Winter season at me and thee has something for everyone

The winter season of the me&thee coffeehouse in Marblehead offers a real potpourri of musical acts for all tastes. The much-esteemed listening room offers the best in national and international acoustic music in a cozy and inviting listening room. The me&thee is located at the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Marblehead at 28 Mugford Street, Marblehead.

There’s only one show in the month of January and it’s sure to be most special. James Keelaghan is called Canada’s finest singer-songwriter. He is a poet laureate of the folk and roots music world and has been touring the world for over 25 years. On January 16, he’ll be joined by Barbara Kessler and her daughter, Emilia Antonaides.

February 6 brings the return of Bill Staines, the only one musician who has appeared on the me&thee stage every year since it opened in 1970. Singing mostly his own songs, he has become one of the most popular and durable singers on the folk music circuit. He performs about 200 shows a year and drives over 65,000 miles annually. For this particular show, Bill will be sharing the headliner status with Lui Collins. She has been hailed by the Boston Herald as a “folksinger for our times” and by the Boston Globe as “one of New Englands’s first and brightest stars.” It’s been many years since Lui’s last visit to Marblehead.

February 13 is an all a cappella night at the me&thee. Having elevated itself far beyond its humble street performing roots, Boston vocal band Overboard can be heard serving up its high-powered, soul-infused vocal rock from Maine to California and beyond. Based in Wellesley, MA, None of the Above is an a cappella octet performing an eclectic mix of early polyphony, cutting-edge modern harmony, familiar folk songs, uplifting spirituals, catchy pop tunes, and lush jazz standards.

Girls, Guns and Glory return to the me&thee on February 20. Just recently voted as the Best Musical Act at the Boston Music Awards and called out as an act to watch by Rolling Stone, Girls, Guns and Glory are on a rapid climb in the music business. They find their inspiration from early 1960s rock and roll icons like Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly as well as country greats Hank Williams and Johnny Cash. Opening the show is Susan Cattaneo, a Berklee College of Music composition instructor who is making quite a name for herself in the singer-songwriter ranks in the area.

Another returning artist who will be gracing the me&thee stage on February 27 is Liz Longley. Recently signed to the prestigious Sugar Hill Records. She is a Philadelphia native, graduate of Berklee and now calls Nashville her home. She is known for her luscious vocals and heartfelt lyrics. Joining her for this show will be Jesse Terry (another Berklee grad who is an internationally award-winning singer-songwriter whose transcendent life and music make him one of the most prolific indie artists today.

One of the most exciting acts to hit the stage is Driftwood who are slated for March 6. Their musical energy is hard to categorize. They have rock n’ roll soul with a folk art mind and have carved a name for themselves with electrifying live performances incorporating upright bass, banjo, acoustic guitar and violin. Laney Jones (a student at Berklee---see a theme here?) opens the show.

Tickets for all shows are available at www.meandthee.org.. Tickets are also available in Marblehead at both the Spirit of ’76 Bookstore and Arnould Gallery and at the door.. 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 a handicap-accessible restroom, is a smoke-free environment, and is easily reached by MBTA bus.

The me & thee coffeehouse is one of the oldest continually running acoustic music coffeehouse in New England.. For its entire history, the me & thee has been and will always be a volunteer, non-profit organization sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead