Pontine Theatre Presents Mark Mandeville & Raianne Richards In Concert

Pontine Theatre continues its Premiere Season at its new performance venue, The Plains School, located at One Plains Avenue in Portsmouth's West End. The newly renovated Plains School, a collaboration between Pontine Theatre and the City of Portsmouth, is fully accessible with convenient free parking adjacent. February 7-11 Massachusetts-based musicians Mark Mandeville and Raianne Richards will perform in concert. Guest artist accommodations are provided by Kittery's Water Street Inn. Performances are Thursday at 3pm, Friday at 7pm, Saturday at 3pm and Sunday at 2pm. Tickets are $27 and may be purchased online: www.pontine.org - tickets may also be purchased at the door a half-hour prior to each show, based on availability. Pontine's season is supported by a grant from the NH State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Mark Mandeville and Raianne Richards are inheritors of a timeless legacy, creating music that is both original and evocative of a rich tradition. Blending distinctive voices and a wide range of accompaniment their songs have been well-received by audiences around the eastern United States and Canada since 2010. Their music echoes inspiration from traditional folk duos and singer/songwriters like Ian & Sylvia, Kate Wolf and Neil Young - combining beautiful harmonies and a lyrical intensity, while establishing a unique sound of their own.

Over the years, Mandeville & Richards have shared the stage with Garnet Rogers, Melanie Safka, Eric Brace & Peter Cooper, John Gorka, Willie Watson, Pierce Pettis, Pokey LaFarge, Joan Osborne, Mustard's Retreat, Atwater & Donnely, Antje Duvekot, David Wax Museum, Deer Tick and Brownbird.

Both artists are products of central Massachusetts mill and factory towns, and for all their national exposure, they are passionately dedicated to the region and what it has to offer. Each summer for the past eight years they have organized the Massachusetts Walking Tour where they hike the roads and trails of the Commonwealth, more than 100 miles in less than two weeks, in support of the arts in local communities along the way. Each evening they stop over in yet another Massachusetts town, putting on a free concert there, along with local performers and fellow artists who accompany them on their journey. These annual two-week treks also raise awareness of the trails and greenways in Massachusetts, using music to make important connections. They continue to impress listeners with their heartfelt songs and to inspire a deep appreciation of contemporary American folk music.