Bill Staines and Lui Collins: Heavenly double bill at the me&thee

On February 6th, the me&thee has the honor to present BillStaines and Lui Collins. A season at the me&thee would not be complete without a visit from Bill Staines. Bill has appeared on our stage during every one of our 45 years of existence and we could not be happier to invite him back. Together withBill, we proudly present Vermont native Lui Collins, one of the treasures of the folk music world. Doors open at 7:30 PM for this 8:00 PM show at the me&thee coffeehouse which is located at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead at 28 Mugford Street.

For more than forty years, Bill Staines has traveled back and forth across North America, singing his songs and delighting audiences at festivals, folksong societies, colleges, concerts, clubs, and coffeehouses. Bill became involved with the Boston-Cambridge folk scene in the early 1960’s and for a time, emceed the Sunday Hootenanny at the legendary Club 47 in Cambridge. From the time in 1971 when a reviewer from the Boston Phoenix stated that he was “simply Boston’s best performer.” Bill has continually appeared on folk music radio listener polls as one of the top all time favorite folk artists. Now, well into his fifth decade as a folk performer, he has gained an international reputation as a gifted songwriter and performer. He performs nearly 200 concerts a year and drives over 65,000 miles annually. Bill has recorded 26 albums much to the joy of his loyal fans “Folk music is rich in the human spirit and experience. I’ve always wanted to bring something of value to people through my songs.” With these thoughts, Bill continues to drive the highways and back roads of the country year after year, bringing his music to listeners, young and old.

Folk singer/songwriter Lui Collins has been performing, writing and recording since the 1970s, earning international acclaim for her music. Collins’ early music education included classical studies on piano, violin and French horn, followed by a major in music theory at the University of Connecticut. Lui abandoned formal music studies after three years of college, in favor of the vibrant folk music scene of northeast Connecticut. The Boston Globe has described Lui as “one of New England’s first and brightest stars,” and Sing Out! Magazine calls her “incomparable.” She was voted third most popular performer at the Champlain Valley Festival in 1992, along with Pete Seeger and French Canadian band La Bottine Souriante. Renowned guitarist Dave van Ronk called her “one of the best guitarist-arrangers I have heard in years.” Michael Devlin of Music Matters Reviewwrote: “... there are relatively few artists who are bringing a traditional sensibility to modern songwriting, and in the process creating new traditional music. Lui Collins is among the barefoot royalty of this group...” Lui’s concerts have become less numerous, but they’re as memorable as ever. Whether you’ve enjoyed her recordings for years or you’ve just been introduced, there’s no better way to experience Lui’s music than at a live concert. Lui’s concerts are intimate affairs. She interlaces her songs with stories about their background, her life, the weather - like a conversation with an old friend...with music.

Tickets for the performance by Bill Staines and Lui Collins are $20 in advance and $23 at the door. Tickets are available online at www.meanthee.org and can be purchased in person in Marblehead at either the Spirit of ’76 Bookstore or the Arnould Gallery 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 the oldest continually running acoustic coffeehouse in New England, and probably the country. 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 or check the websitewww.meandthee.org.

Next concert: February 13th An all a cappella evening with Overboard and None of the Above