The 7th annual
New England Songwriters Retreat
(NESR 7)
Hosted by Ellis Paul
NESR 7A: Fri Aug 25—Tue Aug 29 (2023)
NESR 7B: Fri Sep 1—Tue Sep 5 (2023)
Chester, CT
Bios and Course Descriptions
COMING SOON!
Ellis Paul
NESR Founder & Host
Songwriting Instructor
BIOGRAPHY:
Ellis Paul doesn’t just write songs; he’s like a reporter, albeit one armed with an acoustic guitar, who covers the human condition and details the hopes, dreams, loves, losses and innermost secrets of those he observes, turning their stories into luminous and thrilling pieces of music that get under your skin and into your bloodstream. And much like the artists who have influenced him, everyone from Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan and Paul Simon to the singer-songwriter who is undoubtedly his greatest inspiration, Woody Guthrie, Paul weaves deeply personal experiences with social issues and renders them as provocative works that are as timely as they are timeless. “There’s a craft to what I do, and I take it very seriously,” Paul says. “At the same time, I look at it as a calling, too. I tour quite a bit, and that allows me to come into contact with so many people of all walks of life. I hear their stories, and I realize that they could be telling me my story, too. So I try to make sense out of it all. I try to get to the heart of what we’re all feeling. That’s at the root of what I do—capturing the humanity we share with some kind of grace and integrity.” Born and raised in Maine, Paul attended Boston College and became a fixture at the city’s open mic nights. After winning a Boston Acoustic Underground songwriter competition, he caught critics’ ears with the release of his indie album Say Something in 1993, which led to a deal with Rounder Records and the 1994 album, Stories. Through a steady succession of albums—a remarkable 20 releases so far—and almost constant touring, Paul’s audience grew into a loyal legion of fans. Along the way, he picked up an impressive number of awards, having been cited 11 times by the Boston Music Awards for Folk Act of the Year, Outstanding Male Singer-Songwriter and Outstanding Acoustic Folk Album, honored with Gold and Silver awards by the Parents’ Choice Foundation, and chosen by the Maine Music Awards to be among its Hall of Fame inaugural class in 2014. “I feel as though every album is a chance to get inside the human spirit in some way,” he says. “Whether it’s something I’m going through or stories I hear from friends or even people I meet on the road, they’re all part of a common bond we all share. Whether I’m recording something personal or doing a children’s album, or even if I’m writing about something more political, they all tie together as learning experiences and an honest source of songs.”
www.ellispaul.com
SONGWRITING COURSE #1:
TBA
Dan Bern
Songwriting Instructor
BIOGRAPHY:
SONGWRITING COURSE #2:
TBA
Molly Venter
Songwriting Instructor
BIOGRAPHY:
SONGWRITING COURSE #3:
TBA
Antje Duvekot
Elective Instructor
BIOGRAPHY:
COURSE #6 (ELECTIVE):
TBA
Laurie MacAllister
Elective Instructor
Retreat Coordinator
BIOGRAPHY:
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
Laurie MacAllister held a quiet dream of being a singer since she was a very young girl. Her voice finally came alive years later when, on a dare, she was convinced to sing spontaneously for a crowd in New York City, in Washington Square Park. A career began in that moment. Laurie started with a steady stream of nights on open mic stages around NYC, and then landed a regular Monday night gig at the The Grey Dog’s Coffee in the West Village. She released her first album of ten original songs called "These Old Clothes” soon afterward. In 2000, she discovered a passion for harmony singing while touring the country with folk luminary Cliff Eberhardt. Eberhardt produced Laurie's next solo album, "The Things I Choose To Do”, which was first released independently, and then picked up by Barnes & Noble and re-released on their label.
In 2004, at a campsite at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Laurie began making music with her campmates, weaving their voices together in harmony. In an impromptu and magical moment, the Americana trio Red Molly was born. With a focus on beautiful songs, soaring harmonies, and a deep relationship with their fans (who dubbed themselves RedHeads), the band quickly became the darlings of the folk/Americana scene. Red Molly has shared their voices around the world for seventeen years, singing everywhere from Australia to America, playing 100 shows annually in front of thousands of fans, frequently selling out venues, and releasing seven acclaimed albums.
Along the way, in 2010, Laurie's voice was featured in a national television commercial for Folgers Coffee. In 2018, she produced and released a new solo album called "The Lies the Poets Tell", a collection of some her most beloved songs. The album features duets with six male vocalists, including the late Americana master Jimmy LaFave. Laurie has composed and sung harmony parts on dozens of recordings, including those by Cliff Eberhardt, Susan Werner, and Ellis Paul. She's also taught singing and stage performance around the country, including at The Swannanoa Gathering, Folk Alliance International, Targhee Music Camp, and the New England Songwriters Retreat. Laurie's powerful yet delicate voice stretches octaves, warm and romantic one moment, playful and irreverent the next. One song at a time, one show at a time, over the course of two adventuresome decades, Laurie has turned her quiet dream into a joyous reality.
COURSE #5 (ELECTIVE):
TBA
Mark Erelli
Special Guest Instructor
Monday, 9/4
BIOGRAPHY:
COURSE #7 (ELECTIVE):
TBA