Katryna and Nerissa Nields have been part of the Valley’s musical DNA since they formed their beloved folk rock band The Nields in 1991. They’ve been lauded for their gorgeous, lilting, sibling harmonies, their wise, classic, folk/pop songs, their hilarious banter on stage, and the generosity and warmth in their engagement with fans. Well into their third decade as musical partners the Nields are at the very top of their game. They sing of meditations on time and turning points, their roots and community – both musical and personal – but they also express joy in the present, faith in the future, and a whole lot of hope and promise. They sing about the lessons we hope to learn by midlife: accepting the passage of time and the choices we’ve made, and being thankful for the moments of grace. They are about knowing where we’re supposed to be, and recognizing that there are many things we may never understand. They’re about having faith in something bigger, be it God, humanity, love, or all of the above.

November is the Nields 20th album. With each song inspired by the headlines, the cover of the CD is, fittingly, a newspaper design. The Nields are joined by a bevy of others, including Dar Williams, Chris Smither, Peter Mulvey, Vance Gilbert, Ben Demerath, Kalliope Jones, and their own children, plus members of a local youth chorus. The lyrics of “America the Beautiful” have been tinkered with (“And crown thy good in neighborhoods…”) to reflect what today’s poets might hope for our country.