Scottish fiddle champion, Hanneke Cassel Trio plays Marblehead on April 10

On Friday, April 10 the me&thee presents world-class Celtic fiddler, Hanneke Cassel and her trio. Hanneke is the 1997 U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion. The Boston Globe calls her music “exuberant and rhythmic, somehow both wild and innocent, delivered with captivating melodic clarity and irresistible playfulness.” A newcomer to the me&thee stage is Grace Morrison of Wareham, MA. Her songs range from historical ballads to witty and winsome. Doors open at 7:30 PM for this 8:00 PM show at the me&thee coffeehouse which is located at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead at 28 Mugford Street.

Hanneke will be joined by cellist Mike Block (who regularly performs with Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble) and guitarist Christopher Lewis (formerly of the band Nightingale.) HAILED BY YO-YO MA as the “ideal musician of the 21st Century”, Mike Block is a pioneering multi-style cellist, composer, and educator living in Boston. A graduate of the Juilliard School, Mike is an Associate Professor at the Berklee College of Music. Canadian-native Christopher Lewis provides the driving guitar sound in the group. In addition to his work with Hanneke, he has been involved with album production and performance in the Boston indie rock scene. These three musicians create a sound on the cutting edge of the acoustic tradition, while retaining the integrity and soul of traditional Scottish music.

Hanneke Cassel has performed and taught across North America, Europe, New Zealand, Australia, and China. Her latest CD relase, Dot the Dragon’s Eyes features an all-star cast of musicians - including Mike Block, Rushad Eggleston, Jeremy Kittel, Keith Murphy, Christopher Lewis, Dave Wiesler, Ryan McKasson, Cali McKasson Kovin, and Ariel Friedman. Influences from Scotland to China, along with grooves and musical innovations from the hip Boston bluegrass/Americana scene, fuse together to create a uniquely American approach to Scottish music. She creates sounds on the cutting edge of acoustic music, while retaining the integrity and soul of the Scottish tradition.

Hanneke tours regularly with Baroque/Celtic group Ensemble Galilei, and has performed with the Cathie Ryan Band, Cherish the Ladies, Alasdair Fraser, and Matt Glaser and the Wayfaring Strangers. She is an active member of Boston-based band Childsplay (featuring 20+ fiddles made by Bob Childs) and co-founder (with Laura Cortese and Lissa Schneckenburger) of Celtic chick band Halali. She teaches regularly at Alasdair Fraser’s Valley of the Moon and Sierra Fiddle Camps, Boston Harbor Fiddle Camp, and the Club Passim School of Music. Hanneke’s fiddling has graced the stages of The Boston Hatch Shell (performing with Joey McIntyre of New Kids on the Block), Boston’s Symphony Hall (opening for Judy Collins), Mountain Stage, The Plaza Hotel, and the Lincoln Center.

Grace Morrison has a way with words and music. She captivates the audience and brings them into her world full of her love of language and history. Grace began her musical journey studying piano at the tender age of five. At twelve she discovered the group Hanson and said “I can do that!” She taught herself how to play the guitar, started writing songs, and two years later found herself opening for some of the best folk acts in New England. Grace will be joined for this show with David Delaney on fiddle; he’s one of the Whiskey Boys who have crafted their music to combine Irish, folk and Americana into a most original sound.

Tickets for the performance by the Hanneke Cassel Trio with Grace Morrison and David Delaney opening the show are $20 in advance and $23 at the door. Student tickets are only $10. Tickets are available online at www.meandthee.org and can be purchased in person at the Spirit of ’76 Bookstore or the Arnold Gallery in Marblehead. The Landing Restaurant at 81 Front Street, Marblehead offers a 10% discount on dinner if you show your ticket or receipt. Enjoy a meal before the show! As at all me & thee coffeehouse events, refreshments are 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 the website at www.meandthee.org.

Next concert: April 17th- A folk singer for the “new” generation: Dan Bern. Opening the show is Boston’s Chris O’Brien