Laura Cortese and Jefferson Hamer bring a unique blend of traditional and modern folk and pop music to IMT's Next to the House Concert and Jam--the first show of the new year now in a new location. Come enjoy the concert, then stay and join the performers in the jam, or just sit back and enjoy as the musicians play together.

$15 advance and at the door
The Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, 7117 Maple Ave., Takoma Park, Md.

Laura Cortese is known in the Washington area as a long-time member of Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble, for her appearances with old time band Uncle Earl and as one of the "Four Fabulous Fiddlers" quartet that included Hanneke Cassel, Jeremy Kittel and Jake Armerding. Laura's musical talents are without bounds, ranging from bluegrass and old-time, through traditional Scottish fiddle (she's a Scottish fiddle champion) to modern pop. She recently recorded with Tao Seeger in his Anarchist Orchestra.

Laura had a busy 2009. She was at Madison Square Garden as part of Pete Seeger’s 90th birthday celebration with Patterson Hood (Drive By Truckers) and Michael Franti (Spearhead) and toured Denmark, Ireland, the UK and the US under her own name. In June, Laura played with indie rockers Band of Horses on a short run that included a sold out Carnegie Hall show, and she joined them again for their sold out New Years shows in Atlanta, Georgia.

Jefferson Hamer is a respected singer and instrumentalist in several musical circles: singing traditional ballads and playing mandolin, guitar, and banjo at traditional Irish sessions, playing acoustic guitar and singing tenor with Old-Time fiddlers and bluegrass ensembles, bending tele-strings with electric country and rock bands, and playing solo as a singer-songwriter. Jefferson most recently appeared in Washington on tour with Kristin Andreassen.

Traveling from Boston to New Orleans on what they are calling their Mardi Gras tour, Laura and Jefferson will play original songs in quirky and energetic arrangements. Their live shows include a wild cover of Feist's "I Feel It All", played with unique rhythmic fiddle accompaniment dubbed "drum and chop indie pop."