February 10, 2012

$20 / $23 at door

Pierce Pettis & Grace Pettis

Connor Garvey opens

Pierce-and-Grace_x318Pierce Pettis is a wonderfully poetic singer-songwriter with a long presence on the stage. He will be joined tonight by his daughter Grace, who is quickly gathering recognition with the release of her first album and by winning new song honors at festivals.
¶ Maine’s Connor Garvey opens the show. Connor appeared at our showcase last season and won us over with his songwriting and talent.

Pierce Pettis, adored by both critics and public alike, is one of this generation’s most masterful songwriters. His music is distinguished by his uncanny ability to capture universals in human experience by drawing on the humor and trials in daily life. Pettis’ music can simultaneously pull on our hearts and keep us laughing. The beautiful harmonies, inventive yet subtle percussion, strong guitar, and Pierce’s rich vocals are a constant throughout his body of work. “Pierce Pettis doesn’t write mere songs, he writes literature. . . . End to end the songwriting is brilliant.” Pettis has performed in all 48 continental states as well as in Canada and Europe, appeared nine times on American Public Radio’s Mountain Stage, been featured on National Public Radio’s E-town, Morning Edition and World Cafe as well as many other broadcast venues.

Grace Pettis is the 22-year-old daughter of Pierce Pettis and has just released her debut,CD, Grace Pettis, on the Blue Rock Artists label. Already, Grace has begun to earn national recognition, with her 2009 win at the Mountain Stage New Song Songwriting Competition. Grace performed on the prestigious Mountain Stage radio show for NPR, and was also awarded New Song’s “best song” award for her “Nine to Five Girl.” In addition, Grace also was awarded “audience favorite” at the May 2010 Wildflower Songwriting Contest in Richardson, TX, where she won the prize of a handmade Gallagher guitar. Gracewon the New Folk competition at the Kerrville Folk Festival and was chosen to compete in last summer’s Falcon Ridge Emerging Artist showcase.

. . .

Connor-Garvey_x224Connor Garvey’s initiation as a modern troubadour came in 2008 by way of train; a 45 day, self-booked tour by Amtrak across the U.S. Now, many tours later, Garvey is finding his place as a seasoned folk-rock singer-songwriter on the national circuit. Through his rhythmic guitar foundations and a unique, clear voice, Connor encourages us to hope, grow, laugh, and see beauty in all of life’s metaphors. His recent release, Where Ocean Meets Land, (2011) is already garnering wide acclaim as it builds upon his 2009 release, Constancy of Stars, known widely due to extensive Sirius XM satellite airplay — placing him in their top six new Singer Songwriters of 2010.

  • [Pierce Pettis is] one of the more vital and critically acclaimed folk stars of recent years.
    Performing Songwriter
  • Pierce Pettis doesn’t write mere songs, he writes literature . . . End to end the songwriting is brilliant . . . Pierce Pettis albums are events in my listening. His writing just gets better all the time and his singing is marvelous, wry and warm. . . . Sing Out
  • In the marriage of word and melody, Grace Pettis sets the bar at a jaw-dropping high level . . . I can’t force you to purchase a copy of this gem encrusted Grace Pettis. If you do I can guarantee a musical voyage that will have you pressing the repeat button with regularity. ARTHUR WOOD OF MAVERICK MAGAZINE, UK
  • Of course I’m biased, but Grace is really, really good — and I hate that. Because, as her dad, I’d much prefer that she got a real job. . . . Pierce Pettis
  • . . .
  • . . . when Connor Garvey stepped up with solid singing and playing, the place was silent and I knew that this acoustic music tradition was in the right hands. . . . Vance Gilbert
  • Where Ocean Meets Land is the name of folk songwriter Connor Garvey’s new record, an 11-track platter of Martin Sexton-ish jangle-funk, Mraz-y confessionals, and a very clear voice. He’s from these parts, but takes Americana seriously enough to play for pittances at Midwestern house shows, which hes been doing the last four years. Portland Phoenix