Misner and Smith photo courtesy Michael Murdoch

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 music. Since then, the two have built a steady and loyal following.

Balancing their careers as actors and musicians is no easy task, but the two have found the art of storytelling to be one of the common threads running through both forms. Characters of various types inhabit their songs. Some are fictional, some are autobiographical, and some are historical, as in the tune “Triangle Factory Fire”. Based on the true story of the infamous fire at the Triangle Waistcoat Factory in New York City in 1911, the song combines researched facts and invention to retell the tragic story from a first-person perspective.

Crafting original songs rich in meaning and texture, the duo’s sound is centered around unique vocal harmonies and evocative lyrics and in 2007, their song “Madeline (Paradise Cracked)” won the West Coast Songwriters Association’s Song of the Year competition. Their influences span many genres ranging from Traditional and Old-time music, Bluegrass, Folk, and Rock and Roll, to Reggae, Motown and the Blues. Strong songwriting and an exceptional blend of voices are what set this pair apart.

More about Misner and Smith can be found at www.misnerandsmith.com