Mike & Ruthy

One very late evening, down in the tiniest factory/apartment building in New York City's looming financial district, Mike and Ruthy first combined their talents over cheap beer and not much else. The results were magical. Since that first meeting in 1998, their writing, singing, and musicianship have skyrocketed. Seven years on the international folk festival circuit with their folk-rock string-band, The Mammals, exposed Mike & Ruthy to a wealth of great music and musicians and helped them develop their craft on and off the stage.

Now, some of Mike's very old songs from their early days are working their way back into their duo setlist - along side Ruth's sparkling versions of soul and folk classics. It's their new and original creations that hint at love, pain and earthly beauty, which are most captivating to fans, who say:

"Just wanted to tell you that I can't stop playing The Honeymoon Agenda! It's a haunting, infectious, beautiful record. You have continued to surprise me."-- Johanna Hall, Woodstock, NY

"Wow... Amazing! Your voices are like honey, the lyrics are beautifully intuitive and the music made me feel enveloped. The love that you share transmits in a powerful way. What started off as a long drive turned into a beautiful experience. Thanks." -- Roxanne Trombly, Lenox, MA

Mike and Ruthy's double-guitar songs land somewhere between M Ward and Simon and Garfunkel, and their fiddle and banjo playing give their show a traditional bent. These two always use their genuine vocal blend to bring out the truth and beauty in each song they sing.

Instrumentation:
Michael Merenda (Mike): vocals, guitar, banjo
Ruth Ungar Merenda (Ruthy): vocals, fiddle, guitar, ukulele, harmonica

Visit the performers' Website at: www.mikeandruthy.com