ME GRIEF AND TEARS TO SMOTHER
Traditional Songs and Ballads of the Irish Diaspora
Tracklist:
1. Irish Volunteer |
8. Rocky Road to Dublin* |
* = Singles
For Immediate Release:
Michigan artists Nick Veine and Ben Traverse are preparing to release their full-length collaborative album of Irish music, Me Grief and Tears to Smother: Traditional Songs and Ballads of the Irish Diaspora.
The musical journeys of old friends Nick Veine and Earthwork Music member Ben Traverse have long been intertwined. Both calling Manistee their hometown, Nick, with his award-winning band Awesome Distraction, provided Ben with his first performing experience. The pair went on to explore different parts of the rich tapestry of American music – Nick pursuing jazz in academia and Ben digging deep into the traditions of folk music. This mutual love for music, history, and community gave rise to this new collaborative release.
This album has it all: sweet ballads, raucous drinking songs, and every other manner of song celebrating the historic traditions of Ireland and its expats.
A labor of love, this album was created over the past two years and recorded in various locations – the Earthwork Farm in Lake City, as well as Ben and Nick’s homes. Grief was mixed by Nick Veine, produced by Ben and Nick, and mastered at TreeTone Studios in Grand Rapids, MI by Michael Dause (Moss Manor, Treeskin, Shantyland).
Me Grief and Tears to Smother will be available everywhere on November 3rd. A release tour will follow shortly after where you can also catch these two handsome folks joined by their handsome friends Josh Holcomb (Dede & the Dreamers, West Michigan Symphony) on fiddle and viola, fellow Manistinian Noah Cameron (Forest Trail Music Festival, Kanin Wren) on drums and bodhrán, and Carsten Forester on upright bass to knock your socks off. Mark your calendars – this is NOT something you’ll want to miss.
The duo has lined up an exciting tour across West Michigan:
11/8 – Goshen Brewing Co, Goshen, IN
11/9 – The Clover Room*, Kalamazoo
11/10 – Tip Top Deluxeº, Grand Rapids
11/11 – Workshop Brewing Co, Traverse City
11/12 – Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts, Manistee
11/16 – The Robin Theatre^, Lansing
* wsg/ Brian Koenigsknecht | º wsg/ Keala Venema | ^ co-bill w/ Micah Ling & Molly McBride
Tickets can be found here (inactive). Goshen & Workshop are free!