Singer-songwriter and winner of the prestigious New Folk award at the 2003 Kerrville Folk Festival, Vermont native Anais Mitchell impresses with her meticulously written songs as much as with her distinctive vocals. With the sound of a world-weary waif, Anais' otherworldly voice is a striking counterpoint to the intensity of her lyrics, which fuse personal and political themes into vibrant, literate songs.

Tonight's show spotlights tunes from Anais' third CD, The Brightness (released on Ani DiFranco's Righteous Babe label). Revolving around contemporary events, the songs on this album are filled with worldly metaphors and intense emotions, clever twists and sharp imagery. If we're really lucky, maybe Anais will also throw in a couple numbers from her new folk opera, based on the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice.