The 50 Ways

It would not be unusual for you to step in to one of Lowell’s intimate cafés and find a room full of twenty-somethings singing at the top of their lungs. You might ask yourself, “To what do I owe such an occasion?� Someone would whisper, “The 50 Ways�. You might then look around at all these people lending their voices and question, “Where does the band end and the audience begin?�

The 50 Ways, a folk/rock duo based out of Lowell, MA, consists of Brie Sullivan and Zack Root… and The Roadside Choir. (Insert audience participation here.) When the quirky duo started creating songs with more vocal parts than band members, their first instinct was to use a looping device, recording the harmony line on the spot. After realizing the hassle this might create, Brie and Zack thought back to their roots of playing around song circles and decided to reach out to their audience members for help. Thus, fans become members of The 50 Ways’ Roadside Choir for the evening. By taking such an all-inclusive approach to their music, Brie and Zack create a truly unique chemistry between performer and audience making each show meaningful.

When the crowd is not joining the band in song, The 50 Ways often bring a hush to the room with their honest, poetic lyrics, and tight-knit harmonies. Just as frequently, Brie and Zack amuse and shock audiences with their unpredictable and complimentary senses of humor. The duo's blend of genuine chemistry, friendship, and honesty endears them to the crowd. Clever songs tinged with jazz, blues, and bluegrass offer up catchy melodies that will get stuck in the ear of any listener.

Within their five years on the folk scene, Brie and Zack have been warmly received by folk audiences as well as the local scene of indie rock and punk fans alike. The 50 Ways have been compared to great duos such as Simon and Garfunkle, The Kennedys, Bert and Ernie, and The Weepies. Their songwriting styles have been likened to those of Suzanne Vega, Tom Waits, and Kris Delmhorst. The 50 Ways have had the honor of sharing the stage with artists such as Erin Mckeown, Edie Carey, and Flora Reed. Previously, Brie has performed with Gavin Degraw and Mary Lou Lord as well as Rahzel and the Roots. Brie and Zack are sharing their music locally throughout Lowell and Boston in support of their independently released EP “Metropolitan Gadabouts� and are currently in the studio recording their full-length debut due for release this summer.

In a city that thrives on music, poetry, and art, it is an undeniable fact that The 50 Ways are on the frontlines of a cultural revolution, captivating one audience at a time.