Anna Mae Mitchell ... effervescent on lead vocals and guitar, hails from Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, with a childhood steeped in old-time gospel & bluegrass. As a teen, she pursued musical theater, classical & choral singing, then studied theater and earned a B.S. in vocal music at Central Michigan University. During college, Anna Mae couldn’t stay away from the bluegrass music she loves, playing guitar and singing with The Mountain Town Moonshiners of Michigan. In 2007 she joined her life’s love in Winterport, Maine, becoming an instant hit in local music venues with her entrancing skills & mid-western charm. One scribbled note, “Do you play bluegrass? I’ve got a sweet PA and a truck!” and several connections later... Anna Mae Mitchell & Rising Tide was born!

Karen “Kadee” Reynolds ... has been singing as long as talking, and fondly remembers harmonizing with her daddy during Sunday drives in the Maine countryside. As a young adult, she sang in variety shows, musicals, touring theater companies, folk duets, and as a singing waitress, from Bar Harbor to New York City, where she earned her BA in Journalism/PR at NYU. At home in Winterport, Maine, she pesters her grown children, plays with her outdoors-man hubby, and helps lead music worship at Community Church of the Open Door in Hampden. Kadee sporadically writes worship & folk music, and is thrilled to bring harmony -- and her wooden egg! -- to this bluegrass adventure.

Nancy “Nano-Bass” Merrill ... plays wicked bass fiddle, sings deep harmony vocals, and is a terrific songwriter -- plus proud “mama” and “nana” -- from Clifton, Maine. Coming from a classical music background, Nancy was exposed to bluegrass at a pickin’ party back in 1980. She has since played bass and sung lead & harmony vocals with prominent bands and artists including Ken Brooks, Sweet Grass, “the late” Bill Smith, and her partner Bill Thibodeau in Bluegrass Supply Company, Union River Band, and The Adrians. Known for her impeccable timing and contagious enthusiasm for the music, Nancy’s great fun to spot on stage, with her foot tappin’ and joyful smile beaming!

Richard Silver, Esquire ... provides brilliant legal counsel, but prefers sailing the seas and smokin’ the strings of his favorite mandolin & guitar, which he picked up as a boy in Rhode Island -- longer ago than he likes to admit! After years of playing mando for contradance bands, he moved to Maine in 1982, where he has since enjoyed playing with Never2Late -- a Winterport-based, acoustic/electric band that headlines Maine festivals and benefits, featuring “strange & unusual” arrangements of country, folk, and original tunes –- and at local pubs in the well-known mando/fiddle duo 18 Strings. Occasionally, Richard shows up at his law practice -- when his music schedule permits.

Steven Peterson ... took a motorcycle trip at eighteen, ending up at what he thinks was the Berkshire Mtn. Bluegrass Festival in New York ~ now known as Grey Fox. Returning home, he had the wind in his face, banjos ringing in his ears - and a determination to play! He first picked his banjo for church and his brother's band, efforts sadly thwarted by college studies and chasing women. He met his beautiful & crazy wife, Anna, then discovered the joys & reality of fatherhood. The banjo rested under a bed for fifteen years, ‘til one day he pulled it out and began picking: a divine moment. He found himself talking to B.T. and Nan Merrill, and forming the Union River Band, playing for seven years and three notable albums. Steven played briefly with Adam Dewey and Crazy Creek, before reuniting with Billy & Nan and diving headlong into AMM&RT.

Bill “B.T.” Thibodeau ... plays guitar, mandolin, fiddle, and banjo - for starters! Born to professional musicians (father Sam was a founding member of Maine’s Kennebec Valley Boys), B.T. cut his teeth on bluegrass, and has been a valued member of the state’s bluegrass “family” for over 30 years, playing with Bluegrass Supply Company, Union River Band, The Adrians, and as a guest artist with countless others. Bill owns and operates Sundown Studios in Clifton, Maine, and is co-creator & promoter of monthly Orono “Bluegrass Special” events and Maine’s annual Paul Bunyan Bluegrass Festival. Renowned for his zestful mandolin and guitar-playing styles, and his adaptability to playing fiddle and banjo, Billy shares caseloads of wisdom and skill -- playing anything with strings to help Anna Mae Mitchell & Rising Tide rise to the top!

"Linda Stevenson Photography (2009)"