TRAVERSE CITY — Nick Veine and Ben Traverse, two Michigan-based musicians and friends with a strong foothold in the local music scene, have released a full-length collaborative album — “Me Grief and Tears to Smother: Traditional Songs and Ballads of the Irish Diaspora” — and have kicked off a mini tour celebrating the release.
Ben Traverse, a multi-instrumentalist and singer, focuses on the old-time, folk, Celtic, and bluegrass genres and strives to bring traditional folk music into the 21st century by reinterpreting old songs and crafting new ones. The longstanding friendship between Traverse and Veine started back when Traverse would perform drums during the intermissions of Veine’s band’s sets. This gig morphed into Traverse sitting in on bass for Veine’s award-winning band, Awesome Distraction.
Nick Veine, a singer-songwriter and composer, performs a unique eclectic mix of blues, country, jazz, and original music — think Johnny Cash meets James Taylor meets Alan Menken — pretty diverse, right? Veine also has a flair for folk, which helped bring these two musicians together for this new collaboration, their performing history and friendship aside.
“Making albums of traditional music with friends is something I’ve known I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” shared Traverse. “A love for Irish music was something Nick and I had in common, so we decided on that for the focus of our album.”
“The florid melodies, sweet harmonies, the evocation of something beautiful and ancient — I’ve always loved Irish music, and it was an honor to bring this [album] to life in the 21st century,” added Veine.
An album showcasing sweet ballads, raucous drinking songs, and a litany of other tunes celebrating Ireland’s traditions, “Me Grief and Tears to Smother” came into being over the course of two years and was a labor of love between these two musicians who hail from Manistee.
“I don’t think there’s anyone I’ve been playing music with longer than Nick,” said Traverse. “And seeing our decade-long journey as friends and musicians culminating in this record has been so fulfilling.”
The album is a melding of Veine’s and Traverse’s individual styles and combines their mutual love for music, history, and community. This collaboration is also a prime example of the wealth of talented musicians in the Mitten State – and additional artists will be joining Veine and Traverse on their album release tour.
“There are so many incredibly talented players in Michigan, but what’s even more remarkable is the culture,” said Traverse. “We’re so lucky to be surrounded by people who care more about uplifting each other than competing. We all know we come out ahead if we work together, and so many of us are genuine friends.”
“I’ve always been fascinated with the sheer variety of styles covered in such a small area,” said Veine. “I know Michigan is big, but even just in the Northwest lower peninsula, there’s a wealth of talent ranging from blues to folk, bluegrass to rock, swing, and everything in between. It will be fun to work with some of my good friends, creating music to bring people together and have a good time.”
Joining the duo’s West Michigan tour are Josh Holcomb (fiddle and viola) of Dede & the Dreamers and the West Michigan Symphony, Noah Cameron (drums and bodhran) of Forest Trail Music Festival and Kanin Wren, and Carsten Forester (upright bass).
Both musicians look forward to playing in their hometown, but they’re equally excited to share their finished product with all the venues, audiences, and music lovers on their tour.
“The biggest thanks to everyone out there supporting local music, going to shows, and making all this possible,” concluded Traverse. “If it wasn’t for you guys, we wouldn’t have the means to make this album exist or do any of the other work that we do.”
Now available on all music streaming platforms, “Me Grief and Tears to Smother: Traditional Songs and Ballads of the Irish Diaspora” was mixed by Veine, produced by Traverse and Veine, and mastered at TreeTone Studios in Grand Rapids, Michigan, by Michael Dause of Moss Manor, Treeskin, and Shantyland.
For more information about the album and to find a full schedule of the upcoming tour, visit Nick Veine’s and Ben Traverse’s Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok accounts, as well as bentraversemusic.com.