Laura Cortese
- Fiddle
- Folk
- Singer/Songwriter
Tickets will be on sale to the public 5/29 at noon. On sale to all Passim members 5/22 at noon. On sale to All Access Passim members 5/15 at noon.
SING IT LOUD! Laura Cortese’s Summer Sing-Along:
There’s nothing quite like the sound of voices raised together — raw, real, and full of joy. On August 16th (the night before her birthday), join Laura Cortese for an unforgettable night at Club Passim, where you become part of the music.
This isn’t a concert where you sit back and listen — this is an invitation to sing your heart out. With Laura as your fearless, fiddle-wielding guide, we’ll journey through a vibrant mix of music: handpicked gems from today’s folk songwriters, timeless classics you already know by heart plus a batch of original songs that Laura has been quietly crafting, holding close and is finally ready to share with a room fool of voices. Every song is chosen with one thing in mind: bringing people together through the shared joy of singing.No singing experience? No problem. Just bring your voice, your curiosity, and a willingness to open your face hole and let a joyful noise come out. Whether you’re a seasoned singer or someone who’s only ever hummed along in the car, this is your invitation to connect, let go, and make something beautiful together. It’s not about perfection — it’s about presence, play, and the magic that happens when a roomful of people say yes to the moment.
Come be part of the song. Come be part of the night. This is the kind of experience you’ll carry with you long after the final note.
Laura Cortese
- Fiddle
- Folk
- Singer/Songwriter
Laura Cortese might best be described as a sonic magpie: a curious and resourceful adventurer traversing great distances, collecting melodies and rhythms that glitter like jewels in the sun. Driven by the gravitational pull of human connection, her tendency towards exploration and collaboration have led her into countless niches, each providing its own unique feather with which to decorate her distinct and ever-evolving sound. But all of these explorations have one thing in common: the power of strings. This may seem limiting to some. To her, it is anything but. “Strings are at the core of what I do,” she says. “Genre is secondary to that palate.”
After over 5 years of living abroad, Laura has a new solo show based on original American folk songs. When Laura is alone on the stage, the audience becomes her band, stamping and clapping like a kick and snare drum, sometimes singing along sweetly and occasionally reminiscent of an enthusiastic gang vocal. She can be found performing internationally, exploring, and exalting in her passion for American roots music.
Laura Cortese has built a career weaving together a musical tapestry as diverse as it is masterful, highlighted with experiences like playing the Newport Folk Festival with Pete Seeger in 2009, standing onstage at the iconic Carnegie Hall in New York with Band of Horses in 2009, and a stint touring alongside Uncle Earl in 2007. She has recorded with artists ranging from Aoife O’Donovan and Brittany Haas to Tao Rodriguez Seeger and Session Americana, and has released 7 albums under her own name–All in Always (2016), Into the Dark (2013), Simple Heart (2012), Two Amps 1 Microphone (2011), Acoustic Project (2010), Blow the Candle Out (2007), Even the Lost Creek (2006), and Hush (2004). She has toured across the globe, acting as an ambassador of American music on behalf of the US State Department by performing and teaching in India, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Estonia, Greece, Ukraine, and Montenegro. Now, she holds space and builds community for musicians in Belgium as the co-founder of the monthly Bright Lights Session in Ghent. As always, her vision is as expansive as her background. “We’re working to basically write a new folk tradition,” she says. Were it anyone else, you’d think it impossible. But with Laura Cortese at the helm? It just might come true.
