Singer/Songwriter Catie Curtis Returns to Westfield

The Coffee With Conscience concert series welcomes back singer-songwriter Catie Curtis Saturday, March 16 at the First United Methodist Church.

In 2006, Curtis and Mark Erelli won the Grand Prize in the International Songwriting Competition for their song 'People Look Around,' a song written in response to the hurricane Katrina disaster. Curtis grew up in Saco, Maine. She first became a drummer, but then converted to acoustic guitar. After leaving Saco, she went to Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. While at college, she became involved in the local coffeehouse circuit. At the same time, Catie worked as a waitress and social worker while continuing to write and perform. She moved to Boston, Massachusetts in the early 1990s, after deciding to make a career out of music. She made a big splash on the Boston music scene and has been going strong ever since.

Catie has yet to break nationally -- but that just means her beautifully delivered songs haven't been watered down by some A&R executives. With a clear, deceptively gentle voice, she can turn on a dime and thrill the listener with unforeseen power and emotion. Intricate acoustic picking sometimes slants its way into jazz territory, recalling Joan Armatrading, and her staunchly feminist messages further the comparison. But Curtis is very much an original, and a refreshing departure from the stale formula offered by many of today's singer/songwriters.

Catie has toured extensively in North America and has been featured at many of the notable festivals – such as Newport, Philadelphia and Kerrville. She has also shared the stage with Mary Chapin Carpenter, Dar Williams, Girlyman and Bonnie Raitt – among others – and played on the final Lilith Fair tour. She won the Best Album Award from the Gay and Lesbian American Music Awards for her self-titled 1997 album. Catie has just released her tenth album. Over the years, her songs have been featured in 'Alias,' 'Dawson's Creek,' 'Felicity,' and 'Chicago Hope,' as well as in several independent films.

Matt Nakoa will open the show at 8 p.m. Proceeds benefit The Keith Knost Special Needs Fund. 

Tickets are $23 in advance and $27 at the door and can be ordered by clicking here.