John Gorka, a me and thee favorite, in Marblehead on October 2

Press release written by Linda Werbner

On Friday, October 2, John Gorka brings his nice-guy baritone and wry, slice-of-life observations to the me & thee stage. If there was a Mount Rushmore of folk, then Gorka’s gentle, smiling face would certainly be one of the faces up there. Anointed byRolling Stone as the ‘preeminent male singer-songwriter of the New Folk Movement,”Gorka has legions of devoted fans and has appeared on PBS’ Austin City Limits, NPR’s Mountain Stage and festivals around the world. This is a singer-songwriter who is all about the live performance and the audience. With another masterful performer, Columbus, Ohio-based singer-songwriter and guitarist Rj Cowdery opening, this promises to be a memorable night of music. Doors open at 7:30 PM for this 8:00 PM show. The me & thee coffeehouse is located at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead at 28 Mugford Stree

It is fitting that this world-renowned singer-songwriter, who cut his teeth on the coffeehouse circuit, should return to the me & thee, one of the longest running and most revered coffeehouses on the East Coast. New Jersey-born Gorka debuted at Godfrey Daniels, another venerable and respected coffeehouse in eastern Pennsylvania in the late 1970s. Bitten by the folk bug, Gorka soon abandoned his Philosophy studies at Moravian College and took up residence in the club’s basement, acting as host and sound man for legendary performers like Tom Paxton, Eric Andersen and Claudia Schmidt. It was there that Gorkabegan penning and performing his own songs.

Soon Gorka hit the road, traveling to Boston and New York City to play at the legendary Fast Folk circle in Greenwich Village, which was a breeding ground for many a singer-songwriter, and hitting the festival circuit including the Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas where he won the New Folk Award in 1984. After a few false starts John’s debut recording I Knowwas released in September of 1987 on Minnesota-based Red House Records to much critical and popular acclaim. He has gone on to release many more CDs and DVDs which include a varied mixture of relevant and contemporary songs. On October 2, listen for songs from Gorka’s latest release Bright Side of Down which features guest vocal appearances from his Red House Records labelmates Lucy Kaplansky, Eliza Gilkyson, and Claudia Schmidt. A masterful live performer, gifted with a goosebump-inducing baritone and a twisted sense of humor, John Gorka is impossible to pigeonhole. “I don’t mind calling myself a folksinger,” he reflects, “although, I’m not so sure that’s what I am. I’m a blend of folk, rhythm and blues and gospel. It’s been said that in folk music, the music is more important than the singer, and for me to become a folksinger, now that would be a real achievement.”

For the past few years, Rj Cowdery has been turning heads and winning accolades at festivals all over the country with her songwriting craft and skill as a guitarist. In fact, Cowdery has followed a similar path on her journey as John Gorka. Both won at the prestigious Kerrville, Texas Folk Festival, a breeding ground for many major singer-songwriters Rj has played at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, another mecca for emerging and established singer-songwriters, as well as at the Sisters Folk Festival in Oregon where she won the Dave Carter Memorial Songwriting award. Rj’s newest CD, Something Fine¸ is being released this fall.

Tickets for the performance by John Gorka with Rj Cowdery opening are $25 in advance and $28 at the door. Student tickets are $10. 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 atwww.meandthee.org.