CD RELEASE: QUITE EARLY MORNING [Addy Theatre]

“Lush, luxurious”  DAILY FREEMAN

“Soul and feeling…a joy”  IRISH MUSIC MAGAZINE

If the mighty and romantic Hudson River had a voice it would surely sound like the harmonic quintet of BETTY & THE BABY BOOMERS! They wrap their distinctive four-part harmonies, sparkling guitar and dobro licks around songs from Pete Seeger, Phil Ochs, Dougie MacLean, Bruce Springsteen and others for a lush and intimate evening guaranteed to transport you along the most beautiful banks of the mighty waterway.

Thirty eight years together and still going strong, The Boomers continue to add songs to their repertoire. It’s been eight years since their last (stellar) recording, and the new songs – as well as a few they’ve long been performing onstage – wouldn’t be denied. "Quite Early Morning" takes its title from one of folk singer Pete Seeger's most moving songs, and they mix it in with a bit of hope, humor and sweet romance. It carries messages for all time, but especially THIS tumultuous time. 

From the Hudson Valley to Galway, Ireland, Steve Stanne (guitar, dobro), Betty Boomer, Jean McAvoy, Paul Rubio (guitar, drum) & Robert Bard (bass) belt out, croon or caress an astonishing array of traditional, contemporary songs and originals.

Their seemingly endless repertoire includes songs heard while sailing and working on the Hudson aboard the environmental flagship Clearwater, tunes learned from years of playing with Pete Seeger, McAvoy originals, songs serious and silly, topical and whimsical: swing, folk, a cappella ballads and sea songs. Their close four-part harmonies are simply sublime, the instrumentals rich and varied, the songs reminiscent of Summer and Fall sails on the Hudson River aboard the Clearwater, with its crew of musician sailors led by Seeger.

The award-winning group tours regionally and internationally. They appeared annually at Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival, recently on WAMC-fm’s “Hudson River Sampler,” and at venues throughout the Northeast, New England and well beyond. Touring abroad over the past 18 years, the Boomers have become a familiar sound and sight alongside The Chieftains, Paul Brady and Christy Moore at Ireland’s enormously popular Clifden Arts Week, Ireland’s longest-running community arts festival.

Their Eighth Step performances have included Phil Ochs Song Nights, numerous Pumpkin Sail Concerts with Seeger [inaugurating a three-week sloop Clearwater sail from Albany downriver, when 13 concerts and mini-festivals at ports would end in concert at South Street Seaport], anniversary galas, sold out Seeger tributes at Poughkeepsie's Bardavon Theatre, The NY Society for Ethical Culture [on Central Park], Lincoln Center Out of Doors, and many more. Then there are evenings like this one, dedicated to the Boomers themselves and showcasing their stirring and gorgeous music.