After a receiving a rousing response from their debut CD, Off the Floor, Avi & Celia spent much of March 2008 recording their forthcoming album 'Let it Rise'. The new record, to be released in September 2008, combines hopeful idealism with personal commentary on social and political agendas. The song structures and deep blues inflections intuitively weave through the lyrical content. 'Let it Rise' is a journey through darkness and awakening, stories that we hear passing through dusty bus stations, sincere renditions of human emotion.
Four years after meeting at the University of Vermont, Avi & Celia released their debut CD, Off the Floor, described by Performer Magazine as "A bright and energetic combination of folk, country, bluegrass and rock.†Their original album prompted famed New England music venue, Higher Ground, to award them Artist of the Month in March 2007.
Avi & Celia have since toured the Eastern United States and California in celebration of their first record. They have performed at legendary venues and festivals such as Club Passim, The Iron Horse Music Hall, Higher Ground, The Paradise, Champlain Valley Folk Festival, and Discover Jazz Festival. Their energetic and inspired nature has also made them a popular act in the summer festival circuit. Their fearless performances and insightful sound have also landed them high profile concerts supporting legendary artists such as Taj Mahal, Leon Russell, and Big Brother & The Holding Company.
Cambridge, Massachusetts was a staple city of the folk movement of the 1960s. Avi & Celia now reside there and have become a strong part of the music scene, helping to invigorate the community with essence of yesteryear.
Both 23-year-old native New Englanders Avi & Celia are writing conscious material bound together with tight harmonies and the spirit of a musical revival.
"A bright and energetic combination of folk, country, bluegrass and rock... Each track, including the slower ones, is filled with so much energy. Their EP, 'Off the Floor' is artfully arranged- its pace is perfectly timed, satisfying the listener and creating a twinge of regret when the songs give way to silence. Woodsmith manages to summon the weary wisdom and acquiescence of a woman much older than her own 22 years, while also possessing a wide-eyed drifter sort of sincerity. Salloway's deep, smooth vocals compliment Woods perfectly, possessing all the rugged richness of an appropriate male counterpart. The instruments mirror their sound obediently, each guitar solo exhibiting the same ability to be warm, mischievous and full of spirit." Performer Magazine