Bob Franke opens winter season at the me&thee

On February 3 Bob Franke opens the me&thee winter season as the first act of the coffeehouse’s Folk Legacy Month – celebrating its 47th anniversary of presenting the best acoustic music around. Franke has certainly made a name for himself in the world of acoustic and folk music. Franke (rhymes with “Yankee”) performs concerts that are warm, thoughtful, humorous and enlightening, accompanying his gorgeous baritone voice on guitar and National Steel guitar. Aaron Nathans and Michael G. Ronstadt open the show. The me & theecoffeehouse at the Unitarian Universalist Church on 28 Mugford Street in Marblehead.

What better praise could one receive than to have veteran folk singer, Tom Paxton, say this: “It’s about Bob Franke’s integrity. I always think of Bob as if Emerson and Thoreau had picked up acoustic guitars and gotten into songwriting. There’s touches of Mark Twain and Buddy Holly in there, too.” Franke’s career as a singer-songwriter began in the mid 1960s when he was a student at the University of Michigan. He was one of the first people to perform at the famous Ark Coffeehouse. He moved to Cambridge after graduation and the rest is a wonderful addition to Boston folk music history.

Franke’s songwriting skills have become well-known among the folk community. Peter, Paul and Mary, David Wilcox, Garnet Rogers, and June Tabor among others have all performed Bob’s songs. These songs are simply captivating: they are complex and reveal Bob’s warm-hearted spirituality. When listening to his very personal lyrics, you often feel like you’re eavesdropping on a private conversation or reading his personal diaries. Franke’s songs are nothing short of exceptionally inspirational. It’s easy to see why fans continue to enjoy and appreciate this local folk troubadour so much. As Noel Paul Stookey, of Peter, Paul, and Mary says of Bob: "There is an affection for Bob's work that is really palpable. It's like everybody thinks that they're the one who discovered him - and they're all right! People know he has given them something rare and powerful, real and uncompromising. I have felt a lot of power in the appreciation people have for him."

Opening act Aaron Nathans and Michael G. Ronstadt, both successful musicians in their own right, blend smart, bittersweet songwriting and virtuosic cello into an intriguing and exciting musical collaboration. Michael hails from music royalty. The nephew of Linda Ronstadt, Michael carries on the music traditions of his family, performing over 200 nights a year with various projects. Aaron was a 2011 Kerrville Folk Finalist, and has opened for Lucy Kaplansky, Tracy Grammer, Vance Gilbert and The Kennedys. His voice is low and sweet and his songs tell stories. On working with Michael, Aaron says, “It’s been a revelation, both in his talent and his prowess in the studio. I describe what we do as ‘Folko Ono meets Yo-Yo Ma’. Michael is all about chemistry and that makes it easy to play music with him. Together, we are creative and expressive, with a dash of silly. I’ve heard it’s a lot of fun to watch.”

Folk Legacy Month at the me&thee coffeehouse is supported in part by a grant from the Marblehead Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

The door charge for this show is $20. Tickets are available at the me & thee website at www.meandthee.org. Tickets are also available in Marblehead at both the Spirit of ’76 Bookstore and Arnould’s 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, 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. 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 and check the website www.meandthee.org.

Next concert: Friday, February 10: Bill Staines makes his annual appearance at the me&thee. Quentin Callewaert opens the show.