Folk duo Nervous but Excited to play reunion concert at Word Barn in Exeter
EXETER — Since their “hiatus” in 2012, Kate Peterson and Sarah Cleaver of Nervous but Excited have spent the years over 700 miles apart, singing the melody lines in their own ways, just awaiting the right time to bring the harmonies back. Ten years later, the stars will align for three special reunion shows.
They are breaking the ice with their first show on the East Coast near Sarah’s hometown of Kittery, Maine, at The Word Barn in Exeter, N.H. on Saturday, Sept. 24, at 7 p.m. Details at nervousbutexcited.com and thewordbarn.com.
Folk duo Nervous but Excited is two songwriters, two singers, three guitars, a banjo, a mandolin, a ukulele, dead-on harmony, some vaguely choreographed dancing, and an impressive amount of laughter. Their original repertoire ranges in topic from smart, introspective narratives to the tactfully political; interspersed with songs of love and loss that will undoubtedly tug on heartstrings. Their harmonies have been described as the kind that build so smoothly until suddenly they start to shake your insides.
From 2004 to 2012, Nervous but Excited played over 600 shows in the US and Canada in support of seven releases (3 studio, 1 live and 3 EPs). Throughout the years, Kate and Sarah collaborated with many Michigan musicians, performing live as a 7-piece band at the peak. Mainstay band members included friend and manager Susie Giang (bass, banjo) and multi-instrumentalist Murray Stewart-Jones (drums). Other live and studio collaborators included Theo Katzman (Vulfpeck), Allison Russell (Po' Girl, Birds of Chicago), Joshua Davis (Steppin’ in it, The Voice), Chris Bathgate, Girlyman, Frontier Ruckus, Hana Malhas, Katie Sawicki, and Lyndell Montgomery, among others.
Their song “Said and Done” was chosen to be part of the award-winning movie "Annabelle & Bear" and with the help of NBE’s strong and loyal fan community (nearly 25,000 Facebook fans), Kate and Sarah won a competition to film a cameo and sing live in the movie.
The duo played many established rooms and festivals across the country and with artists such as Ani Difranco, Iron and Wine, Ben Gibbard, Joshua Davis, Andrea Gibson, Utah Phillips, Catie Curtis, Lucy Kaplansky, Melissa Ferrick, Cheryl Wheeler, Ferron, Toshi Reagon, Girlyman and Chris Pureka.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Nervous but Excited to reunite in Word Barn concert in Exeter NH
