Known for her dynamic musical storytelling and mastery of 11 instruments, Mary James—better recognized as “Mean Mary”—is set to perform at Ca d’Zan House Concerts in Cambridge on July 31st. The evening kicks off with a community potluck at 6 PM, followed by the concert at 7 PM. Guests of all ages are invited, with a $20-30 donation suggested. Attendees should bring lawn chairs or blankets for the outdoor show, with a rain location ready at Bishop Hill Creative Commons. After overcoming a paralyzed vocal cord in her teens, Mean Mary’s resilient artistry shines in both her vocals and instrumental prowess.
“I was in California working in the movie industry, and I’d kind of pushed the music to the side, because it felt like old news. After the accident, I realized how important music was to me and what a blessing it is to be able to make music and sing. And that completely changed my outlook on what I’d been doing my whole life. It also made me appreciate the fact that I played instruments. It was very glamorous to be out front and sing, especially as a young girl. And it was only when I couldn’t sing that I realized that I could still play music. I still had the opportunity to make music even if my vocal cord never got better,” she says.
More details at xroadscc.org/events.
