Sons of the Never Wrong returns to Princeton

Noting that this year marks the Sons’ 20th anniversary as well as the 20th anniversary of the Princeton Coffeehouse, Sons’ member Sue Demel said “We feel so connected to the Princeton Coffeehouse we wanted to make sure we played there this year because we want to hit all our favorite venues.”

The trio has a decidedly eclectic style that combines influences of folk, jazz, pop and rock. All three Sons play, sing and write for the band. Bruce Roper is the primary songwriter and plays acoustic guitar. Demel is known for her inspired harmonies and exuberant moving about on stage as she beats on her djembe drums or quietly strums the dulcimer or guitar. Multi-instrumentalist Deborah Lader brings to the band her own style of writing, voice and humor along with her flair for banjo, mandolin, guitar, and rich alto harmonies.

Peter Yarrow, of Peter, Paul and Mary fame, has said of the group: “Sons of the Never Wrong are great ... their songs are filled with joy, poignancy, improvisational hilarity and remarkable musicianship.“

The Sons have recorded several CDs, including two this year (“The Church of the Never Wrong” and “King Fisher King,”) but they are best known for their live performances. They have played coast to coast and are regular headliners at venues like Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music, California’s Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, the Ark in Ann Arbor and the Kennedy Center. “The personal glues that hold the group together are,“ according to the Chicago Tribune, “a clear joy in performing together, a sense of gratitude to a loyal fan base, and three dry, delightfully skewed senses of humor.”

The coffeehouse is located at the Open Prairie UCC Church, 25 E. Marion St. in downtown Princeton. Admission is $12 at the door. The venue is completely accessible and there is ample free parking nearby. Doors open at 7 p.m. Fair trade coffee, tea and homemade desserts are available.