BELLOWS FALLS-A pair of performing songwriters, Phil Henry and Erin Ash Sullivan, will play a 3 p.m. matinee at Stage 33 Live Sunday, Sept. 7.
Henry is a singer-songwriter steeped in folk tradition, but not bound by it. "He's penned a treasure chest of relatable tunes," wrote organizers in a news release, "building detailed worlds and characters with vivid imagery, upbeat rhythm, and strong melodic sensibility." His songs are often described in cinematic terms by journalists and fans, organizers added.
Although he studied the masters in music school, he says he was drawn to the "DIY pluckiness" of folk music. He's earned wins at SolarFest and Susquehanna Music and Arts, as well as many folk awards and accolades, and has played Club Passim and Caffè Lena. "No carbon-copy of popular songs or folk radio, his art is an expression of individuality and craftsmanship," said organizers.
Sullivan was half of the folk duo Edith O. along with Amy Speace in New York City in the 1990s. They performed regularly at NYC venues like The Bitter End and CBGB Gallery, and released the album Tattooed Queen in 1998 to critical raves. "It's possible that the band broke up when Sullivan - a sleep-deprived mother of a six-week-old - forgot to show up for the band's record release show," wrote organizers. After a hiatus to focus on her family and career in education, she returned to writing and performing.
In 2022, she was selected as a "Most Wanted" performer from Grassy Hill Emerging Artist Showcase at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, and has won many awards for her music. She is also the three-time winner of her hometown's Fourth of July pie-eating contest.
Tickets are $20 in advance through stage33live.com or at the door as available. Advance tickets guarantee entry. Only 40 tickets will be sold. The performances will be recorded and filmed.
This Arts item was submitted to The Commons.