Paul Rishell and Annie Raines Concert Saturday May 3, 2025

Handy Award Winners, Country Blues guitar and harmonica masters Paul Rishell and Annie Raines are celebrating +30 years as a working team. They’ve recorded 6 albums together, including the award-winning Moving to the Country. They have performed and recorded with John Sebastian, Susan Tedeschi, Pinetop Perkins, opened for Ray Charles, Dr. John, and Little Feat and performed on Late Night with Conan O’Brien and A Prairie Home Companion.  In 50 years as a performer, historian, and torchbearer of the country blues tradition, Paul Rishell teaches the techniques required to do justice to the originals while sharing meeting iconic pre-war blues legends Son House, Johnny Shines and Sonny Terry.  Annie Raines’ harmonica virtuosity has been lauded by top players James Cotton, Charlie Musselwhite and Pinetop Perkins. With over 11 years as Country Blues Visiting Artists in Berklee College of Music’s American Roots Music Program, Rishell & Raines continue to entertain and educate audiences with traditional and original songs at festivals and clubs all over the world. “W.C. Handy Award-winners Rishell & Raines are rousing interpreters of country blues, the original acoustic style that gave birth to electric blues, R&B, and rock. While their guitar, harmonica, and vocals are roiling, muscular, and masterful, their shows are down home-friendly and fun-loving.” —Scott Alarik, BOSTON GLOBE