Laura Cortese is a prolific songwriter, vocalist, and fiddler who seamlessly blends American roots music with indie, electronic grooves, and pop powerhouse vocals—all while appealing to a diverse audience, from millennials to seasoned folk enthusiasts. Along with Laura, Valerie Thompson and Isa Burke contribute a nearly symphonic fusion of countless traditions and influences, with rich interplay of virtuosic string instrumentation. Drawing on their combined decades of experience across a variety of styles, the trio elevates their songs with orchestral string arrangements and layered vocal harmonies.

Over the course of her 20-year career, Laura has woven a musical tapestry as diverse as it is masterful, with highlights including performances at the Newport Folk Festival alongside Pete Seeger, standing onstage at the iconic Carnegie Hall in New York with Band of Horses, and touring with the old-time string band Uncle Earl. She has recorded with artists ranging from Aoife O'Donovan and Brittany Haas to Tao Rodriguez Seeger and Session Americana, and has released seven albums under her own name. Laura has toured worldwide, acting as an ambassador of American music for the US State Department, performing and teaching in countries such as India, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Estonia, Greece, Ukraine, and Montenegro.

Since picking up a guitar at age 7 and writing her first song two years later, 17-year-old singer/songwriter Emily Margaret from Guilford, VT, has honed her craft through the Antidote Workshop with two-time Grammy winner Sonya Kitchell and at the Berklee College of Music. Drawing inspiration from R&B, jazz, and folk, she creates a soulful folk sound that highlights her poetic, relatable lyrics and her powerful, velvety voice.

Click here to purchase tickets to Laura Cortese & The Dance Cards, plus Emily Margaret