About Misner & Smith

At moments raw and powerful, and at others delicate and soothing, two-part harmonies anchor Misner & Smith’s unique and compelling Americana music with an exceptional vocal blend. A connection to roots music is clearly embedded in their award-winning songwriting, and it is evident that the tradition of duets is truly alive and well in these two performers.

Sam Misner and Megan Smith began their musical collaboration after working together as actors on a production of Woody Guthrie’s American Song and immediately recognized a mutual love of Americana and Folk music. Since then the two have built a steady and loyal following. Described by Hicks With Sticks magazine as “a Bay Area treasure that needs to be shared,” this hard-working duo has recently played the mainstage at the San Francisco Folk Festival, El Cerrito Folk Festival, and headlined at Berkeley’s famed Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse in January of 2010. In Fall of 2009 they embarked on a very successful Southwest tour that took them out through Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico and out to Austin, TX and they continue to play on the road with tours through the Northwest and Southwest states scheduled for 2010.

Crafting original songs rich in meaning and texture, the duo’s sound is centered around unique vocal harmonies and evocative lyrics. In 2007, their song Madeline (Paradise Cracked) written by Sam Misner, won the West Coast Songwriters association’s Song of the Year competition. Sam Misner also won best song at two of 2009’s West Coast Songwriters North Bay regional competitions in Petaluma and Sebastopol with the song Compose. Misner & Smith have also been singled out internationally for the title track of their latest album, Poor Player with a 2009 nomination in the New Folk category by the Just Plain Folks music organization.

Misner & Smith will lift you up with music that rarwriter.com called “truly inspired vocalizing”. Drawing from the traditions of Americana, Folk, and Bluegrass music, Misner & Smith use powerful storytelling and weave it together with their own brand of American Music full of longing and hope.

Misner & Smith Press:

"*Misner & Smith* make a strong case for folk Americana without baggage and for music with intricate simplicity and lyrical dignity. This duo is a Bay Area treasure that needs to be shared."
-From a review of the album "Poor Player" for hickswithsticks.com by Jose Segue

"...this music is...joyous noise."

"...lots of folks sing good together but this is truly inspired vocalizing...a unique blend...this is shivers up the spine singing!!"

"The new Cd release by Misner & Smith, Poor Player, is a celebration in song by a duo of very formidable talents."
-From a review of the album "Poor Player" for RARwriter.com by Doug Strobel

"Both Misner and Smith have great singing voices individually, and when they perform together, the harmonies are truly inspired."
-Feature article in the Davis Enterprise by music critic Landon Christensen

"They have an easy self assurance, professional to their finger tips, displaying an awesome command of Americana music."
-Neil Dalton, Willington, England The Real Music Club

Quotes From Our Fans:

"They make some damned gorgeous music. No bells and whistles here, just pure heart and craft." - Matt D'Amico

"Intimate, mesmerizing and magical." - Lisa Hogan, House Concert Host Boulder, CO

"Singing almost all originals, the two voices in Halfway Home blend beautifully. This CD is better each time I listen to it. Triangle Factory Fire deserves to be heard far and wide."
-Jim Douglas, Seattle, WA

". . . .their effortless, heart-tugging harmonies make me eager for more. The sweetness of tunes like Henry & Lil is balanced by good old fashioned fun on traditional songs like Blue Ridge Mountain Blues. Misner and Smith deliver lyrics that sneak up on you, surprise you with their honesty, and beg an immediate second listen." -Meg Devine, Rochester, NY

"I've listened to your CD more times a day than I probably should and every time I do, I hear something new that I like. It's replaced my Van Morrisons' Tupelo Honey which I can also listen to over and over again. Your work is both beautiful and meaningful. I love it!" -Christina, Cotati, CA

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Purchase CD of Halfway Home at: cdbaby.com/cd/misnersmith