January 25th, 2023 10pm Stage 1
Jefferson Hamer
Jefferson Hamer is a songwriter, guitarist, and producer living in Brooklyn, NY. He plays stringed instruments and sings lead and harmony vocals. He has been performing original music for over 20 years, and is also active in NYC’s traditional Irish music community.
His newest, self-produced album Alameda (featuring Jeff Picker, John Fatum, Alec Spiegelman, Hannah Read, Sarah Jarosz, and others) was released in 2018.
Murphy Beds, his traditional acoustic duo with Eamon O’Leary, features harmony vocals backed by intricate guitar and bouzouki accompaniment. The Huffington Post said it succinctly: “The [Murphy Beds] album bears repeated listening from start to finish, with ten beautiful, crystalline songs.”
He also performs with the six-piece roots rock ensemble Session Americana. In 2016 he recorded and co-produced their album “Great Shakes“.
His 2013 “Child Ballads” album with Anais Mitchell earned a BBC2 Folk Award and was named one of NPR’s top-ten Folk releases of the year.
'A gifted guitarist and singer, Hamer is able to hit close harmonies… and weave gorgeous instrumental lines.'
-Acoustic Guitar
Mary-Elaine Jenkins
Mary-Elaine Jenkins’ music sounds like a premonition. Like sweat and talcum powder. Bourbon and salt water. Spanish moss on ruins. A product of her upbringing amidst the canopy of her Lowcountry family tree, Mary-Elaine carries herself as if she had never left the humidity of the coast. But she did. First Washington DC, then Spain, and now Brooklyn. Venturing far from home, time and space removed from her roots have further distilled Mary-Elaine’s distinctly Southern charm.
Arriving in New York City in 2013, Mary-Elaine played in venues all over town and surrounded herself with a creative network that would eventually include producer/engineer Thom Beemer. Working together out of Good Child Music Studios, they were joined by Cat Popper (Ryan Adams), Lawson White (My Brightest Diamond, Tony Trischka), JJ Appleton, and Dave Hassell, to make a record as well traveled as it is rooted in the musical traditions of the Southern coast. Her debut album, Hold Still, was released in September 2018.