Sing For The Sound

It's not every Friday that you get to hear one of Americana's best singing duo's playing a house concert. Of course, (part of The Bird Homestead) isn't just any old place. It's historic. And, as Maura Kennedy (half of that duo) says, "The acoustics are really good." Seeing them on December 9th, will be a musical treat, plus you'll be helping Rye raise money for a kayak access point. So, in the best possible way, you'll be 'killing' two Birds with one stone. 

"My sister, Susie, lives across the street from The Meeting House," said Kennedy recently. "I've been out to visit more times than I can count. We go to the marina and walk her dogs. When Susie mentioned that Rye's Committee To Save The Bird Homestead wanted to raise money, I immediately thought my husband Pete and I, should do a concert there. The place is old, but, just talking in the place you can tell how good music is going to sound there."

In case you don't listen to WFUV, or other fine indie stations, here's what you need to know about Pete and Maura. Known as The Kennedys, they are, simply, one of the premiere folk-rock duos in the country. Since the mid-nineties, this married couple has been turning out radiant acoustic rock on albums like "Better Dreams" and "Get It Right." Not only are their original songs deeply poetic, but their covers of tunes by legends like Richard Thompson are often considered definitive.

"We actually met Richard a few years back and he told Pete and Me that 'Life Is Large' was the only CD he'd been listening to on his tour bus that summer. We were absolutely blown away." 

In 2012, The Kennedys will emerge on a new record, that they "co-produced and co-wrote 3 or 4 songs with," folk giant Nanci Griffiths. Plus, they are working on their own disc, as well.

Then, there's the cause, of course.

"We've launched this series of concerts to build and protect several structures," said Anne Stillman, President of the Committee to Save The Bird Homestead. "The first thing we're trying to do is raise money to build a kayak access point. There's no actual access for kayaks and canoes to go out on the Sound, so we're trying to remedy that. We're also raising money for restoration of the buildings here."

Stillman said, too, that the adjacent Blind Brook estuary is an essential part of this area, ecologically. "They are one of the most productive life forms and eco-systems imaginable. Only the rain forest and coral reefs are more important for the planet. So we're involved with keeping the estuary working, too."

She went on to say that The Bird Homestead (named after the Bird family of Rye) "Dates back to 1835. There's a main house and a woodworking shop and a chicken coop among other things. It's a fascinating and historical place. We got a grant in 2005 to renovate and then had to match the funds we were given. So far we've renovated the bell tower. But the foundation of the Meeting House, not to mention the exterior carpentry still need work. The next phase is to get historically documented shingles up on the main roof."

Building the kayak access point, restoring the Meeting House are important, says Stillman. But these tasks are part of a larger picture.

"Our mission is to manage these properties, for historical, educational and environmental purposes. We're also trying to make sure we do things in an environmentally sensitive way. Meaning we have 'small footprint' buildings. So everyone who comes to the show, they're doing something important. They're helping us to achieve these goals."

Info: The first Sing For The Sound concert will be held Friday night, December 9th at 8:00 pm, featuring The Kennedys. It will be held at The Meeting House on Milton Road. Tickets are $20. Doors open at 7:00 PM for an (optional) potluck dinner.