Singer, songwriter performs at Ironwood Theatre with father, friend

IRONWOOD - Singer-songwriter Natalie Mae Palms brought her dad, Mark Palms, and singer-songwriter Billy King with her to perform at the Ironwood Theatre Sunday.

Born and raised in Manchester, Mae was inspired by her professional musician parents.

"Growing up listening my parents play and watching them work together, it was very special," she said. "My parents are so different musically, and it's fun to see both butt heads and work together."

When she was younger, Palms used to watch her parent's folk band, The Raisin Pickers. She learned to play the piano when she was a child. As she grew up, her parents and music teachers taught her to play the guitar, banjo, bass and more.

Eventually, Palms earned a Bachelor's of Music from Loyola University in Louisiana. While down South, she added a Cajun flair to her traditional, simplistic musical style.

With a mix of musical influences, Palms uses her talents to tell stories of love and desire.

Her father, Mark Palms, is a self-taught musician chasing the heritage of mountain music, specializing in banjo, guitar and vocals.

King grew up in Michigan and helped run his parent's organic farm in Brooklyn. He, too, started playing at a young age.

"I primarily came to music through my Dad, he said. "He was passionate about music and songwriting."

King never stopped playing and went to perform on tour with his brother around the state in the early 1990s. Since then, King has continued writing and recording and started Holler Fest, a three-day music festival featuring Michigan artists.

Bonding through music

Mae Palmes and King grew up together and formed a friendship through the power of music.

"We go way back," she said. "Our families were friends for a long, long time," she said."When I started playing out and gigging when I was 17, Billy was the one to call. He's a great backing musician and a great singing partner."

In the past, King said they've had trouble booking performances together due to conflicting schedules.

"We perform whenever we can," he said. "(Whenever) our schedules allow. We talked about this for three years.

This summer, they found the time to play together on tour for the first time.

This wasn't the Palms' first visit to Ironwood.

"A few years ago, My dad and I planned a tour in Michigan," Mae said. "So, he found Ironwood. I fell in love with the place. I wanted to come back."

While on stage together as a group, Mae and King said it felt likes old times.

"We've known each other for a long time and we played together whenever there was an opportunity," King said. "We became familiar with each other's music."

"Our voices seem to blended very well together," Mae said. "That's just luck, I think, when I play the right notes. When we rehearse, we laugh 90 percent of the time and play 10 percent of the time."

For Mae, she said it means a lot to play along side her Dad on stage.

"I love playing with my Dad," she said. "During rehearsal, my Dad says 'Hey, I think you need a bit of banjo.' He's really fun to play with, and I don't get to play with my my parents as much. So, this is really special."