Rachel Sumner & Ian Fitzgerald

Rachel Sumner & Ian Fitzgerald

Rachel Sumner:

Since relocating from the west coast to the east in 2011 to study at the Berklee College of Music, Rachel Sumner has become one of the most vital voices in Boston's thriving roots music scene. Most prominently, Rachel is the guitarist and one of the primary songwriters and lead vocalists in Twisted Pine, a progressive bluegrass band whose self-titled debut album (Signature Sounds, 2017) has propelled them to the main stages of festivals such as Green River Festival, FreshGrass Festival, DelFest, and Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival. Rachel also leads the folk-country trio Sumner & Moss, an outlet for her more traditional roots music inclinations. Sumner's musical influences, however, extend well past bluegrass, folk, and country to classical, indie, pop, and beyond. While Rachel's songs could hold their own on the strength of their melodies alone, she is equally as interested in incorporating literary influences into her lyrics and in exploring the possibilities that exist in the overlap of her many divergent inspirations. It is in this spirit of creative discovery that Rachel has created her first solo EP, Anything Worth Doing, which she will independently release in November 2018. To this EP and to her solo shows, Rachel brings a collection of wonderfully original new songs; her prowess as a multi-instrumentalist and singer; and the unique perspective and curiosity that have helped make her one of the most promising singer-songwriters working today.

Ian Fitzgerald:

Hailed as "the songwriter's songwriter" by the Newport Folk Festival, Ian Fitzgerald has been criss-crossing the country over the past several years singing what he's written. After having picked up the guitar in his late teens with the simple goal of learning to play the songs of others that had become so integral to his life, Ian began in his early 20s to write songs of his own.

The result, over these past few years, has been a growing recognition of Ian's work and songwriting ability. Ian maintains a touring schedule of about 100 shows per year which has brought him, so far, to 39 states. Ian has performed both solo and with full band at the Newport Folk Festival. He has been featured in the Emerging Artist Showcase at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. And he has opened for such notable artists as Iris DeMent, Joan Shelley, Darlingside, The Ballroom Thieves, Anna & Elizabeth, Matt the Electrician, Willy Mason, and many more. On February 14, 2019, Ian will release an EP of duets with Rachel Sumner called Sing Me An Old Tune. He is also in the process of writing and preparing to record his next solo album.