Top 40 country hit]), "Defying Gravity" (Jimmy Buffett, Emmylou Harris), "Rhumba Girl" (Nicolette Larson [for a pop chart entry]), "Well-A-Wiggy" (the Weather Girls [for an R&B chart entry]), and "I'm Gonna Miss You, Girl" (Michael Martin Murphey [for a Top Ten country hit]). In 1999, Winchester returned from a long recording hiatus with the new album Gentleman of Leisure. An active live performer, Winchester released his first live album in 24 years with 2001's Jesse Winchester Live at Mountain Stage. Another live album, simply titled Live, followed in 2005. A new studio album, Love Filling Station, was released on Appleseed Recordings in 2009. ~ William Ruhlmann, Rovi www.jessewinchester.com ------------------------------ Rj Cowdery Always a late bloomer, in a time when most folks are thinking about retirement, Ohio native Rj Cowdery found the nerve to change her life. After years of working in health care and writing on the side, she decided to focus more on making music her career. Rj's been making up for lost time ever since, racking up major songwriting awards and impressing fans with her performances at venues across the country. Her new release IN THIS LIGHT on Blue Rock Artists label is a collection of 11 intimate songs that highlight the warm resonance of Rj's voice. This vocal and acoustic guitar-driven album illustrates how Rj draws you in deeper with each songlike a secret that you've just been given privy to. "IN THIS LIGHT" was produced by veteran Billy Crockett (Cliff Eberhardt, Beth Wood, Grace Pettis) and recorded at Blue Rock Artist Ranch and Studio in Wimberely, Texas with a stellar cast of musicians; Cindy Cashdollar (Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, Asleep At The Wheel), Billy Crockett ,Chris Maresh, Rick Richards, and Dirje Smith. Featuring special appearances by Pierce Pettis, Kim Richardson, & Jonathan Byrd.



When: Mar 30, 2012 8 PM to Mar 30, 2012 11 PMin Marblehead, Massachusetts
Cost: 27 - 27 USD (Fri, 30 Mar 2012 20 )

Ari & Mia

Age Limit: All Ages

Ari & Mia




When: May 11, 2012 8 PM in Marblehead, Massachusetts
Cost: $16 adv/$19 door (Fri, 11 May 2012 20 )

Kim Richey at me & thee coffeehouse - Melissa Greener opens

Kim Richey: Ohio might not seem like a hotbed of music, but when you have an aunt who owns a record shop, you've certainly got a leg up. That's how Kim Richey got hooked on what would become her chosen path -- digging through bins of 45s and listening to everything she could, from Janis Joplin to the Lovin' Spoonful. In high school, she started playing guitar but didn't rack up much stage time until in college. That was when she started a band and sang a lot of harmony. After college, she did a lot of moving, to and through Colorado, Washington, South America, Boston, Europe, and occasionally Nashville. Serving a stint as a cook at the Bluebird Café didn't do much harm to pull her into the singer/songwriter fold. In 1988, Richey planted her roots in Nashville to really test that fold and hone her own songwriting craft. She built a reputation as a singer who could interpret a lyric and harmonize with the best of them, all the while writing songs with an optimistic melancholy quality that is unusual and alluring. Before too long, Richey was signed to PolyGram Records, releasing her eponymous debut in 1995. Bitter Sweet and Glimmer followed in two-year increments. All three albums were tagged as contemporary country but actually fall in step pretty close to John Hiatt's brand of music making. Comparisons to Shawn Colvin have also run rampant over the years, due to Richey's cleverly twisting lyrical phrases and beats. By the time she made 1999's Glimmer with producer Hugh Padgham, her sound leaned even further toward the pop end of the spectrum. Cut to 2002 and the release of Rise. Teaming up with producer Bill Bottrell, Richey fleshed out her sound with worldly flavors of instrumentation, atypical for a so-called contemporary country artist. The result was mesmerizing and her most masterful work to date. A greatest-hits Collection arrived in 2004, followed by Chinese Boxes in the summer of 2007. ~ Kelly McCartney, All Music Guide



When: Apr 20, 2012 8 PM to Apr 20, 2012 10 PMin Marblehead, Massachusetts
Cost: 20 - 20 USD (Fri, 20 Apr 2012 20 )

The Honey Dewdrops /Ari and Mia at the me&thee coffeehouse

Laura Wortman and Kagey Parrish make their home in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Charlottesville, Virginia. The couple has been playing music in some capacity for over 15 years, but honed in on their natural duet abilities 7 years ago when they met for the first time in college. It was their love of folk music that brought them together and has since taken them out on the road to tour fulltime as the award-winning duet they are today. Writing and singing in the veins of folk and old country music, the Dewdrops entwine harmony singing with tight instrumentation and craft songs that are simple and fine-tuned. Theirs are new songs from the southern mountains that ring with originality. After their appearance and first place win on a 2008 talent show broadcast of NPR's "A Prairie Home Companion", the Dewdrops began their careers as songwriters and have since released two critically acclaimed albums, "If the Sun Will Shine" (2009) and "These Old Roots" (2010) both of which have charted at the #1 and #2 positions on the Folk DJ-L Charts for 2010. Ari & Mia, Boston's Americana sister act, are a soulful and spirited acoustic accompanied duo exploring the traditions of Southern Appalachia, Northeastern fiddle music, and the realm where their own compositions cross paths with older traditions. Their hearts also lie with early American swing, jazz, and bluegrass music. Combine this with their bold approach to song and tune-writing and their interpretations of traditional music and the result will open hearts and dance floors. Ari & Mia's "intricate arrangements, soaring harmonies, infectious grooves and intuitive improvisations combine an old-time sensibility with a truly adventurous spirit," says Hankus Netsky of New England Conservatory. Their new album, "Unruly Heart," reached #2 on the national folk radio charts only 2 months after its release this past winter, 2011.



When: May 11, 2012 8 PM to May 11, 2012 11 PMin Marblehead, Massachusetts
Cost: 16 - 16 USD (Fri, 11 May 2012 20 )

Willy Porter at the me & thee coffeehouse / Ryan Fitzsimmons opens

FROM CMT: How does a young viola player become a folk-rock guitarist? Perhaps Leo Kottke is to blame. At least in Willy Porter's case he is. Upon hearing Kottke's 6 & 12 String Guitar, everything changed for a young Porter. He put down his bow and grabbed a pick. The rest is history and still in the making. Hailing from Wisconsin, the multiple WAMI (Wisconsin Area Music Industry) award-winner honed his performance chops in the cafes and clubs around Madison. He also sat on the concert committee in college where he met another guitar legend who would influence him greatly, the late Michael Hedges. A singer, songwriter, storyteller, entertainer, and extraordinary guitarist, Porter defies labels and bends genres. He moves between slide blues, acoustic folk, grooving rock, and soulful pop with grace and equipoise. They all combine to create the uniqueness that is his sound. Being the innovator that he is, Porter released Trees Have Souls on his own in 1990, followed by Dog-Eared Dream in 1994. With consistent touring and the help of adult alternative radio, he built a national following and a modest hit with "Angry Words." This success led to a deal with Private Music, which re-released Dog-Eared Dream in 1995, and opening slots for the Cranberries, Rickie Lee Jones, Vonda Shepard, and Tori Amos, who handpicked Porter from a mountain of contenders. However, all of the newfound celebrity took its toll. And as often happens with independent spirits, Porter became disillusioned with the major-label scene and spent several years untangling himself from that web. After finding a new home at Six Degrees Records, Porter returned in 1999 with Falling Forward, a fine showcase of his ever-deepening strength as an artist and songwriter. He followed with a self-titled album in 2002, featuring guests Tony Levin (King Crimson, Peter Gabriel, Seal), Charlie Drayton (Keith Richards, B52's, Don Henley), and Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull). The concert set High Wire Live appeared from Six Degrees Records in 2003. Available Light followed in 2006 and How to Rob a Bank in 2009, both released by Weasel Records. ~ Kelly McCartney, Rovi



When: Mar 23, 2012 8 PM to Mar 23, 2012 11 PMin Marblehead, Massachusetts
Cost: 20 - 20 USD (Fri, 23 Mar 2012 20 )

Copyright (c) 2006 EVDB, Inc. All rights reserved. Use subject to terms of use: http://eventful.com/terms