An Evening of Americana Music

featuring SmallTown Strings with Helen O'Shea and Friends

Emily Grove opens for Helen O'Shea & Friends who are welcoming their special guests SmallTown Strings, an Americana Band visiting Princeton from a small town near Seattle, Washington.

About SmallTown Strings:

At the core of SmallTown Strings is the multi-talented sister and brother duo - Caroline and JayJ Carlile - who come from a tiny, rural Washington town called Curlew, where they live with their family. However, SmallTown Strings have been known to expand to a trio when their dad Jay Carlile is not out on tour with Wynonna. Oftentimes, they become a foursome when their first cousin Josephine Hanseroth is in town! These talented multi-instrumentalists and harmony vocalists bring an engaging live show wherever they go as they weave their mix of Folk, Americana, Bluegrass and Indie sounds into an unforgettable live performance. SmallTown Strings are bending genres as they treat us to their eclectic mix of stunning vocals, beautiful harmonies, guitar, fiddle, banjo, harmonica and box drums - all the while having so much fun on stage that their joy is infectious! These live show shenanigans have been going on for almost four years now and SmallTown Strings have already written, recorded and produced their first songs in the rugged surroundings of the backseat of a 1993 motor home. As they take their next steps in what is shaping up to be a brilliant career in music, SmallTown Strings are currently writing, recording and producing their new album, while also gearing up for their first East Coast Tour, arriving in New Jersey in June & July 2023.

About Helen O'Shea & Friends

Helen O'Shea is an Irish born, Princeton NJ based singer, songwriter, recording artist and show producer. She has partnered with two-time Grammy winning producer Marc Swersky for all of her recordings to date: “Mama Told You…”; “Turning Tides…”; “A Little Christmas Kindness”; and “Know You’re Enough”. Helen’s original songs tell stories of life, love, loss and legacy. In 2021, she received a Communicator Award for her song “Someone Is Waiting” and she was nominated for a HMMA Award (Hollywood Music In Media) in the Americana section for “Stay Here Now”. In 2022, Helen was awarded both Americana Artist Of The Year for "Someone Is Waiting" and Best Americana Song for "Prinetime" by the Indie Music Channel Awards. Currently, Helen is completing her fifth record with Marc Swersky at Dug Deep Productions in Asbury Park, NJ while working on another crowdfunding project about grief with Plaid Dog Recording in Boston, MA. Helen leads three bands in NJ: "Helen O'Shea & Friends" - a mix of Americana & Celtic covers & original songs; "Shenanigans” Songs Of Ireland, Old And New; and “The Shanakees” (Gaelic word for "storyteller") - performing all of Helen's original songs in the style of AmeriCeltiCana - Americana with a Celtic twist!  For this very special show at Princeton Public Library with "Helen O'Shea & Friends", Helen will be joined by the best of her friends: Paul Bejgrowicz; Barry Schoendorf; David Ross & Nick Romanenko. 

About Emily Grove

Jersey Shore artist Emily Grove has had a varied and exciting musical journey so far, from coffeehouses to Berklee College of Music, to television appearances to tours in the UK and Europe. Her gift for being willing to jump into new adventures has resulted in a two month tour of the UK, Ireland, US, and Canada, opening up for and performing with British artist David Ford. She has also completed her own headlining tour in Germany, Bulgaria, and England and she was selected to sing backup for David Gray on the Today Show, and for Social Distortion at the Stone Pony Summer Stage. Emily produced a critically acclaimed sold out Joni Mitchell show at “The Vogel” in Red Bank, NJ in late 2022, featuring some of Asbury Park’s most talented musicians. She also performs regularly with Glen Burtnik in his many large productions, including his legendary "Summer Of Love". Emily continues to open for a host of national artists, including Brett Michaels at the State Theater of NJ. She has completed studio recordings with David Ford, Glen Burtnik, Steve Forbert, and UK artist Jack Henderson, among many others. As a solo act, she has won multiple awards for “Best Female Acoustic Act” at the 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 Asbury Music Awards, and she has also won three Jersey Acoustic Music Awards (best female singer [2011 and 2012]/female songwriter [2011]). Emily has recorded her own EP, “Way Across the Sea” produced by Jack Daley, and her full CD, “Life of A Commoner,” produced by Seventh Wave Studio. Currently, Emily Grove is ramping up to reprise her well received "Tribute To Joni Mitchell" on July 1st 2023 by special request, after which she begins work on her newest EP as well as an exciting new collaborative project with Princeton NJ based singer songwriter and show producer Helen O'Shea - much more to come, so watch this space!

At this show in Helen O'Shea's hometown of Princeton, Emily Grove is delighted to open for Helen O'Shea & Friends while also introducing Princeton to her lovely interpretations of the songs of Joni Mitchell in advance of her full show on July 1st in Red Bank NJ and in advance of her next exciting collaboration with Helen! 

Community Room Accessibility
* Wheelchair accessible
* Assistive listening system compatible with personal T-coil-enabled devices (compatible  headphones also available for use during        programs)
* English-language subtitles for films (when available)
* If there is an accommodation that you need or would like so that you can fully enjoy library programs, please visit our Accommodations Request Form.

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