Little by little, you will get to know Mark Mandeville & Raianne Richards through their unmistakable vocal harmonies, poetic lyrics and down-to-earth personae. They are a married musical couple based out of Webster, Massachusetts. These prolific and hard working Massachusetts-based artists have contributed over seventeen albums within their first decade and toured consistently throughout the US and Canada.
Their songs poetically reflect personal experiences as factory workers, teachers, community organizers, and natives of post-industrial mill towns in central Massachusetts. The memories of days gone by and toils of history can be better remembered through songs such as “That Old Machine” or “Winds of Change.” Listeners feel refreshed lyrics with references to elements in nature.
Accompanying themselves on guitar, harmonica, ukulele, penny whistle, electric bass, and most uniquely clarinet, their live performances are both musically captivating and spiritually uplifting as audiences are carefully balanced between serious songs and humorous commentary – concert goers will leave feeling a bit more human, as if they have experienced something genuine.
Mark & Raianne are famous among regional fans for their annual Massachusetts Walking Tour which defines them as true troubadours journeying with their instruments and humble voices, from stage to stage, town to town throughout the state on foot each June.
Born in San Francisco to musician parents, Liz Simmons spent her early childhood traveling through the wilds of North America in a sky blue VW bus. Her parents were itinerant musicians, moving from California to Oregon, then to Alaska.
Inspired by her beginnings, and after a brief foray into classical music, Liz found her way back to folk and roots music, founding the bands Annalivia and Low Lily with husband Flynn Cohen, as well as performing with Hannah Sanders, Long Time Courting, EVA, and as a backing vocalist for Livingston Taylor, Tom Chapin, Melanie, and others.
2021 saw the release of “Poets" (her first solo album in fifteen years) which has been lauded as "an ageless album" (Irish Music Magazine), "more than the sum of its considerable parts" (RNR Magazine), and "pure poetry indeed" (Goldmine Magazine). The self-produced album features guest musicians such as dobro phenom Andy Hall (The Infamous Stringdusters), pedal steel legend Pete Grant (The Grateful Dead), cello virtuoso Natalie Haas, and her Low Lily bandmates Lissa Schneckenburger and Flynn Cohen, among many others. Though released in 2021, she’s only now touring the record due to pandemic-related delays.
Liz will be joined by Berklee graduate and Rochester native Casey Murray (of the band Corner House), a virtuosic and versatile cello player and educator. Casey's musical passions find roots in many diverse styles including Celtic, Old Time, New England contra, folk, classical, and improvisation.
"An artist with full command of her voice, which she utilizes beautifully”.
-Red Guitar Music
“Lovely album and a pleasure to share on the airwaves!”
-Fiona Ritchie, NPR Music