Grammy-winning songwriter Lori McKenna performs at Jane Pickens Theater in Newport, supported by longtime collaborator Mark Erelli on guitar and vocals. Photo credit: Jack Casey, What'sUpNewp

Lori McKenna has been quietly creating song stories from her kitchen for decades. Her songs resonate with all and touch the heart with their vivid, easily identifiable characters, often found within ourselves. She has a true gift which has been recognized by many in the industry, and who have recorded her work, launching the Stoughton Mom into the National Starlight. McKenna graciously opened her program featuring another remarkable Massachusetts songwriter,  Mark Erelli. Mark has been creating beautiful masterpieces of his own and has also been a supporting musician to McKenna for decades, as she notes: “He knows most of my stuff better than I do”. Erelli opened with a half dozen originals, all of which were master class songwriting creations.

After a brief intermission, McKenna took the stage with Erelli in tow for vocal harmony support and guitar fills for color. The two were perfectly in synch, and the set flowed effortlessly, while this was an early experience of using a condenser mic, thereby leaving both untethered by guitar cords and free to be free. It was rare for either to stray far from the mic, and the sound was well balanced throughout.

McKenna was nominated in 2016 for the Grammy Award for Song of the Year and won Best Country Song for co-writing the hit single “Girl Crush” performed by Little Big Town. In 2017, she again won Best Country Song at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards for writing “Humble and Kind” performed by Tim McGraw. She performed the latter in this program and notes that the song was a gift to her children, a lullaby, and a lesson. The song seems to embody the essence of McKenna as a caring Mom, a giver, and a protector. She engaged her audience in much the same way, often checking in, “Everyone all right, doing ok out there”?

The sold-out crowd returned the warm embrace to McKenna, making the show feel like a close and personal experience as if performed in her own living room. The sing-alongs were strong, and at one point, when a lyric was forgotten, an audience member offered it up and saved the day.

The JPT continues to be an excellent venue for evening entertainment in Newport. Look for McKenna in nearby Plymouth and Rockport, MA, on September 18th and 19th.

Grammy-winning songwriter Lori McKenna performs at Jane Pickens Theater in Newport, supported by longtime collaborator Mark Erelli on guitar and vocals. Photo credit: Jack Casey, What’sUpNewp
Two-time Grammy winner Lori McKenna creates an intimate atmosphere during her sold-out performance at Jane Pickens Theater, with opener and accompanist Mark Erelli. Photo credit: Jack Casey, What’sUpNewp
Lori McKenna, the Massachusetts songwriter behind hits recorded by Little Big Town and Tim McGraw, brings her storytelling style to Newport’s Jane Pickens Theater alongside Mark Erelli. Photo credit: Jack Casey, What’sUpNewp
The acclaimed songwriting duo of Lori McKenna and Mark Erelli perform during their return engagement at Jane Pickens Theater, creating a cozy, living room-like experience for the sold-out Newport audience. Photo credit: Jack Casey, What’sUpNewp
Grammy-winning songwriter Lori McKenna performs at Jane Pickens Theater in Newport, supported by longtime collaborator Mark Erelli on guitar and vocals. Photo credit: Jack Casey, What’sUpNewp
Two-time Grammy winner Lori McKenna creates an intimate atmosphere during her sold-out performance at Jane Pickens Theater, with opener and accompanist Mark Erelli. Photo credit: Jack Casey, What’sUpNewp
Lori McKenna, the Massachusetts songwriter behind hits recorded by Little Big Town and Tim McGraw, brings her storytelling style to Newport’s Jane Pickens Theater alongside Mark Erelli. Photo credit: Jack Casey, What’sUpNewp
The acclaimed songwriting duo of Lori McKenna and Mark Erelli perform during their return engagement at Jane Pickens Theater, creating a cozy, living room-like experience for the sold-out Newport audience. Photo credit: Jack Casey, What’sUpNewp
Grammy-winning songwriter Lori McKenna performs at Jane Pickens Theater in Newport, supported by longtime collaborator Mark Erelli on guitar and vocals. Photo credit: Jack Casey, What’sUpNewp
Two-time Grammy winner Lori McKenna creates an intimate atmosphere during her sold-out performance at Jane Pickens Theater, with opener and accompanist Mark Erelli. Photo credit: Jack Casey, What’sUpNewp
Lori McKenna, the Massachusetts songwriter behind hits recorded by Little Big Town and Tim McGraw, brings her storytelling style to Newport’s Jane Pickens Theater alongside Mark Erelli. Photo credit: Jack Casey, What’sUpNewp
The acclaimed songwriting duo of Lori McKenna and Mark Erelli perform during their return engagement at Jane Pickens Theater, creating a cozy, living room-like experience for the sold-out Newport audience. Photo credit: Jack Casey, What’sUpNewp
Grammy-winning songwriter Lori McKenna performs at Jane Pickens Theater in Newport, supported by longtime collaborator Mark Erelli on guitar and vocals. Photo credit: Jack Casey, What’sUpNewp

Jack Casey has always loved music. Whether listening, playing solo or with friends these experiences over the decades have informed his photography. The passion to photographically preserve the pinnacle moment of a musicians’ performance is what fuels him. He has shot a diverse range of thousands of world class artists, dating back to the early 70s. Casey has photographed the Newport Festivals, the Philadelphia Folk Festival and New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festivals. It’s not uncommon to...