diff --git a/beets/ui/__init__.py b/beets/ui/__init__.py
index e2eebb738..e19e005f1 100644
--- a/beets/ui/__init__.py
+++ b/beets/ui/__init__.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import logging
 import sqlite3
 import errno
 import re
+import codecs
 
 from beets import library
 from beets import plugins
@@ -673,7 +674,7 @@ def main(args=None, configfh=None):
     if configpath:
         configpath = util.syspath(configpath)
         if os.path.exists(util.syspath(configpath)):
-            configfh = open(configpath)
+            configfh = codecs.open(configpath, 'r', encoding='utf-8')
         else:
             configfh = None
     if configfh:
diff --git a/beetsplug/rewrite.py b/beetsplug/rewrite.py
index 609999749..f97ec58f6 100644
--- a/beetsplug/rewrite.py
+++ b/beetsplug/rewrite.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ def rewriter(field, rules):
     def fieldfunc(item):
         value = getattr(item, field)
         for pattern, replacement in rules:
-            if pattern.match(value):
+            if pattern.match(value.lower()):
                 # Rewrite activated.
                 return replacement
         # Not activated; return original value.
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ class RewritePlugin(BeetsPlugin):
                 raise ui.UserError("invalid field name (%s) in rewriter" %
                                    fieldname)
             log.debug(u'adding template field %s' % key)
-            pattern = re.compile(pattern, re.I)
+            pattern = re.compile(pattern.lower())
             rules[fieldname].append((pattern, value))
             if fieldname == 'artist':
                 # Special case for the artist field: apply the same