Sunday, June 1, 2025, singer-songwriter and storyteller Michael Gutierrez-May will take the stage at the Hotel Vernon Shiproom in Worcester for a special ISSA Boston/Northeast Songwriting Showcase, joined by fellow artists Bernie Drury, Tim Maynard, and Peter L’Esperance. From 3 to 5 PM, audiences will hear songs rooted in the land, lived experience, and enduring truths. But for Gutierrez-May, this performance also shines a spotlight on his latest single and album centerpiece, “Light Still Shines The Same.”
Released in December 2024 as part of the album of the same name, “Light Still Shines The Same” is a lyrical and meditative reckoning with the legacy of colonization in North America. The song reflects on the European settlement of Indigenous lands and the generations of struggle that followed. Yet it doesn’t stop at despair — instead, it calls attention to resilience, unity, and the unchanging light of the Great Spirit that shines on all people.
“You build a town in the wilderness… / Took the wood from the trees / Water for the factories / And they attributed this to progress,” Gutierrez-May sings with quiet urgency. But the refrain offers hope: “The light still shines the same on everyone.”
The track was produced by Stephen B. Martin and recorded at Ultrasound Studios in Hanover, MA by engineer Joe Clapp. A key contributor to the song is guitarist Cliff Goodwin, best known for his work as music director for Joe Cocker. Goodwin’s expressive lead guitar anchors the track in both tradition and originality, a hallmark of the entire album.
Gutierrez-May’s music blends folk, indie rock, and subtle world music influences. The album includes collaborations with Carley Baer, Elizabeth Gray, and Sean Ryder, all of whom helped shape the musical and emotional landscape of the project. Additional musical guests include Raianne Richards, Pete Nelson, Suzanne McNeil, and bassist Elizabeth Gray, a punk-era veteran now part of the duo Box of Kittens.
Listen on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/album/5jWnQoj1wPLlNX96umN33P
Michael’s lyrics walk a line between the personal and political, weaving themes of loss, resilience, reconciliation, and even humor. “Destiny” tells the story of a young woman’s defiance in the face of social expectations, while “She Was My Angel” is a moving ballad about grief and long-term love. “Apology Song” and “Five Twenty Four” show Gutierrez-May’s ability to move seamlessly between reflection, contrition, and compassion.
The album was inspired by the loss of three close friends and mentors in 2023 — David Rumpler, Andy Holiner, and Eric “Snake” Gulliksen. “This album is dedicated to their memory,” Gutierrez-May shares. “Their encouragement made all the difference.”
Michael Gutierrez-May’s path to music has been anything but conventional. A longtime community-based psychotherapist by day and concert organizer by night, he is now known for his heartfelt songs, grounded in history and humanity. He has released three previous studio albums and performs throughout New England, often in support of community and benefit events.
The June 1 showcase is both a celebration of song and a reminder of what folk music does best: tell stories that matter. As Gutierrez-May puts it, “We stand on our connectedness, through the present time and through the ages.”
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