Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present Pennsylvania-based, acoustic folk trio The Stray Birds and the indie roots music husband/wife team of Mike Merenda and Ruth Ungar (formerly of the acoustic stringband The Mammals) at Next Stage on Thursday, July 24 at 7:30 pm.
Drawing upon the richness of American folk music traditions, the signature power of The Stray Birds sound lies in outstanding songwriting spun with a stirring subtlety and grace. The Stray Birds were born of a compelling collaboration between two unique writers and vocalists – the pure, luxurious voice of Maya de Vitry and Oliver Craven’s richness of tone and depth of delivery. Grounding their sound is the unshakeable groove of bassist Charles Muench.
Their full-length debut “The Stray Birds” was lauded by radio stations and listeners across the country, and named to the Top 10 Folk/Americana Releases of 2012 by NPR. Passionate live performances led to appearances on NPR’s Mountain Stage, the Philadelphia Folk Festival, the Kerrville Folk Festival and the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival.
“Super-talented acoustic trio whose virtuosity doesn’t get in the way of their soul. Rich vocal harmonies, tight acoustic arrangements, heart-wrenching songs.” – Fly Magazine
After thousands of concerts across tens-of-thousands of miles, Woodstock, NY-based Ruth Ungar & Mike Merenda have emerged as one of acoustic America’s most revered musical duos. Mike is an artfully prolific songwriter with an indie rock soul and feather-touch vocals. The daughter of fiddle legend Jay Ungar and country singer Lyn Hardy, Ruthy is an earthy country-blues singer with the unmistakable stage presence of a natural-born performer. In 2000, the couple met Tao Rodriguez-Seeger (grandson of the legendary folk singer Pete Seeger) and formed The Mammals, an acoustic stringband that toured the world over the next seven years, and performed with the likes of Arlo Guthrie and Pete Seeger.
“Some of the best songwriting of their generation.” – LA Weekly
Next Stage is located in the former United Church at 15 Kimball Hill in downtown Putney, VT. Tickets for this concert are $16 Advance / $18 At the Door. For information, call 802-387-0102. Advance tickets are available at www.nextstagearts.org, Turn It Up in Brattleboro and Offerings Jewelry in Putney. For more information, visit, www.thestraybirds.com, www.mikeandruthy.com, www.www.nextstagearts.org and www.twilightmusic.org.
