Two alternative folk artists will bring their funk and jazz sounds to the stage of Crowbar, 420 E. College Ave., tonight.

Acoustic folk-rock performer Melissa Ferrick and singer/songwriter Erin McKeown are in town to play for Penn State fans.

"[Ferrick's] music is sort of a meeting ground for jazz and alternative styles; the instrumentals are really a highlight," Maryjo Brounce (freshman-geobiology) said.

The two started their tour in Iowa City, Iowa, last Wednesday and will end the tour in Northampton on April 9. Ferrick is no stranger to the Crowbar and has played there on numerous occasions. This is McKeown's first show in State College.

"Melissa loves State College," Ferrick's manager, Bryna Gootkind, said. "We feel like it's a great college market for her."

McKeown, 28, may seem like a rookie when touring with veteran Ferrick, who is 35 and released her first album, Massive Blur, back in 1993. McKeown's first album, Monday Morning Cold, was released in 1998.

But McKeown is not new to the music scene, having released four studio albums and two EPs over the last 10 years.

Gootkind said the two artists enjoy playing together. One of the reasons the tour is going so well could be that Ferrick and McKeown are more than just musical acquaintances; they're friends.

"Melissa and Erin have been friends for years but have never toured together," Gootkind said. "It was time that they teamed up. What's great about Erin and Melissa is that they are both killer guitar players. The audience really seems to be responding well."

The Crowbar audience tonight can expect a possible onstage collaboration between Ferrick and McKeown.

"They are doing songs together on tour and playing on each others'," Gootkind said.

For this tour, Ferrick is playing with a drummer, and instrumentalist and singer Julie Wolf will make a special guest appearance at Crowbar tonight.

"All of the ladies will be playing with each other at some point throughout their sets," Gootkind said.

The tour hasn't been entirely seamless. Melissa was sick from March 5 to 12 and got guitarist/singer Glen Phillips to play the shows in her absence, Gootkind said.

"Unfortunately, Melissa came down with the flu on the road. She's much better now though," Gootkind said.

Chuck Smitley, Crowbar manager, said he is glad to welcome back Ferrick.

"Melissa really puts on a dynamic performance. It's going to be a really good show," Smitley said.

Jeff Rickert (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) said he is particularly excited for Ferrick's live performance.

"If her onstage performance has as much energy and passion as I've heard in her live album, it should be very exciting," Rickert said.

"Melissa's live show is like nothing else; it's what she does best," Gootkind said. "She possesses the unique ability to use her music to connect to the audience live. Her live show is always different, but if there's one thing that remains consistent, it's that she treats each show as its own. ... She leaves a bit of herself on every stage that she performs on."