Chris Smither & Tim O’Brien with Jan Fabricius

Legendary Folk singer-songwriter and acoustic guitarist Chris Smither and GRAMMY Award-winning multi-instrumentalist Tim O’Brien, perform.

About the Artists:

CHRIS SMITHER
The award-winning Folk singer-songwriter and one of the finest acoustic musicians in the country, sings “about “the big things – life, love, loss – in a penetrating and poetic yet unpretentious way.” (Acoustic Guitar). Smither’s trademark acoustic guitar sound and evocative sonic textures, mesh with spare brilliant songs, delivered in a bone-wise, hard-won voice.

“Smither is an American original – a product of the musical melting pot and one of the absolute best singer-songwriters in the world.” — Associated Press
Smither started playing music growing up in New Orleans and headed to Boston in his early twenties. It was the mid-’60s and acoustic music thrived in the streets and coffeehouses there. Smither forged lifelong friendships with many musicians, including Bonnie Raitt who went on to record his songs, “Love You Like A Man” and “I Feel the Same.” What quickly evolved from his New Orleans and Cambridge musical experiences is his enduring, singular guitar sound – a beat-driven finger-picking, strongly influenced by the playing of Mississippi John Hurt and Lightnin’ Hopkins, layered over the ever-present backbeat of his rhythmic, tapping feet (always mic’d in performance).

Smither has toured with B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Nanci Griffith, and the original ‘Monsters of Folk’ tour with Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Dave Alvin and Tom Russell. In addition to Raitt, his original songs have been recorded by many artists including Emmylou Harris (“Slow Surprise),” and jazz great Diana Krall (“Love Me Like A Man”), introducing what is now a blues standard to a whole world of jazz fans.

Smither’s songs have not only been featured in independent films, but his song, “I Am the Ride,” inspired the independent film, The Ride. He is a published short story writer and has shared insight into his guitar style and technique on two instructional DVDs, available from Homespun Video.

TIM O’BRIEN
Multi Grammy winner and multi instrumentalist Tim O’Brien has traveled the world and delighted audiences since 1975 with his warm vocals, string wizardry, and heartfelt original songs. His latest recording “He Walked On” maps a pathway through today’s world. In duet with his wife Jan Fabricius on mandolin and vocals, you can expect rootsy acoustic instrumentation and sweet harmony singing, interspersed with O’Brien’s self deprecating humor.