They met on a California beach when they were young. She played guitar, he played mandolin, they harmonized on Leonard Cohen’s enigmatic “Suzanne.” How could they not fall in love, with each other and their music?

It’s been nearly 30 years since that fateful day on the beach, and Curtis Teague and Loretta Simonet have been making music together ever since.

Like most musicians who chose to spend their lives making music in the folk genre, “Curtis & Loretta” tour almost constantly. From their home base in Minneapolis they annually log 40,000 miles, playing concerts, festivals and coffeehouses along the way. They have shared the stage with the biggest names in folk music, from Vassar Clements and Pete Seeger to Arlo Guthrie and Greg Brown.

They are currently in the Northwest, where they played at the Seabold Second Saturday April 8, and will play at Collective Visions Gallery in Bremerton April 21.

The husband and wife duo play a wide variety of instruments, including Celtic harp, mandocello, mandolin, guitar, banjo, National steel ukulele and assorted harmonicas, kazoos and rhythm instruments.

Their music ranges from traditional Celtic and American folk tunes to original songs penned from their life experiences, or the experiences of others.

One of the most requested songs is “Gone Forever,” which Loretta wrote about her father’s battle with Alzheimer’s. “Angel of Bergen-Belsen” tells the true story of Luba Frederick, who saved 54 children from death in a WWII concentration camp.

While Teague jokes about passing out “Curtis & Loretta hankies” at their shows, there is also plenty of humor. In addition to songs of love and loss, there are songs about harp players trying to get into heaven, small spenders on first dates, and lutefisk.

A reviewer from Inside Bluegrass magazine said of their music: “They’re a couple of regular songbirds, those two, sometimes flying in synch, but more often swooping around each other in curious and ultimately fruitful aerial maneuvers. They sing stuff in ways one doesn’t expect, especially Curtis, who will often take off tramping through the melodic underbrush rather than staying on the trail. It all works very well.”

Curtis & Loretta perform 7 p.m. April 21 at Collective Visions Gallery, 331 Pacific Ave., Bremerton. Tickets are $13 advance, $15 door. Advance tickets available at the gallery or by phone at (360) 377-8327.

The Curtis & Loretta concert is part of the gallery’s annual concert series, which continues with “Zen Cowboy” Chuck Pyle May 19 and the Kay Bailey Trio June 16.