The Burns Sisters help celebrate an anniversary

West Milford — The Burns Sisters are performing at Music at the Mission on Saturday, Sept. 17 for an 8 p.m. show, launching Music at the Mission's 10 anniversary season. Listeners can think about the Burns Sisters in descriptive terms — powerful songs, gorgeous sibling harmony, a distinctive blend of folk, country and rock styles — but their essence is spirit and soul. The three sisters — Annie, Marie and Jeannie — have been singing together all their lives. At times others of their siblings joined in. Their mother, Teresa, who sang in the church choir, taught them and so it began. They are from a family of 12 children brought up Irish Catholic in upstate New York. Their father, the late John Burns, had a career in politics as Democratic State Chairman of New York state, campaign manager in New York State for Robert Kennedy's presidential race and as Mayor of Binghamton, N.Y. They all grew up in a family culture that believed in standing up for the rights of all people. And they bring their beliefs into their music. The past five years have been an incredible time for the sisters. They each released highly acclaimed solo projects, and Annie and Marie were also busy producing other artists. The three sisters were committed to writing and producing their latest album "Wild Bouquet" together. Their latest CD reflects both the personal and global worlds around them. They are concerned with their country and active in the anti-war movement. They met Arlo Guthrie in 2004 at the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival in Woody's hometown of Okemah, Okla. This meeting sent them on a train ride with "Arlo Guthrie and Friends Ridin' on the City of New Orleans" Bringing Back the Music, benefiting Victims of Katrina." It reintroduced them to the music of Woody Guthrie and lead them to perform two of Woody's songs, "Vigilante Man" and "God's Promise" on their "Wild Bouquet." It is the eighth Burns Sisters Band album. The Burns Sisters recorded two albums with Columbia Records, which show their rock roots and five albums, most with Rounder, which give you their alternative folk rock roots side. If you go Music at the Mission is located at 1452 Union Valley Road, West Milford, at the West Milford Presbyterian Church. For tickets or information visit www.MusicattheMission.org Tickets are also available at Harvest Moon Health Food Store, 22 Marshall Hill Road, West Milford.