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Community Corner

A Couple of Couples: Annalivia and The Honey Dewdrops at the me&thee

On Friday, November 15, the me & thee will have a couple of musical couples as we present two duos who are both made up of married couples. Annalivia provides sweet harmonies and tight arrangements with an energy that can best be described as contagious. The Honey Dewdrops through just two voices, a guitar, and a banjo, sing some beautiful and heartsick harmonies.  Doors open at 7:30 PM for this 8:00 PM show. The me & thee coffeehouse is located at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead at 28 Mugford Street.

 Gloucester-based Annalivia is American 'roots and branches' at its finest– drawing from tradition and from today to create their own brand of new acoustic folk music. Annalivia – Liz Simmons and Flynn Cohen– are masterful players and singers, and have long histories with traditional music ranging from bluegrass to Irish, Scottish, and Old Time Appalachian music. This background, combined with their stellar compositional skills and cutting edge arranging chops, makes for music which sounds rooted yet contemporary. Folk and string-band enthusiasts alike will be drawn in by the expert vocals and songwriting, excellent musicianship, and innovative approach. Flynn and Liz are seasoned musicians and have toured and performed with the likes of Ruth Moody, Cathie Ryan, John Whelan, Aoife Clancy and Adrienne Young, among others.  Annalivia's latest release The Same Way Down captures the band's innate connection with American roots music. The album features traditional songs and fiddle tunes alongside stunning original pieces, presented with the Annalivia's unique style and inspired arranging sensibilities. This album debuted at #7 on the international folk DJ charts, with “False Sir John” reaching the #1 played song on folk radio worldwide.

 The Honey Dewdrops are the Virginia-based roots duet of Laura Wortman and Kagey Parrish. With a blend of new Americana and traditional folk music, they create inspired songs that are rooted in the experience and lives of people. Their sound is transcendent; they write all their own songs and yet no one could ever peg them as just another singer-songwriter couple, not when they’ve embedded a sparse Appalachian clarity on every track that is accessible to listeners everywhere. The songs they write shine with energy and emotion through intimate performances with a handful of acoustic instruments and tightly layered harmonies. On stage, The Honey Dewdrops focus on dynamically blending the sounds of instruments and voices by singing and playing into a single microphone. There is a high lonesome quality to the way their voices blend that is familiar, yet the mixture is unique. Their music covers the ground between hand crafted folk songs, Appalachian fiddle tunes, and a cappella spirituals. In their own way, the duo fills up a room with sound and feeling that lingers long after the show is over. During the past four years of touring full-time and playing for audiences across America, The Honey Dewdrops’ down-to-earth, real-life approach to music has touched audiences broadly and brought them to high profile stages such as A Prairie Home Companion and gained them Folk Radio notoriety with two #1 albums. Their latest album, Silver Linings was the #4 album of 2012 on the folk charts.

 Tickets for the performance by Annalivia and the Honey Dewdrops are $17 in advance and $20 at the door. Tickets are available online at www.meandthee.org and can be purchased in person at the Spirit of ’76 Bookstore or the Arnould Gallery in Marblehead. The Landing Restaurant at 81 Front Street, Marblehead offers a 10% discount on dinner if you show your ticket or receipt.  Enjoy a meal before the show! As at all me & thee coffeehouse events, refreshments are available, including homemade pastries, coffee, and teas. The me & thee has a handicapped-accessible entrance and an accessible bathroom, is a smoke-free environment, and is easily reached by MBTA bus. 

 The me & thee is one of the oldest continually running acoustic coffeehouses in New England, and probably the country. It has been and will always be a volunteer, non-profit organization sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead.  For information and directions, call 781-631-8987 or check the website at www.meandthee.org.

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