By Victoria Chertok

Copyright keenesentinel

Showroom presents an evening of original music with award-winning Nashville musicians Crys Matthews and Heather Mae.

“Crys Matthews and Heather Mae are artists worth putting on the radar. I had the opportunity to work with Crys (Matthews) at Next Stage — the music, authenticity and power of the performance drew me in. Having the opportunity to present this show, co-presented with Keene Pride, is an exciting opportunity for Showroom,” wrote Keith Marks, executive director of the Colonial Performing Arts Center.

Crys Matthews, an award-winning lyricist, composer and performer, blends country, Americana, folk, blues and bluegrass into “a bold, complex performance steeped in traditional melodies punctuated by honest, original lyrics.” She’s been called a “troubadour of truth and among the brightest stars of the new generation of social justice music makers” according to publicity materials.

Award-winning musician and artist-activist Heather Mae writes from the heart with fearless lyrics which expose her raw vulnerability and electrifying sound.

Matthews sings and plays guitar, banjo and suitcase drum, she explained; Mae plays acoustic guitar to accompany her vocals.

CRYS MATTHEWS

“I’ve been playing music since I was in sixth grade…I actually started playing clarinet in band and thought I was going to be a high school band director,” Matthews recalled.

She grew up in southeastern North Carolina, near the coast and stumbled into songwriting and playing guitar in college and has been writing songs and performing ever since.

“My college roommate at the time … had this band, and they needed a fill-in keyboard player. Because I am a preacher’s kid, my chops on the keys were pretty decent so I played the show and had the absolute time of my life. I went home, wrote my first song,” she said.

“I entered that song into the campus talent show at Appalachian State University and won first place, and thought, ‘Oh, man, maybe I’m decent at this,’ and I just fell in love with it… the art of songwriting and the ability to connect with folks that way,” Matthews added.

Matthews’ mission is “a reminder that hope and love are the truest pathways to equity and justice.” She is the poster child of intersectionality these days.

“I check an awful lot of boxes: I am a woman, I am black, I am a lesbian, and so all of those intersections kind of inform the ways in which I see the world. I see that these injustices that are being hurled at us are all kind of interrelated and have the same root,” Matthews added.

HEATHER MAE

Mae grew up in Sterling, Va. and didn’t grow up with music since the family didn’t have a lot of money. She always had access to paper and pen, so she started writing poetry, Mae recalled.

“I picked up the guitar when I was in my early 20s, and that I’ve never looked back,” Mae added.

The couple moved to Nashville, Tenn. in 2022 after visiting in 2021 for Americana Fest; they realized many of their friends lived there and it just felt like home.

“We love being LGBTQ in the south … and creating visibility, especially in a music town as an interracial lesbian couple living in Nashville and writing social justice music. You know, it feels very important that we stay,” Mae said.

“I’m a mental health advocate in my music, so I write about having bipolar disorder. I’m also a very proud fat woman, and so I write about body positivity and body liberation,” Mae added.

The pair is a musical duo and also a romantic couple. They got engaged last winter.

“I always say we are each other’s biggest champions and harshest critics. I think one thing we do very well as a couple is we hold each other to the absolute highest standard of being able to tell the truth in a way that makes sure that the points that we were trying to make come across,” Mae added.

Mae said that the New England tour is their “engagement party” and that the two are having “so much fun!”

Matthews added, “The community in Keene is so dear to me. I’ve had the pleasure of playing a couple of the Juneteenth events there. To be able to come there, specifically during Pride Week, is just so special.”

What can the audience expect at Showroom?

“Well you know, like a good butch, I always defer to my very lovely future wife for this,” noted Matthews.

They sometimes play in the round with both on stage or they alternate sets.

Mae said, “This is my first time visiting Keene. One of the things that I have been really trying to do is play as many Prides as I possibly can. So far, I’ve played Seattle Pride, Brooklyn Pride, New York Pride, Salt Lake City Pride, Atlanta Pride, D.C. Pride and Charlotte Pride.”

And now the two perform during Keene Pride and think it’s very important.

“… kids in small towns in Vermont and New Hampshire who feel like they’re the only ones, … they look on social media and they see there’s a concert with a butch lesbian dressed in a suit and tie and a queer femme who’s holding her partner’s hand,” Matthews added.

“They see themselves and that literally saves lives … I’m really proud to partner with a venue (Colonial Showroom) who’s hosting an event during Pride specifically bringing two independent LGBTQ artists and that feels really special,” Mae added.

“Come on out to the show, no matter who you love. If you are LGBTQ, if you are not LGBTQ, the things that you are seeing our community have to resist against, stand up against. Those things are also things that women have to be concerned about,” Matthews added.

“These are the times for us to be in community, to lean into community with one another, and to be able to lift our voices together,” Matthews said.

WHAT: Crys Matthews and Heather Mae

WHEN: Friday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m.

WHERE: Showroom, 20 Commercial St., Keene

TICKETS: In Advance: $25 / Day of Show: $29

INFO: thecolonial.org/event/crys-matthews-and-heather-mae/ or call Showroom box office at 603-352-2033.