Catie Curtis -- folk-rock goddess coming to Marblehead!

On Friday, October 24, Catie Curtis returns to the me&thee stage. Catie Curtis is a veteran of the singer/songwriter folk scene, touring throughout the US for 20 years and releasing 13 CDs. Opening the show is Jenna Lindbo - one of those rare performers who steals your heart from the first note. 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.

Plenty of performers succumb to the temptation to cruise on autopilot two decades into their careers. That’s the safe and simple way to go, after all. But Catie Curtis, dubbed a “folk-rock goddess” by The New Yorker and treated as one by her loyal fans, is one veteran artist who has resolutely refused to coast along in comfort. Her 13th album, Flying Dream, is a work of both continuity and courage, capturing the way she’s embraced a season of heady change with the emotional intelligence that has been her songwriting signature. While Curtis has most often composed solo—only occasionally co-writing with such respected peers as Beth Nielson Chapman, Mary Gauthier, Fred Wilhelm and Mark Erelli (a song she co-penned with the latter won Grand Prize in the 2006 International Songwriting Competition)—this time around she took a chance on a start-to-finish collaboration with Sugarland co-founder and modern folk songwriting luminary Kristen Hall. Gauthier introduced the two talents, and from there, says Curtis, “We discovered that we were very compatible in writing together. After we had a couple songs under our belts, I wanted to keep going.” “We both care about what we’re saying and the message we convey,” adds Hall. “When you’re alone out there on a stage, it requires you to stand behind your words, quite literally.” Curtis placed her trust in Hall’s instincts as a producer, and with some of the finest players Boston has to offer: drummer Jim Gwin (of the Boston Pops Orchestra), Jamie Edwards (keyboardist forAimee Mann), bassist Richard Gates and multi-instrumentalist Duke Levine, who’ve logged sessions with the likes of Suzanne Vega and Mary Chapin Carpenter. Together, they crafted a lustrous long player with subtle jazz, electronic and AM pop shadings.

One part wise old woman and one part goofy little kid, Jenna Lindbo is going to find a way to your heart. It’s only a matter of time. An Oregon native, Jenna travels the country, inspiring audiences from Asheville to Anchorage with her rootsy folk songs and infectious joy. Along the way she keeps meeting folks who love to hear her music, soak up the effervescent energy of her shows, and get smacked upside the heart. Buoyed by the experience, inspiration, and exposure from touring extensively with Catie Curtis, Jenna’s solo career is taking off. She’s currently celebrating the release of her new cd, Jasmine Parade produced by Lorne Entress. With lush arrangements and simply adorned songs, this album beautifully captures Jenna’s storytelling and reflects a deepening in her art as well as a rich new chapter unfolding. The songs on Jasmine Parade as well as her first release, Strings & Spokes bring joyful attention to the sweetness and sorrow of life worth living. Jasmine Parade features appearances by Catie Curtis, Kai Welch (Abigail Washburn), Edie Carey, and Peter Mulvey.

Tickets for the performance by Catie Curtis with Jenna Lindbo are $22 in advance and $25 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.