Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer

Alisa C. Kaeser l Email: alisa@cathymarcy.com l Direct: 202-667-1076 l www.cathymarcy.com

Folk, Roots & More Musical Traditions

“As close to flawless folk/bluegrass as it gets.” — Billboard Magazine

“Possibly the most popular act of the weekend was the American duo Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer, who held a capacity crowd spellbound with their traditional and contemporary songs, and even the odd yodel.” — Western Leader, Auckland, NZ (The Auckland Folk Festival, New Zealand)

“They are spellbinding acoustic musicians, with a rare mastery of American roots styles. Parents will be as entertained by the sublime musicianship and droll lyricism as kids are by all the musical mischief.” — The Boston Globe

Christine Lavin wrote on her website following the Philly Folk Fest: “Marcy Marxer and Cathy Fink played a killer set on the big stage on Friday night. They played so fast their hands were a blur. They are two of the best performers you’ll see anywhere. Again, the crowd went wild.”

MICHAEL G. STEWART

Alisa C. Kaeser l Email: alisa@cathymarcy.com l Direct: 202-667-1076 l www.cathymarcy.com

BIOGRAPHY

TWO-TIME GRAMMY® Award Winners, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer are master musicians with a career spanning over 35 years. Their superb harmonies are backed by instrumental virtuosity on the guitar, five-string banjo, ukulele, mandolin, cello-banjo, and many other instruments. An eclectic folk festival on their own terms, their repertoire ranges from classic country to western swing, gypsy jazz to bluegrass, and old-time string band to contemporary folk including some original gems. Their versatility defies a brief description, perhaps “well rounded Americana” does it best.

In February 2017, the duo will release their 45th recording, “GET UP AND DO RIGHT”. The album features duets of some of their favorite songs by songwriters such as Alice Gerrard, Tom Paxton, Ola Belle Reed and David Francey, with an original tune and song for good measure.

Cathy & Marcy have performed at hundreds of bluegrass and folk festivals and taught at close to 100 music camps. The Washington Area Music Association has recognized the duo with over 60 WAMMIE Awards for folk, bluegrass and children’s music. They have performed with Pete Seeger, Theodore Bikel, Tom Paxton, Patsy Mon-tana, Riders in the Sky and a wide range of musical luminaries.

They are happily known as “social music conductors” ready to start a jam session, a community sing or to cre-ate a music camp helping others learn to play and sing. Past students include Kaki King and Rhiannon Giddens. Through their long relationship with the Music Center at Strathmore they collaborated with positive hip-hop artist Christylez Bacon. They continue to mentor up-and-coming artists on navigating the professional music world.

They have entertained the Queen of Thailand, been keynote singers for the AFL-CIO, performed at hundreds of folk festivals, appeared on the “Today Show” and on National Public Radio. They have advocated in Washington for unions, health care for children and the rights and livelihoods of artists.

As curators, performers and hosts, Cathy & Marcy produce two annual shows at The Birchmere, in Alexandria, VA. The Mike Seeger Commemorative Old Time Banjo Festival is in its eleventh year and their Tribute To Hank Williams in its twenty-first year. Their annual weeklong Ukulele & Guitar Summit at Strathmore goes into year nine in 2017.

Cathy & Marcy have earned two GRAMMY® Awards for their recordings “cELLAbration: a Tribute to Ella Jenkins” and for “Bon Appétit!”. Their CDs “Postcards” and “Banjo Talkin’” were both GRAMMY® nominated in the Best Traditional Folk Album category.

Cathy & Marcy have toured worldwide from Japan to New Zealand, Vancouver to New York and everywhere in between. Shows include The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum (OH), Smithsonian Institution and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. American Voices Abroad chose Cathy & Marcy with fiddler Barbara Lamb to perform in China, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu for the U.S. Department of State.

Folk, Roots & More Musical Traditions BIOGRAPHYCathy Fink & Marcy Marxer

MICHAEL G. STEWART

Folk, Roots & More Musical Traditions PROGRAM OFFERINGSCathy Fink & Marcy Marxer

Alisa C. Kaeser l Email: alisa@cathymarcy.com l Direct: 202-667-1076 l www.cathymarcy.com

PROGRAM OFFERINGS

Cathy Fink Marcy Marxer

Cathy & Marcy enjoy working with presenters to match workshops with the communities in which they work. Suggested topics include: Community Sing, Songwriting, Harmony Singing & more. Instrument Workshops are offered for all levels on Banjo, Ukulele and Guitar.

Trio program with bass player also available

Cathy Fink Marcy Marxer

GRAMMY WINNING FAMILY CONCERTSCathy & Marcy are trailblazers in children’s music and have been connecting families through music for over 25 years. Their superb harmonies are backed by instrumental virtuosity on the acoustic & electric guitar, five-string banjo, mandolin, cello banjo and ukulele. Over 5,000 shows in performing arts centers, schools, folk festivals, community centers, libraries and children’s festivals have given Cathy & Marcy the superb skills to deliver a show that is fun, wacky, energetic, and participatory and meaningful. From an “Air Guitar” band to singable tongue twisters, and a yodeling lesson, their shows bring

families together and allow kids to have fun and learn at the same time.

AN EVENING WITH CATHY & MARCYEnjoy an eclectic mix of the duo’s favorite original and traditional folk, old time country and swing tunes featuring superb vocal harmonies and dazzling instrumentals. Cathy & Marcy interperse stories of the places they’ve visited and the incredible people they’ve met along the way such as Ola Belle Reed, Patsy Montana (first woman in country music to sell one million records), Lily Mae Ledford, Roy Smeck and many more musical mentors.

MICHAEL G. STEWART

Cathy Fink Marcy Marxer

Folk, Roots & More Musical Traditions DISCOGRAPHY/PAST APPEARANCESCathy Fink & Marcy Marxer

GET UP AND DO RIGHT (Community Music, Inc. 2017)

DANCIN’ IN THE KITCHEN: songs for ALL families (Community Music, Inc. 2015)

THINGS ARE COMING MY WAY (Community Music, Inc. 2013)

ROCKIN’ THE UKE (Community Music, Inc. 2011)

BANJO TALKIN’ (Rounder Records, 2007) GRAMMY® FINALIST! Best Traditional Folk Album

POSTCARDS (Community Music, 2002) GRAMMY® FINALIST! Best Traditional Folk Album

VOICE ON THE WIND (Rounder Records, 1997)

A PARENT’S HOME COMPANION (Rounder Records, 1995)

CATHY FINK & MARCY MARXER (Sugar Hill Records, 1989)

BLUE ROSE (Sugar Hill Records, 1988)

THE LEADING ROLE (Rounder Records, 1985)

BANJO HAIKU (Community Music, Inc. 1992)

Cathy Fink Marcy Marxer

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Philadelphia Folk Festival • Port Fairy Folk Festival (Australia) • Winnipeg Folk Festival • The Auckland Folk Festival (NZ) • Kerrville Folk Festival (TX) • Vancouver Folk Music Festival • Strawberry Festival (CA) • Walnut Valley Festival (KS) • The Birchmere (VA) • The Ramshead (Annapolis, MD) • Steve Kaufman’s Guitar Kamp, TN • Swanannoa Guitar Week, NC • Oak Grove Folk Festival • Blissfest, Bliss, MI • Smithsonian Institution • John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts • The Music Center at Strathmore (MD) • The Beck Center (OH) • The Hamilton (DC) • Saban Theater (LA) • Merlefest (NC) • Centrum (WA) • Blue Ridge Music Center (VA) • Woodstock Guitar Invitational (NY)Metropolitan Museum of Art (NY) • The Station Inn (TN)

AWARDS, MEDIA APPEARANCES, SPECIAL NOTICES• GRAMMY® Award Nominations - 2009, 2007, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1997

• CBS Early Morning Show – Second Cup Café

• Weekend Today Show

• NPR - Morning Edition

• Washington Area Music Association Awards (over 60 awards) including: Best Folk Recording; Best Folk Group; Best Bluegrass Vocalist; Best Children’s Vocalist; Best Children’s Group/Duo; Best Children’s Recording

• National Press Club

• Reviews: The Washington Post, Philadelphia Inquirer, LA Times, Amazon.com, Acoustic Guitar Magazine, Bluegrass Unlimited

• John Lennon Songwriting Contest Finalists: 2000, 2006, 2009, 2015

Alisa C. Kaeser l Email: alisa@cathymarcy.com l Direct: 202-667-1076 l www.cathymarcy.com