MARBLEHEAD — Marblehead’s own Hayley Reardon makes a return appearance at the me&thee coffeehouse on Friday.
Reardon has been playing at the me&thee since she was 12 years old. Now 22, she’s a seasoned professional on the acoustic music circuit around the country and abroad. The me&thee is at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 28 Mugford St. The show begins at 8 p.m., with Ben Higginbotham opening.
When Reardon first picked up a guitar in July 2008, this young songstress uncovered both a deep passion and an obvious natural talent, unleashing a flood of beautifully constructed, delicately phrased songs. Her latest release, “Good,” was fan-funded and shows how far she has progressed since her early days. “Good” represents a confident musician, one most capable and commanding of her talents. Lorne Entress (Lori McKenna, Catie Curtis and Erin McKeown) produced the album with beautiful arrangements that highlight the powerful messages in her songs.
Reardon’s sterling debut album, 2012’s “Where the Artists Go,” achieved widespread acclaim in New England. In fact, Reardon was named a 2012 Bostonian of the Year by Boston Globe Magazine in celebration of not only her music but the empowering message of her work, especially for young girls who found inspiration in her lyrics.
With a distinctive, rich voice and contemplative sincerity in her songwriting, Reardon has more in common with Patty Griffin, Lucinda Williams and Tracy Chapman than many of today’s young pop singer-songwriters. Her lyrics are wise beyond her years. Reardon’s 2014 release “Wayfindings” expanded her international footprint via syndicated public radio show “Art of the Song,” and praise from Paste, Performer Magazine, Americana UK, and American Songwriter which referred to its first single, “Numb & Blue,” as a “melancholy little masterpiece.”
Higginbotham, a Berklee College of Music graduate originally from Dallas, opens the show. He lives in Boston but splits his time between New York and Nashville co-writing and gigging. His music can best be described as alternative folk. He is inspired by a wide range of artists, from Bon Iver and The Staves, to Ben Folds and Randy Newman, to Kurt Elling and Al Jarreau.
Tickets for the Sept. 21 show are $20 in advance and $23 at the door. Student tickets are $10. Tickets are available online at www.meandthee.org. 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.
Next concert: Friday, Sept. 28: John Davidson, star of stage, screen, and Hollywood, brings his musical talents to Marblehead.
