FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Sweater Set - OH VISITOR - 2013

Digital Release - April 30, 2013

Washington, DC Release Concert - April 26, 2013 - Strathmore

The Sweater Set weaves listeners into a quilt of musical influences spanning country, folk, rock, and jazz, amplified by the addition of electric guitar and banjo in their third studio album OH VISITOR. The arrangements are at times lush, reflecting their strong choral background, and at times intentionally bare, drawing the listener in to share intimate secrets. Once again, the duo turned to Hays Holladay (Bluebrain, The Epochs) for mixing after "Fun & Games" (one of Andary's songs on OH VISITOR) was featured on his 2012 compilation album "Rainbow Arcade".

OH VISITOR is 14 songs (half by Curtin and half by Andary) that explore love, hope, expectations, and mortality. While exploring these themes playfully with the bright sounds of ukulele, banjo, and accordion this album also introduces the richness of the electric guitar into their instrument arsenal, adding a depth reflective of the album's songwriting inspiration. 2011 was a formative year for The Sweater Set. Andary went through a breakup and the diagnosis of a close family member with Cancer. 2011 also marked Curtin's homecoming back to DC where she grew up singing with Andary in church choir. The Sweater Set began while Curtin was living in Brooklyn, NY and after three years of busing up and down I-95, Curtin finally decided to take the plunge and move to DC full-time. The proximity in the last year and a half has allowed them to grow closer both musically and personally which is evident on OH VISITOR and in their live stage performance.

The Sweater Set's third studio album OH VISITOR was recorded over the course of one year in the home studios of Sara Curtin, Michael Okusami (Berklee School of Music), Jeff Curtin (Small Black, Brooklyn, NY), & Hays Holladay (Bluebrain, The Epochs). The combination of careful editing and organic bedroom tracking produced The Sweater Set's most honest album to date.

The OH VISITOR release will be celebrated at Strathmore Mansion's Friday Night Eclectic Series on April 26th, 2013 with a digital release on Tuesday, April 30th. This year marks the five-year anniversary of The Sweater Set and the fourth album in their catalog. With the 2011 and 2012 Washington Area Music Awards under their belt, The Sweater Set goes on the road in April, May, & June from Atlanta, GA to Providence, Rhode Island to promote the new album.

The Sweater Set won the 2012 Washington Area Music Award for Best Contemporary Folk Group. The win was the second consecutive for the Washington-DC based duo that boasts "an intimidating number of instruments." - the Washington Post.

The Sweater Set just completed a two week tour through the south and through the great state of Texas with Folk Artist Michelle Shocked! Our biggest highlights of the trip were in New Orleans & Austin. Performing at Chickie Wah Wah on Canal Street in New Orleans, we were surprised by R&B songwriting legend Allen Toussaint! He sat in with Michelle and us during our set! Our other biggest excitement was working with Studio E in Austin, TX to create a music video for our upcoming single "San Francisco!" We ended up playing banjo and guitar in the back of a moving pickup truck on a dusty desert road. It was pretty incredible. Our greatest thanks to Michelle Shocked, for bringing us along on her adventures!

We're so excited to announce we won our first Wammie award for Best Contemporary Folk Duo in the Washington Area!

Strathmore Artists-in-Residence Maureen Andary and Sara Curtin layer soprano harmonies over arrangements of ukulele, guitar, flute, hand percussion, accordion, glockenspiel, and the occasional kazoo/mouth trumpet.

Strathmore Artists-in-Residence Maureen Andary and Sara Curtin layer soprano/alto harmonies over arrangements of ukulele, guitar, flute, hand percussion, accordion, glockenspiel, banjo, and the occasional kazoo/mouth trumpet solo. FREE! Seating first come first serve. Thursday, May 26th at 6pm

The Sweater Set are here to impress. In addition to impressing audiences with the sheer number of instruments with which they're more than proficient, Sara Curtin and Maureen Andary are also well versed in a number of musical styles. Within the course of our conversation, they brought up tidbits about folk, jazz, country, musical theater and indie rock. Their love of all of these styles are apparent on their most recent album Goldmine.

Goldmine's fourteen tracks range from the swinging gypsy jazz accordion of "The Breaker" to the light and the heartbreaking pop of "Who's Sorry". Yet what remains consistent are Andary and Curtin's golden harmonies which guide the songs. They are clear students of music who appreciate how they can tweak and hone their craft for a result that's downright impressive.

We sat down with the Sweater Set at Andary's home where we talked about their upcoming tour with Michelle Shocked, recording kazoos, applying for grants and their appreciation for the art of costume.

Warning: On first listen, the music of the D.C duo the Sweater Set (with their cute name and fondness for the uke and glockenspiel) might inspire you to bake a batch of gluten-free cupcakes or knit a colorful iPhone cozy. But upon closer inspection, there's an edge to the twee sound of Strathmore artists-in-residence Maureen Andary and Sara Curtin--a group called the Sweater Set that releases a song called "Cop a Feel" can't exactly be all sugar and spice. The longtime friends and collaborators, who got their start singing in a D.C. church choir as teenagers, play Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage tonight. If you can't be there in person, watch the performance online, at 6 p.m.

Acoustic duo The Sweater Set just released their second album, "Goldmine," a collection of sweet songs with the group's signature soprano harmonies and multi-instrumental arrangements. Hear Maureen Andary and Sara Curtin perform their new material before they leave for a tour of the northeast.

A track from The Sweater Set's latest record - GOLDMINE is reviewed and discussed at length in this sweet article by Steve Kolowich of the Washington City Paper. Includes a free download of "Downstream," track 8 off of GOLDMINE.

visit the link to purchase tickets to the GOLDMINE album release party. Celebrate with The Sweater Set as they take the audience on a whirlwind performance of GOLDMINE. Featuring percussionist/drummer Dave Scalia and fellow Artist-in-Residence - violin/viola extraordinaire Chelsey Green, The girls will share the album live from start to finish at the historic Strathmore Mansion. Cupcakes for all! WED APRIL 27 @ 7:30pm / All Ages / $12.

'Sweater Set Love Lessons'
The Fridge DC
Local musicians Maureen Andary and Sara Curtin will be armed with ukuleles to give their Valentine's Day performance an extra twang. The Strathmore artists-in-residence, called the Sweater Set, will pluck at your heartstrings with folksy love songs in two-part harmony.

"Local rockers the Sweater Set bring a modern-pop twist to ukulele rock. What? You've never heard of ukulele rock? Just what boulder do you live under? Well, Sara Curtin and Maureen Andary will teach you that it's about much more than a teeny guitar. Check out our full interview with the gals from back in August.

» Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW; with Drop Electric, Sat., 9 p.m., $12; 202-677-4490. (U St.-Cardozo)"

Vote for us HERE! Best Folk-Contemporary Duo/Group (The Sweater Set) and Best Folk-Contemporary Female Vocalist (Maureen Andary). Deadline to vote is January 21, 2011.

Maureen & Sara are interviewed for the Strathmore Ukulele Festival: Ladies of the Uke that happend August 25, 2010.

The Sweater Set are interviewed about their long distance creative relationship and are promoted as part of the Washington Folk Festival.

The Sweater Set - A quirky musical duo that will probably popularize the ukulele, The Sweater Set treats the senses with bright harmonies and clever lyrics. Childhood friends, Maureen Andary and Sara Curtin play multiple instruments (guitar, flute, tambourine, etc.), encapsulating the pop-folksy tunes similar to Jack Johnson. Lifting the spirit with charming, light vocals that illustrate a sunny day at the beach, The Sweater Set's spring 2009 album, "Surprise Visit," is a great listen. Check Out These Tracks: I'm Sure You're Hip, Cop A Feel, Truly I Do.

The Sweater Set are interviewed by Washington Post Express writer Robyn Mincher about their writing styles and debut release "Surprise Visit,".