Bio

Catherine Miles & Jay Mafale are married, co-conspirators in song. They are word nerds and recovering actors. They are two scoops of modern folk with a generous sprinkling of pop-catchiness, topped off with the wit and flair that comes of their theater backgrounds. 

Catherine’s voice - resonant, expressive, a powerhouse. She’s got range and she’s not afraid to use it. Jay’s guitar - percussive, melodic, thoughtful. He propels and punctuates the narrative. Their shared experience has taught them about perseverance and perspective, and those strengths are evident in their song craft. They invite folks inside their songs with a story to be told, a friend they want you to meet, a villain or hero presented with a flourish. 

In addition to appearing on venerable stages and festivals across the country, their songwriting has earned them recognition as Most Wanted Emerging Artists at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, three-time Kerrville New Folk finalists, South Florida Folk Festival/Vic Heyman Award finalists, and Honorable Mentions in Mid-Atlantic and Braver Angels song contests. They have performed as Official Showcase Artists at the Northeast Regional (NERFA), Southeast Regional (SERFA), Folk Alliance Region Midwest (FARM), and Southwest Regional (SWRFA) Conferences.

Audiences first came to know Catherine and Jay as a trio, The YaYas, with piano man, Paul SIlverman. More recent years have found them touring the country with Carolann Solebello and Karyn Oliver, their friends and musical collaborators, as No Fuss and Feathers.

In any configuration, Catherine Miles & Jay Mafale bring a candidness and playful approachability to the stage, disarming audiences and opening hearts wide enough to let some light in.