Laurie MacAllister
NESR Retreat Coordinator
NESR Co-Host
Workshop Instructor

LAURIE MACALLISTER BIOGRAPHY:

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Affectionately dubbed "Mama Bear" by NESR IV Students, Laurie handles the logistical aspects of NESR Online. Ask her anything—she's happy to help: newenglandsongwritersretreat@gmail.com

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In late 2024, Laurie MacAllister embarked on an exciting new chapter, launching a solo career with a sold-out performance at the legendary Club Passim.

Two decades earlier, she co-founded the beloved Americana trio Red Molly, which released seven acclaimed albums and toured both the U.S. and internationally, including appearances at MerleFest, Cayamo, and Boston Symphony Hall.

Along the way, ad executives heard Laurie’s voice on the Red Molly album “Never Been to Vegas” and invited her to sing the iconic Folgers Coffee jingle for a national TV commercial.

Her 2018 self-produced solo album "The Lies the Poets Tell" is a heartfelt tribute to the contemporary folk music scene, celebrating a handful of its best songs and songwriters. It features duets with six male artists, including the late Americana master Jimmy LaFave. SiriusXM praised the album as “Defining. A curated collection packed with emotional vibrancy.” 

Laurie’s earlier solo album "The Things I Choose To Do” was produced by folk luminary Cliff Eberhardt and was first released independently. Hearing it, Barnes & Noble re-released it as an exclusive on their label, saying, "MacAllister wholly inhabits these songs as subtly as a chameleon, convincingly taking on the persona's skin, quite simply singing her heart out.”

From a young girl with a quiet dream of becoming a singer, Laurie’s journey has unfolded one song at a time. Over more than two decades, she’s made her dream into a reality.

Laurie is currently on her Solo Debut Tour 2025, headlining shows across the Northeast, bringing her soulful, loving voice and presence to fans old and new.

lauriemacallister.net

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COURSE #5 - LAURIE MACALLISTER

The Authentic, Believable Singer

Genuine honest singing, from the heart, has the power to captivate listeners and leave them wanting more. This course will help you increase the believability of your voice, and have a greater impact on your audience. The very best performances are ones that move a listener emotionally. In this class, we’ll explore a wide variety of things that will allow you to achieve greater authenticity in your vocals, including deeply inhabiting your material, creating a strong connection to your audience, and clearly enunciating your lyrics, so that you are fully understood. We’ll also look at how intentional variety in phrasing, and intentional variety in volume (dynamics) can increase the power of your delivery. We’ll look at stage fright and how to overcome it, in order to sing your very best. We’ll get creative with our vocals, purposely altering melodies to add sparkle and interest. And we’ll hit on important concepts like the power of regular practice, and the critical importance of health. I’ll sing for you, to illustrate skills and concepts, and will also ask for a few volunteers, so that you can learn from other students as they try out new things. The environment will be warm and supportive, judgement-free, and focused on improvement and growth. You’ll leave this class a better singer than when you walked in!