The Early Mays

==One sheet=====

 ONE SHEET - 2022-23

==STAGE PLOT=====

STAGE PLOT, Duo plus Cello

==PRESS RELEASES=====

“Prettiest Blue” EP Release Preview Announcement, May 4, 2022

==PHOTOS=====

==BIOGrAPHIES=====

Genres

Folk, Old-Time Country, Roots Singer-Songwriter

Tag Lines

• Tight duo harmonies with banjos, fiddle, guitar, cello and harmonium

• Heart-breaking female duo harmonies on old-time inspired songs.

• Banjo-centric songs with lush textures on harmonium (portable organ) and cello.

• Poignant folk songwriting about searching for brightness in the midst of suffering. 

Long Form

The Early Mays, Long Form Bio, 2022

One Paragraph

Somewhere on the border between old-time music and modern American songwriting, The Early Mays have built a band with harmonies that feel like home. It’s a partnership that has shared slow-burning, perfectly paired vocals for ten years—from NPR’s Mountain Stage to house concerts all over the mid-Atlantic. When they crossed paths in Pittsburgh, Ellen Gozion and Emily Pinkerton felt a resonance between their styles. It wasn’t just the ballads and banjo tunes they had in common, it was a similar stage presence–understated and inviting. It was also a similar sense of purpose: putting their voices in the service of the song. This year, The Early Mays release Prettiest Blue, their fifth album and a follow-up to Chase the Sun (#1 Album, National Folk-DJ Charts, August 2016) and their 1st place finish in the Neo-Traditional Competition at the Appalachian String Band Music Festival (2016).

Mid-Length

Somewhere on the border between old-time music and modern American songwriting, The Early Mays have built a band with harmonies that feel like home. It’s a partnership that has shared slow-burning, perfectly paired vocals for ten years—from NPR’s Mountain Stage to house concerts all over the mid-Atlantic. When they crossed paths in Pittsburgh, Ellen Gozion and Emily Pinkerton felt a resonance between their styles. It wasn’t just the ballads and banjo tunes they had in common, it was a similar stage presence–understated and inviting. It was also a similar sense of purpose: putting their voices in the service of the song. This year, The Early Mays release Prettiest Blue, their fifth album and a follow-up to Chase the Sun (#1 Album, National Folk-DJ Charts, August 2017) and their 1st place finish in the Neo-Traditional Competition at the Appalachian String Band Music Festival (2016). Cellist Nicole Myers joins the Mays on the new EP, lending sweeping melodic lines to the old-time textures. 

“Our songs give people a place to slow down, ” Ellen reflects, “We don’t have a flashy, fast sound, but if you let the music engulf you, there are lots of layers.”

From the old-time music community, Ellen and Emily have absorbed the culture of deep listening that’s central to playing with sensitivity. “Revivalists like us–who didn’t live and breathe Appalachian music growing up–still learn and create by ear for the most part. And there is meaning to uncover each time you return to a field recording, or slowly build a relationship with a mentor.” That practice of focused listening–and careful craftsmanship–spills over into every Early Mays performance and production. The duo strives to sculpt a warm, immersive sound. “We gravitate to beautiful spaces when we gig, and are always on the lookout for halls, churches or galleries that have a special acoustic identity. Then we boost that natural sound with just a touch of amplification,” explains Emily. 

For The Early Mays, the past ten years have been a steady search for sonic and spiritual sustenance: for themselves and for their listeners. “Prettiest Blue is about keeping your eyes trained on something brighter, even in the midst of sadness,” reflects Emily. A decade of friendship is palpable in the co-arranged songs, as well as the sustained pursuit of a rich acoustic aesthetic. You may find yourself comfortably swaying in that neo-traditional space–somewhere between old-time and songwriter sensibilities–getting a glimpse of how much these songs have been cared for.

==Press Quotes=====

What a beautiful, beautiful harmony sound they have... — Larry Groce | NPR's Mountain Stage Radio Show

The Early Mays are exceptional storytellers, singers and musicians who craft their songs with the utmost care and attention; they’re a joy to listen to. —Alex Gallacher | Folk Radio UK

…Emotionally stirring harmonies and delicate folk imstrumentation (banjo, fiddle and organ). While playing together for the first time at a late-night Christmas Eve service, they realized the full potential of future collaborations, thus forming The Early Mays… the group brings traditional and original material to spectacular life. This is more than a band that writes and performs songs; it's a group of serious musicologists who have studied the folk genre all their lives. It's a rare combination of knowledge and talent. — Cindy Howes | Folk Alley

Crystal-clear voices, stunning harmony lines, spellbinding arrangements, deft instrumental work, and always a tasteful, artful, respectful marriage of aesthetics traditional and innovative—always. The Early Mays are among the ablest and most exciting interpreters of music old and less-old on the folk scene today. Each of the Mays’ recorded efforts has been spectacular, not to be outdone—and then they go and do it again and again, somehow managing to refine their already-perfect sound. More straight-up beautiful music would be tough to find. — Adam Hurt | Old-Time Banjoist

This is an album bursting with originality... The warmth emanating from every song and tune is proof that the collaboration is a labour of love. Deeply respected for their musicianship, [The Early Mays] have hit gold here--this is instrumentalism and harmony singing to make the heart soar. — Isabel Boothby | UK Old Time News | Full review of Chase The Sun

...They sang harmonies that made my own heart sing. Close, perfect, high and sweet--intricate parts worked out that seemed as natural as breathing. We were swept away. — Susanna Robinson Kenga | LBSpy, Lewisburg, WV

The Early Mays are a bit of a supergroup... Together, they literally make beautiful music--a play on the Appalachian folk all three are steeped in, with close vocal harmonies and guitar, banjo and fiddle work — Andy Mulkerin | Pittsburgh City Paper

==From presenters=====

Somebody recommended them to me and all it took was listening to one or two of the songs that I heard online before I even got their CD and I thought, 'These people are such great singers.' I wasn't even familiar with what great songwriters they were too. They sing some traditional things, they sing some covers and they write some beautiful songs and, as you'll hear, they're fantastic musicians.

-- Larry Groce | NPR's Mountain Stage Radio Show

With their Appalachian-inspired tunes, amazing three-part harmonies, flatfooting demo, and unique crankies of mosaic folk art, The Early Mays wowed the packed house (only our second sell-out!). Even I got up and did my own clogging! Audience members loved chatting about their songs, instruments and crankies during intermission and after to show. Have them back in a heartbeat.

-- Jeff King | Deer Creek Coffeehouse, Darlington, MD

Ethereal beauty with old-time and edge...

-- Lee Stivers | Whiskey Rebellion Festival, Washington, PA

==Career highlights=====

• NPR Mountain Stage, Featured Performer | 2022, 2017

• #9 Song on National Folk-DJ Charts | July 2022

• Mid-Atlantic Song Contest, Honorable Mention for Ellen’s “Narrows of the Year” | 2018

• #1 Artist and album on National Folk-DJ Charts | August 2017

• #18 Traditional Folk Album on Roots Music Report | 2017

• Winner of Neo-Traditional Band Competition | Appalachian String Band Music Festival (Clifftop, WV) | August 2016

• Official Showcases at NERFA and SERFA

• Folk Roots Radio, Best Albums of 2015

• WYEP Artist of the Year 2014

• #2 Debut on National Folk-DJ Charts | October 2014

• 3 months in Top Ten Rotation on National Folk-DJ Charts | 2014

• Folk Alley Listener Poll, Top 50 Albums of 2014

• Top Ten Albums of 2014, Cindy Howes at Folk Alley

• #6 Song on Roots Music Report in Pennsylvania | November 2014

==Past venues=====

NPR's Mountain Stage, Charleston and Elkins, WV | Appalachian String Band Music Festival, Clifftop, WV | Folk College, Huntingdon, PA | APAP Showcase, New York, NY | Jalopy Theatre, New York, NY | NERFA Official Showcase, Stamford, CT | HOTA (Heart of the Arts) Fest, Titusville, PA | Concerts in the Loft, Morgantown, WV | Friends of Old-Time Music and Dance Concert Series, Charleston, WV | Mountain City Traditional Arts Center, Frostburg, MD | Northern Appalachian Folk Festival, Indiana, PA | Fiddle and Bow Society, Winston-Salem, NC | Deer Creek Coffeehouse Concert Series, Darlington MD | Greenwood Furnace Folk Gathering, Huntingdon Township, PA | St. Francis University, Loretto, PA | Four Hour Day Lutherie, Baltimore, MD | The Bop Stop, Cleveland, OH | Whiskey Rebellion Folk Festival, Washington, PA | Three Rivers Arts Festival, Pittsburgh, PA | Chatham University Bluegrass Festival, Pine Township, PA | Unitarian Universalist Metro Area North, Atlanta, GA | First Congregational Church, Kalamazoo, MI | Calliope Concert Series, Pittsburgh, PA | Music and Art at Oak Glen, WV