Me&Thee Music begins its 55th season of great evenings with one of the finest singer-songwriters in New England, Cheryl Wheeler, on Friday, Sept. 6 at 8 p.m. Wheeler, who chose Marblehead to begin her fall tour, blends her beautiful voice with a natural affinity for deep, revealing storytelling layered with a biting sense of humor.
Her songs have been covered by dozens of artists as diverse as Dan Seals, Peter Paul and Mary, Kenny Loggins, Garth Brooks, Melanie, Bette Midler, Maura O’Connell, Kathy Mattea, and Holly Near. But almost half of the songs she does during her shows haven’t been recorded, although she has now released 13 albums.
Wheeler’s concerts are more like what you would expect to find at a comedy club rather than at a folk-music concert. She will tell a story that has you rolling in the aisles, and then sing a song that leaves you wiping tears from your eyes. She will talk about some serious current event, and then sing a song that will have you howling with laughter.
Performing with Wheeler will be Kenny White, who has a long history of performing across the country with musicians such as Livingston Taylor, Jonathan Edwards, Marc Cohn, Shawn Colvin, Peter Wolf, and Keith Richards.
White and Wheeler have known each other for years. Even before White started a solo performing career, he would often appear with Wheeler, accompanying her on the piano and singing backup harmonies.
Coming later this fall to the Me&Thee will be Joe Jencks on Sept. 20. Jencks has released nine albums which explore his Irish heritage, immigration, and identity.
October brings two nights of Canadian musicians to Me&Thee Music. On Oct. 4, Albertan singer-songwriter Scott Cook with Pamela Mae will be featured in an evening of optimistic and straightforward songs and stories in the spirit of Woody Guthrie. Cook is currently on tour through the Midwest and New England.
On Friday, Oct.18, Montreal-based indie-folk band Little Misty will present an evening of multi-lingual music from their new album “Nowhere Land.” The music of Kathryn Salman and François Jalbert has been called “extraordinary” by Americana UK.
Two young, up-and-coming New England natives — Erin Ash Sullivan and Sam Robbins — will be featured on Friday, Nov. 8. The fall season closes with one of New England’s most outstanding acoustic performers, Patty Larkin, on Friday, Nov. 22. Larkin has captivated audiences for more than 30 years with national tours and 14 popular albums.
Fee-free general-admission tickets and $10 student tickets are only available at meandthee.org. Locally, tickets for all concerts are on sale at Arnould Gallery, Washington Street. No phone orders are accepted and no other ticket websites are authorized.
Doors open at 7:15 p.m., and the music begins shortly after 8 p.m. Me&Thee is an all-volunteer, nonprofit arts organization at the UU Church, 28 Mugford St. now in its 54th season.
