Beyond the booth # 3: Lisa Pellegrino
Everybody’s an artist.
Trapped in someone else’s truth.
Life is a path of liberation.
How free do you want to be?
Me? The freest.
As defined by Nina- no fear. And I mean NO FEAR.
…
More than money, more than fame.
I just want to break out, and change the game.
…
Howdy Neighbor,
Lisa Pellegrino here, lead organizer for Newburgh Porchfest, bandleader for Soil & Soul, and whimsical disciple of the church of compost (it’s hot!).
What a thrill to write up a little something for The Ellis Diaries.
The Ellis is quickly becoming one of my favorite places and spaces to play, and I mean PLAY. It’s been beautiful to witness how quickly it's taken root in so many hearts here in Newburgh, and beyond. After years in the making, when The Ellis finally opened its doors back in the fall of last year, the Newburgh Porchfest after party had the distinct honor of being the first live music event to play the space. I’ll be returning to The Ellis stage on April 11th with my band Soil & Soul, opening up for Palmyra and Judy Blank. Blue Jay Shake will be on bass, Judy Gaunt will be on trumpet, and we’ll be playing all original songs I’ve written, with a select cover or two.
So much of my connection and experience of The Ellis is shaped by Albeart “Al” Mizrahi, the head steward of The Ellis. Al has been on the planning committee for Newburgh Porchfest from the jump, and we were fast friends. I wish everyone had a friend like Al, so warm, supportive, and also whimsical, while being a deep thinker and very caring soul. Al has shown up countless times to the open mics I host at Midnight Ferry (starting back up on May 6th and moving to every other Wednesday!).
And here I go gushing about Al when this artist spotlight is supposed to be about me. But maybe that’s part of what good artists and friends do, they shine a light on those, especially the ones working behind the scenes to nourish a flourishing arts & culture community.
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When I graduated undergrad I thought I either could have a creative career, or be of service to the world.
It’s taken me 20 years to realize that was a false dichotomy. I now take my cues from Nina Simone & Pete Seeger, using music to not only express myself but to advance environmental and social justice causes. And to get people singing. Because music is the most magnificent medicine I’ve experienced. Mutually beneficial, co-regulating, healing… Making sense of a world that often feels nonsensical.
Someone asked me today, so how many people are in Soil & Soul? About a dozen… and the list keeps growing because I live for spontaneous collaboration and I’m constantly making new friends, thanks to the vortex of awesomeness that Newburgh has become.
I know I speak for several other performing artists when I say that The Ellis- with its towering ceilings, stunning architecture, awesome acoustics, and spacious stage, is helping us dream bigger than before.
Here’s to experiments, reflections, and movements.
Life is a path of liberation.
How free do you want to be?