Jammin Java welcomes Mary Gauthier | Arts & Entertainment

Jammin Java welcomes Mary Gauthier | Arts & Entertainment

The Grammy-nominated singer looks back 25 years







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For more than a quarter century, folk singer and songwriter Mary Gauthier has been wowing audiences around the country. She’s received a Grammy nomination for Best Folk Album, has won an Americana Music Award, took home the International Folk Music Award for Album Of The Year, and was named Americana Music Association’s UK International Artist Of The Year.

It all began in 1984 when the Louisiana native moved to Boston to escape a troubled past. That’s when she opened one of Beantown’s first Cajun restaurants and immersed herself in the kitchen.

In 1998, at the age of 35, Gauthier wrote her first song after performing covers at local open mics. She took to the music world and financed her first record with the money the restaurant was bringing in.

“It would terrify me to think of the future back then, I just wanted to put something together so I wouldn’t go broke,” she said. “I walked away from what stability for me was—the restaurant—and moved towards what I was passionate about. I wanted to see if I could make some sort of life out of songwriting.” 

Gauthier’s “Drag Queens In Limousines” turned 25 in 2024, and the album will be issued on vinyl for the first time in October to commemorate the acclaimed recording. The vinyl package will include new retrospective liner notes written by Gauthier, as she reflects on the road that led to the recording and the impact it had on her inspiring path forward. 

“In retrospect, I believe these were the songs that helped me find my writer’s voice,” Gauthier said. “My characters, like me, were on the edge, but they were also on the verge. I was learning about sobriety, humility, and about how a brutal crack in the ego could become a lifesaving gift. Many of these songs remain on my set list today.”

The singer’s early work reflected her newfound sobriety, exploring events from her troubled life. Gauthier was deeply honest about her life’s challenges in the book Saved By a Song: The Art and Healing Power of Songwriting, which was published in 2021. 

“I needed to be authentic,” she said. “Part of the recovery process from addiction is you have to be authentic to be sober. And I fell out of love with the restaurant business, so wanted to expand in whatever talent I had. I followed my heart, and sometimes you have to do that and just hope your heart isn’t an idiot.” 

On Sept. 11, Gauthier will perform with bluegrass musician Robbie Fulks at Jammin Java. 

“I just love Jammin Java; it’s always been a great venue for me and always been a really receptive audience,” Gauthier said. “It’s a good place to be a troubadour.”

Her set list will include songs from throughout her career, with a heavier focus on “Drag Queens In Limousines” due to its special anniversary. 

“We’re going to be going back all the way and cover all the years I’ve been getting away with this songwriting thing,” Gauthier said. “It’s amazing to me. My life turned out great. I’ve been given so many opportunities and gifts and blessings, and they keep coming.”

The passion for performing and writing has never left Gauthier and at 62, is as happy as she’s ever been. She’s coming off a summer tour of Europe and is grateful to be playing at venues of all sizes, but especially enjoys rooms like Jammin Java. 

“I love this job so much,” she said. “When I’m in front of thousands of people, I can get anxious because I am a strip-down troubadour, but when I’m in a listen room with around 400 people hanging on my words, I am just in my element. It’s my calling. Knowing what you do best is great wisdom to have, and what I do best is telling stories and singing songs and bringing people on a little ride with me.” 

The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. For tickets or more information, visit www.jamminjava.com.  

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