MARBLEHEAD — The me&thee coffeehouse is celebrating its 50th year of Friday evening concerts, and the first show of the season on Sept. 6 will feature the me&thee All-Stars and include a Marblehead Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting event prior to the show.
This season offers a wide variety of acts that will delight audiences young and old. The me&thee is heralded as one of the best intimate listening rooms in the Northeast, and presents national and international touring acoustic musicians. The me&thee is located at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead at 28 Mugford St.
The me&thee All-Stars this Friday night include Mason Daring and Jeanie Stahl, Bill Staines, and Guy van Duser and Billy Novick. Daring and Stahl are perhaps best known for their exquisite song “Marblehead Morning.” Staines is the only musician who has appeared at the me&thee every year since it opened in 1970. Guy van Duser and Billy Novick add a jazzy vibe to the evening, which will surely be notable due to the significance of this all-volunteer-run venue turning 50.
Sept. 13 marks the return of Rani Arbo and daisy mayhem. This tight band features glorious harmonies and uplifting fiddle and percussion. Corey Latiman opens the show.
David Buskin and Robin Batteau return on Sept. 20. Always captivating, always amusing, always able to stir an audience, this duo with the amazing percussion work of Marshal Rosenberg will surely be memorable. Sophie Buskin opens the show.
A special treat is in store for me&thee patrons on Sept. 27. Two favorites, Cheryl Wheeler and John Gorka, will add their songwriting and performing skills to an already stellar season lineup. Wheeler and Gorka don’t perform many shows together, so this will likely be a night to remember.
Oct. 4 brings Arizona’s Ryanhood to the me&thee stage for the first time. This duo has made an incredible impact on the music scene the past couple of years. Ryan Green and Cameron Hood combine their voices to make sweet harmonies and impress with jaw-dropping instrumentation. Meghan Carey opens the show.
On Oct. 11, the me&thee features a night of Texas troubadours. Austin’s Terry Klein, a lawyer-turned-singer/songwriter, is one of the most innovative songwriters to arrive in a long, long time. His buddy, Chuck Hawthorne, a former Marine, has important songs to share, and Libby Koch, award-winning seventh-generation Texan, joins this unique song circle.
The incomparable Sean Rowe returns to the me&thee on Oct. 18. The prolific songwriter’s YouTube channel includes not only music performances, but tips about foraging, so one can figure out what you can and can’t eat when you’re in the woods. Kaiti Jones opens the show.
The Nov. 1 show is another me&thee “theme” show, which have proven to be quite popular. Ladies Play the Blues includes three awesome blues players: Danielle Miraglia often graces the me&thee stage and is a staple of the Boston music scene. Her style combines hard-core jammin’ blues guitar with gut-wrenching Janis Joplin style vocals. Kerri Powers’ slide guitar playing is beyond compare, and Erin Harpe is a one-person blues machine. The roof may blow off the venue with all this talent. Nov. 8 brings a couple of beloved musicians to town. Sally Rogers and Claudia Schmidt deliver exquisite vocals, and play a variety of instruments including guitar, banjo and dulcimer.
Boston-based band, Billy Wylder, appears on Nov. 15. Their style of music includes influences from all over the world. They have performed across five continents, along with concerts at Coachella, Newport Folk Festival, New Orleans Jazz Fest and Carnegie Hall.
Finally, on Nov. 22, the me&thee is thrilled to present Suzanne Vega. Her voice is the voice of contemporary folk at its best. With hits like “Luka,” “Tom’s Diner” and her recent collection of songs “Lover, Beloved: Songs from an Evening with Carson McCullers,” she continues to spellbind audiences. Marblehead native Paul Mills (aka Poez the Poet) opens the show.
Tickets for all shows are available at www.meandthee.org. Tickets are also available in Marblehead at both the Spirit of ’76 Bookstore and Arnould Gallery and at the door. Student tickets are always $10. Refreshments are available, including homemade pastries, coffee, and teas The me & thee has a handicapped-accessible entrance and a handicap-accessible restroom, is a smoke-free environment, and is easily reached by MBTA bus.
The me & thee coffeehouse is one of the oldest continually running acoustic music coffeehouses in New England. For its entire history, the me & thee 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.