Curtis, Madeira Perform at Voices United Concert Benefit

Voices United Concerts presents songwriters Phil Madeira and Catie Curtis at Portsmouth Book and Bar, 40 Pleasant St. in Portsmouth, on Saturday, Nov. 7.

The 8 p.m. show, according to a press release, is a Voices United Concert to benefit the national non-profit, Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Tickets to the All Ages concert are $22.50 and are now on sale at voicesunitedportsmouth.brownpapertickets.com

Madeira is a Nashville-based musician, artist, songwriter and producer. Phil has been a behind-the-scenes shaker and mover as a band member (Emmylou Harris; Her Red Dirt Boys, Buddy Miller) and session musician/songwriter (Alison Krauss, Old Crow Medicine Show, Garth Brooks). Roaming from his evangelical roots to discover a successful career in Americana music, Phil writes songs from a progressive Christian perspective, emphasizing love, and deploring the Fred Phelps style of hate-filled Christianity. His CD “Mercyland” features Emmylou Harris, the Carolina Chocolate Drops and John Scofield. This is a rare opportunity to see Phil solo, and the first time on tour with Catie Curtis. The two met when Phil played keys on Curtis’ “Sweet Life” recording.

Curtis is a veteran on the singer/songwriter folk scene, crisscrossing the US for 20 years – and counting – performing shows, recording and releasing 13 CDs, with devoted fans following her every move. She’s performed at the White House several times, at two Presidential Inaugural Balls, with Lilith Fair, and at Carnegie Hall. The winner of more than her share of Boston Music Awards, she also took the Grand Prize in the 2006 International Songwriting Competition (out of 15,000 entries). Catie recorded a duet with Kris Kristofferson for his CD “The Austin Sessions” and there’s a good chance you’ve heard a song of hers in a movie or on a TV show. The New Yorker called Catie a “folk-rock goddess.” Catie is the producer of the Voices United Concerts series.

Voices United Concerts benefits Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU), a crucially important non-profit which lobbies, litigates and educates to protect us against religious extremism. Voices United Concerts to benefit AU have included such greats as Sarah Silverman, Ani DiFranco, Dar Williams, Louis Black, Kate Clinton, John Gorka, Roy Zimmerman, Melissa Ferrick, and countless others. Since 1947, AU has advocated on issues including: Creationism in Science Classes, “Religious Freedom” bills that allow discrimination, Partisan Politics in Churches, Marriage Equality, Reproductive Freedoms and more.