THE BOXCAR LILIES
a fast-rising vocal trio from western Massachusetts
WHEN: Friday, June 27, at 8:00 PM
WHERE: Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Rd, Morristown
TICKETS: $8.00 per person at the door. Children 12 and under are free. For further information, call 973.335.9489, or visit www.folkproject.org.
Opening act, also from Massachusetts, will be the duo of Oakes and Smith.
The performance is part of The Minstrel Acoustic Concert Series, sponsored by The Folk Project each Friday evening at The Fellowship.
The Boxcar Lilies—Jenny Goodspeed, Stephanie Marshall and Katie Clarke—first met in 2009.
Based in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts, Clark was playing bluegrass and traditional country, Marshall was recording country and rock songs in Nashville, Goodspeed was writing songs in the vein of 70s singer-songwriters like Joni Mitchell. They quickly realized that their varied interests and influences added up to something special. That summer, Goodspeed invited Marshall and Clarke to join her for the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival's Emerging Artist Showcase. Afterwards, over a few beers at a local tavern, The Boxcar Lilies joined forces.
They blended their love for great songwriting and sweet harmonies, started arranging originals and created their own covers of songs by the likes of Fred Eaglesmith, Neil Young, and Gillian Welch. In 2010, they recorded their debut CD Heartwood. In 2013, they returned to the studio for their follow-up studio album Sugar Shack. Sugar Shack debuted on the Folk DJ Charts at #2 in May, and was highlighted by both CMJ.com and eMusic.com in their roundup of exciting new releases.
Both on Sugar Shack and onstage, The Boxcar Lilies present a contemporary take on a range of traditional genres including folk, bluegrass, country and gospel. Their singing voices, like their writing voices, are distinct and exceptional, but combine to make a delicious whole—a sound that is sometimes gritty, sometimes delicate, but always warm and welcoming. Zak Jason of The Cape Cod Times wrote, “They bring an energy, improvisation and charming presence to the stage each night. Anyone with an ear for folk or luscious harmonies will enjoy these women.”
The duo of Robert Oakes and Katherine Smith will be the opening act for The Boxcar Lilies. Coming from the Berkshire region of Massachusetts, they present an acoustic mix of folk and pop linked in close harmony. Influences include Simon and Garfunkel, Van Morrison, Cat Stevens and Joan Baez. Their debut album, First Flight, was released in November 2013 to praise from critics and listeners alike.
The Folk Project is a non-profit 501(c)(3) Corporation whose mission is to present high caliber folk music performances and instructional workshops for the public and members; to encourage development of musicianship and performance skills in the northern New Jersey area; and to provide interesting social and learning activities relating to traditional and participatory folk music and dance.
Funding has been made possible in part by funds from Morris Arts through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
