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The Nields will return to Jammin Java in Vienna on April 24 with more than three decades of music behind them and a growing collection of new work ahead.
Sisters Nerissa and Katrina Nields have maintained fresh momentum through weekly rehearsals, a routine that has helped them develop new songs and begin planning their next album.
“We made a decision to have a weekly rehearsal,” Nerissa Nields said. “We’re sort of in a lot of new stuff.”
The band also recently completed vocals for the final three tracks of an ambitious soundtrack tied to Nerissa’s series of novels about a fictional band. The decade-long project is now being mixed.
The Jammin Java performance is expected to combine fresh material with the reflective songwriting and close harmonies that have characterized The Nields since the early 1990s.
Although the group officially formed in New England, Nerissa grew up and began performing in Northern Virginia. She said the sisters’ Washington-area audience has supported them since before the band formally began, making the region one of their strongest markets.
Local concerts now draw a blend of longtime listeners, newer fans, relatives and old friends.
“There’s nothing like it,” Nerissa said. “It’s pretty magical.”
About 35 years into their career together, the sisters credit honesty, affection and a willingness to reconcile with helping them preserve both their musical partnership and personal relationship.
“We’re good at apologizing and we’re good at forgiving,” Nerissa said. “That’s everything.”
Their longevity has also depended on stepping away from the demanding touring pace of their early career. The sisters have made room for teaching, writing and community projects alongside music.
Asked to identify the key to keeping the band going, Nerissa offered one word: “Balance.”
The lighter schedule has made individual performances feel more purposeful. Nerissa said she now remains present onstage and enjoys the unexpected moments that emerge during each concert, as well as the craft of singing harmonies and playing guitar.
The sisters are also cultivating musical connections in Northampton, Massachusetts, where their Welcome Table Chorus has attracted more than 100 singers. Its repertoire centers on joy, hope and social connection.
“It’s been an almost shocking source of joy for us and for the people in it,” Nerissa said.
That communal spirit will extend to the Vienna show. At a time when screens increasingly mediate everyday interactions, Nerissa sees gathering for live music as an important way to strengthen relationships.
“It’s good for the soul, and it’s good for the world,” she said.