The ACMA and the Calusa Nature Center have partnered to present Music Under The Stars INSIDE the Planetarium. Our second concert of the series is headlined by Grace Morrison and Marc Berardo. ACMA member musician D’hruva Stephenson opens.
Grace Morrison: gracemorrison.com
“Her voice smacks of Jewel, and her style, cadence, song structure is every inch from the school of Joan Osborne, Lisa Loeb, Natalie Merchant — Lauren Daley/Boston Globe
“She is folk. She is pop. She’s unbelievably masterful behind the wheel of a guitar. Morrison’s vocal storytelling can make you cry; it can make you sing.” — Emily Clark Old Colony Memorial
Born and raised on the shores of Cape Cod, Grace’s unique brand of “saltwater country” has established her as a confident, refreshing voice in country-pop. With performances at Nashville’s Bluebird Café and co-writes with multi-Grammy winner Lori McKenna (Humble and Kind) and hit songwriter Barbara Cloyd (I Guess You Had to be There) under her belt, Grace made a name for herself in 2022 at songwriter festivals from Massachusetts to Montana. During this stretch she gained further recognition and invitations to write with Dana Hunt Black (Check Yes or No), and Steve Dean (Round About Way).
Outwardly effortless and radio-ready you might take for granted what makes Grace’s songwriting special. With musical influences ranging from Fats Domino’s rock and roll licks; the raw expression of jazz; Celtic ballads; and 90’s pop choruses – Grace delivers “three chords and the truth” in a package that is familiar and yet undeniably unique.
Grace Morrison is a mother, musician, renaissance faire performer, cranberry farmer, songwriter, and storyteller. With subjects ranging from Titanic to tantric; an “evening with” Grace will take you from the court of King Henry VIII to debauchery in Denver. With humor and raw honesty, audiences leave Grace’s shows with her songs stuck in their heads and their toes tired from tapping. Marc Douglas Berardo: Marcdouglas.com
“Berardo takes you to a place within yourself to make changes you want to see in the world.” — Mary Jane Twohy, The Village, Sirius/XM Radio
“High-quality story-telling, picking, and playing.” — Rob Ellen, The Medicine Show Radio Moose Mobile, U.K.
Singer-songwriter, performer, and keen observer, Marc Douglas Berardo’s songs are sharply drawn and cast a net on unusual and beguiling characters and places that bring to mind James Taylor, Jimmy Buffett, Guy Clark, and Steely Dan with a touch of Mark Twain or Hunter S. Thompson. His songs have been recognized at prestigious national festivals and events such as The South Florida Folk Festival, The Wildflower Arts and Music Festival, and the Kerrville Folk Festival.
He has opened for or shared the stage with The Doobie Brothers, Little Feat, John Hiatt, Martin Sexton, Eric Taylor, Kevin Welch, Kim Richey, Will Kimbrough, Ari Hest, Red Molly and David Olney. Berardo’s interview and live performance featured on the Sirius/ XM Satellite Radio show The Village was voted one of the best of the year by listeners. No Depression Magazine called his last CD Whalebone: “sincere, fluid, charming and above all gripping.”
Opening the concert is Dhruva’ Stephenson. In her own words…”Singer-songwriter, jammer, traveler. Loves singing harmonies and flirting around with flute, mandolin, bass, percussion, piano and other lesser-known instruments”. She is an ACMA member from the Mid-Atlantic region. Her music reflects a variety of folksy and bluesy genres highlighted by her distinctive contralto voice. Dhruva’ has released several albums of original music.