Album Notes

"Mary Sue Twohy's airy soprano is well suited to material that straddles the fine line between traditional and contemporary folk; on the latter front, she's like a graceful, guitar-strumming Sarah McLachlan." -Richard Harrington, The Washington Post, 2005

Songs to Hang on Stars, the new CD from Mary Sue Twohy (pronounced too'-ee) will release January 1, 2006 from Azalea City Recordings. This third album from the acclaimed singer-songwriter is an eclectic mix of acoustic folk-pop (the graceful title track "Songs to Hang on Stars") and traditional (the haunting civil war song, "Missionary Ridge.")

Luminaries Jon Carroll (Mary Chapin Carpenter), Dede Wyland, Pete and Maura Kennedy, and Scott and Jen Smith (Naked Blue) bring instrumental virtuosity and angelic harmonies to Mary Sue's new compositions. Tracks include love songs ("Whole New View"), fresh new settings of Emily Dickinson poems ("'Twas the Old Road," and "Because I Could Not Stop For Death"), a capella ("The Ghost of Matt McCann"), and heartfelt meditations on loss and hope ("Baltimore"). Weaving through the album is the promise of new hope shining through even the darkest times.

Mary Sue Twohy's soaring, intimate vocals and warm, expressive guitar won her the 2004 Washington Area Music Award (WAMMIE) for Contemporary Folk Vocalist and the 1999 WAMMIE for Best New Artist. She has also garnered additional WAMMIE nominations for Contemporary Female Folk vocalist, Contemporary Folk Recording, and Song of the Year, and earned Honorable Mention in the 2004 Billboard Song Contest. "Songs to Hang on Stars" and "Bluebells" have already placed in the semi-finals of the 2005 UK Songwriting contest.

Dave Richards of The Morning News, says, "As far as the Goose-Bump meter goes, Mary Sue Twohy is up there with Nanci Griffith, Sarah McLachlan, Iris Dement."

Her previous album, The Risk Involved, was produced by Pete and Maura Kennedy, and her debut album, Training Butterflies, was produced by Pete Kennedy. Both CDs were critically acclaimed and have gone into additional pressings. She has sung live on XM Satellite Radio, Metro Connection on WAMU, and many other radio shows. Mary Sue plays venues from house concerts to festivals to large music halls. She has shared the stage with artists like John Gorka, Eliza Gilkyson and Ellis Paul.

The Washington Post called Mary Sue a "music community pillar" (March 18, 2005) for her support of live music through her national publicity company, BTM Communications (www.buildthemountain.com), open mic nights, and workshops (Making your Dreams at Night a Reality by Day, Write a Song in 20 Minutes, and Publicity for your Music Career). She has stage-managed the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Flat Rock Music Festival and Country Roads Folk Festival and served as Program Committee member for the Takoma Park Folk Festival.

Songs to Hang on Stars is Mary Sue's most confident album to date, and her first CD of all-original music. It delivers the new material her passionate fans have been waiting for, in a celebration of life out of the ordinary.