Ellis Paul returns to the me and thee with brand new music!

On Friday, March 27th, Ellis Paul hits the stage at the me & thee coffeehouse for yet another highly anticipated show. Not only has Paul won 14 Boston Music Awards, but he has published a book, played thousands of shows and released over 16 albums. Rebecca Loebe, one of the contestants on season one of “The Voice,” who´s now being recognized by her distinctive voice and well-crafted songs, opens the show. 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.

Though some may refer to him as a folksinger, Ellis Paul is more, for lack of a better word, a singular storyteller, a musician whose words reach out from inside and yet also express the feelings, thoughts and sensibilities that most people can relate to in one way or another, regardless of age or upbringing. The exhilaration of the open road. A celebration of heroes. The hope for redemption. Descriptions of those things that are both near and dear. The sharing of love..., intimate, passionate and enduring. These are the scenarios that emerge from Ellis Paul’s new album, Chasing Beauty, a set of songs which detail, in typical Paul fashion, stories of people and places that reflect larger truths about us all. “Kick Out the Lights (Johnny Cash)” pays tribute to that fearless American icon name-checked in its title. “Plastic Soldier” offers homage to a wounded soldier returning from Afghanistan. A real-life barnstorming pilot takes the spotlight in “Jimmie Angel’s Flying Circus,” while iconic Boston blue collar musician Dennis Brennan takes the focus in “Waiting on a Break.” Even the Empire State Building and the Boston Red Sox get their due, via “Empire State” and “UK Girl (Boston Calling),” respectively.

“Happily, his music has been shared with a wider audience as well, through commercials, documentaries, TV shows and in the soundtracks of several blockbuster films, among them three by the Farrelly Brothers -- “Hall Pass” (starring Owen Wilson and Alyssa Milano), “Me, Myself, & Irene” (starring Jim Carrey) and “Shallow Hal” (starring Jack Black and Gwyneth Paltrow). Peter Farrelly summed up the sentiments of all those who have come to know and appreciate Paul’s music by referring to him as “a national treasure. Ellis Paulis an observer, a philosopher, and an astute storyteller who shares with his listeners the life lessons he’s learned, and in turn, life lessons they ought to heed as well. By affirming and defining who he is, Ellis Paul affirms and uncovers the essence of us all.

Rebecca is a young singer-songwriter who grew up in Atlanta and has also lived in DC, Boston and New York, now making her home in Austin, TX. She is known for her distinct voice, well-crafted songs and ability to bring an audience to her journeys, introducing them to the characters she meets and observations she makes as she travels. Rebecca has toured non-stop since 2009, averaging 150-200 shows per year as a headliner and as support for The Civil Wars, Ellis Paul, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers, Matt the Electrician and others. Rebecca’s live performances have created a passionate fan base around the world. In 2014 she performed in 35 states of the US, Canada, Europe and Japan and was tapped by Goose Creek Records to record and produce 3 Nights Live and Rebecca Loebe Live, her first official live concert releases. Rebecca has won numerous awards for her songwriting, including the prestigious Kerrville New Folk Award, In 2011 Rebecca was a contestant on NBC’s “The Voice,” and won a spot on Team Adam and an iTunes Top 10 single worldwide with her captivating re-imagination of Nirvana’s “Come As You Are.” Earlier this year she was ranked #9 onAlternate Root magazine’s annual listing of the 30 Best Female Singers in America.

Tickets for the performance by Ellis Paul with Rebecca Loebe opening are $22 in advance and $25 at the door. Students are only $10. 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 website www.meandthee.org.