The Kennedys with opener Emily Barnes

About this event

Vocalists/guitarists Pete and Maura Kennedy, a husband and wife duo, first met when Pete was playing guitar in Nanci Griffith’s Blue Moon Orchestra. When Maura replaced Iris DeMent as a harmony singer on a Griffith tour, they found themselves in the same band, and opened shows for Griffith as a duo. The Kennedys hosted the late lamented Dharma Café program on Sirius satellite radio, and on Broadway, they are regular cast members of Theatre Within’s annual tribute to John Lennon – working in that capacity with Patti Smith, Debbie Harry, Jackson Browne, Cyndi Lauper and a host of others. 

Multi-instrumentalists known for their harmonies and blend of folk, rock, bluegrass, country and pop, The Kennedys have written uplifting, evocative original tunes, and have put their imprint on a broad range of covers. They sing about love, loss, trust, caretaking, the environment and social consciousness. “The operative word for us when we write lyrics is ‘compassion,’” said Pete Kennedy. “We do believe that music can heal and, as songwriters, we feel a responsibility to use the craft to lift spirits and encourage. There are certainly other schools of artistic thought, but that’s the one we practice.” The pair mix passionate songwriting with a flair for entertainment and a repertoire of classic songs. Think of a song by Buddy Holly, the Everly Brothers or the Beatles, and that smile on your face is the same smile you’ll be wearing when The Kennedys hit the stage.