Multi-instrumentalist McCutcheon coming to me & thee

On Friday, Nov. 14, the me & thee will welcomes back John McCutcheon to its stage. Pete Seeger described McCutcheon as not only one of the best musicians in the U.S., but also a great singer, songwriter and song leader.

“Whether in print, on record or on stage, few people communicate with the versatility, charm, wit or pure talent of John McCutcheon,” the me & thee said in a press release.

Doors will open at 7:30 p.m. for this 8 p.m. show at the me & thee coffeehouse, which is located at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead at 28 Mugford St.

No one remembers when the neighbors started calling the McCutcheons to complain about the loud singing from young John’s bedroom. It didn’t seem to do much good, though. For, after a shaky, lopsided battle between piano lessons and baseball (he was a mediocre pianist and an all-star catcher), he had “found his voice” thanks to a cheap mail-order guitar and a used book of chords.

From such inauspicious beginnings, McCutcheon has emerged as one of the country’s most respected and loved folk singers. As an instrumentalist, he is a master of a dozen different traditional instruments, most notably the rare and beautiful hammer dulcimer. His songwriting has been hailed by critics and singers around the globe. His 30 recordings have garnered every imaginable honor, including seven Grammy nominations. He has produced over 20 albums of other artists, from traditional fiddlers to contemporary singer-songwriters to educational and documentary works. His books and instructional materials have introduced budding players to the joys of their own musicality. And his commitment to grassroots political organizations has put him on the front lines of many of the issues important to communities and workers.

The Washington Post described McCutcheon as folk music’s “Rustic Renaissance Man,” a moniker flawed only by its understatement, according to me & the organizers. Besides his usual circuit of major concert halls and theaters, McCutcheon is equally at home in an elementary school auditorium, a festival stage or at a farm rally, organizers noted.

They added that McCutcheon is “a whirlwind of energy, packing five lifetimes into one.” In the past few years alone, he has headlined over a dozen different festivals in North America, recorded an original composition for Virginia Public Television involving over 500 musicians, toured Australia for the sixth time, toured Chile in support of a women's health initiative, appeared in a Woody Guthrie tribute concert in New York City, gave a featured concert at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, taught performance-art skills at a North Carolina college, given symphony pops concerts across America, served as president of the fastest-growing “local” in the Musicians Union and performed a special concert at the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

It is in live performance that McCutcheon feels most at home, organizers said.

“It is what has brought his music into the lives and homes of one of the broadest audiences any folk musician has ever enjoyed,” they noted. “People of every generation and background seem to feel at home in a concert hall when John McCutcheon takes the stage, with what critics describe as ‘little feats of magic,’ ‘breathtaking in their ease and grace’ and ‘like a conversation with an illuminating old friend.’”

Tickets for the performance by John McCutcheon are $20 in advance and $23 at the door. Tickets are available online at meandthee.org and can be purchased in person at the Spirit of ’76 Bookstore or the Arnould Gallery in Marblehead. The Landing Restaurant at 81 Front St., Marblehead offers a 10-percent discount on dinner if you show your ticket or receipt.

“Enjoy a meal before the show!” organizers suggested.

As at all me & thee coffeehouse events, refreshments will be available, including homemade pastries, coffee and teas. The me & thee has a handicapped-accessible entrance and an accessible bathroom, is a smoke-free environment and is easily reached by MBTA bus. The me & thee is one of the oldest continually running acoustic coffeehouses in New England and probably the country. It has been and will always be a volunteer, non-profit organization sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead. For information and directions, call 781-631-8987 or check meandthee.org.