Spitzer Space Telescope is Dan MacDonald and his guitar and a harmonica. Dan decided to try writing and playing on his own during a small break from playing with his band Seth in Ohio. So once winter came around Spitzer Space Telescope started becoming a regular at Magdalena’s tea house in Lansing, Michigan. “There aren’t too many negatives about performing solo,” says MacDonald, who studies painting at the Boston University College of Fine Arts. “I simply can’t tap into the energy I could with a band. Everything is simplified. And my mistakes are completely exposed. I can’t hide them behind a wall of sound.” The Michigan native launched SST in December 2005 and describes his style as energetic folk rock that draws on traditional songwriting and the spirit of the ’60s, with a dab of “the potty mouth of a sailor.”

A January baby, born in Buffalo, NY on his father’s bowling night, Greg Klyma is the son of a garbage man. Greg grew up in a blue collar town with a blue collar work ethic and an appreciation of blue collar fun. In August 1998, Klyma took that ethic out on the road, honing his songwriting, storytelling, musicianship, and presentation at venues and festivals across the US. A solid decade of traveling, performing and chewing on life are reflected in Rust Belt Vagabond’s central theme of truth. Greg explores the Tale of Two Brothers, post-Katrina New Orleans, the history of Buffalo, NY and personal truth — his own shortcomings, the way we depend on each other and the healing power of love. Recorded in studios from Austin, TX and Durham, NC to home studios scattered about the northeast US, Rust Belt Vagabond features two songs co-written with friend Jonathan Byrd, a fresh new version of “Erie Canal,” and performances by, among others, Byrd, Tom Bianchi, Sick, and Anthony da Costa.

Steven Bacon is best described as “a deep, clear, cool pool of songwriting talent; quiet grooves, soothing vocals, lyrics from out of the heartland.” Steven has studied the craft of songwriting under well known songwriter Peter Mulvey, two-time Grammy nominee Peter Case, and Memphis-based songwriter Keith Sykes (long time co-writer of John Prine). Having relocated to Boston in fall of 2007, Steven began performing in the subway and on the streets to supplement his income in between gigs. On September 19th, 2008, Steven was playing on the streets of Boston when Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova happened to be walking by. Glen and Marketa are Grammy winning songwriters and Oscar winning actors from a film they starred in about an Irish street performer called Once. Later that night during their sold out concert at Boston’s Agganis Arena they invited Steven on stage to perform so that the crowd could hear a real “busker.” Steven’s performance brought the crowd to their feet for a standing ovation. Since then he opened for and performed with the Bacon Brothers (Michael and his actor brother Kevin Bacon’s band). He is hard at work on his new CD, Notes from the Underground.

Jenee Halstead arrives with an alto voice that sways gently back and forth between the realms of frailty and strength — part Emmylou Harris, part June Carter, part Patty Griffin. Halstead grew up in the Inland Empire mining country of the West, a singing tomboy with a restless heart. Escaping a collapsed love affair, she left the high desert quiet for the fertile folk environs of Cambridge, Massachusetts quickly taking root at Harvard Square’s Legendary Club Passim. Backed by her nuanced, small-bodied guitar, Halstead draws from the haunting melodies of the Depression Era, patiently distilling folk, bluegrass, and electro to create music that Matt Smith, Club Passim’s longtime manager, describes as “fresh and new, yet familiar and timeless.”

A special guest appearance by twelve-year old Hayley Reardon of Marblehead will start the me&thee showcase off in great form. Hayley was invited to come by the me&thee in April by the legendary songstress, Jeanie Stahl. She impressed the volunteers so much that she was invited to stop by to sing a couple of tunes at the annual showcase.