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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 8, 2020)
18 Wednesday, January 8, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon ELLSWORTH: Sisters woman is based out of Colorado Continued from page 3 make industry connections with guest artists that came into the class, partnering with Sisters Folk Festival. She was a part of a num- ber of Americana Project CDs, with her own original material being recorded for the first time. Now, she is in the process of recording her band9s record and her own solo record. <Americana really helped me build up my musical skin. I wanted to get my songs torn to shreds and critiqued. I learned to not be so precious with my songs and build up my tough skin,= she said. Ellsworth partici- pated in the Sisters Folk Festival through- out her high school career and continues to do so. Ellsworth attended a number of Americana Song Academy classes and felt as if the song camp experiences and festival overall was a huge influence on her and her career. <The folk fest had a huge impact on me, and now I am able to come back older and wiser and still participate in it,= said Ellsworth. She also found that the folk festival community extends further than Oregon. <I9ve been able to meet people and bands at shows that know about the festival and how special it is, so that9s been really awesome,= she said. During her time at the University of Colorado, Ellsworth formed her own folk/Americana band. She, Alana Margolis, and Katie Smith all met in their music ensemble class 4which she described as glorified Americana Project. During their time in this class together, they were paired up often and became fast friends. The two band mem- bers joined Ellsworth on the Americana stage during the 2018 Sisters Folk Festival. The band was originally called Brother, after a phrase they had said to one another a lot, <Hey brother.= That name didn9t stick. During song camp, Ellsworth9s mom, Heidi Ellsworth, her aunt, and the three girls were sitting by the lake brainstorming names. They wanted to do something involving <sister= because of their connection and the connection with Sisters. Heidi, then said, <how about Sister Neapolitan, like the ice cream, because of your three different hair colors.= And that is the name that stuck. Sister Neapolitan has now been together for two years and has been touring as openers for bands. They are recording in Denver with a professor from the University. They also head- lined a show in Denver over the summer. Ellsworth also works and tours, doing her own solo stuff playing small shows. She got to open for Sisters Folk Festival perform- ers Sway Wild in the fall. <We play mostly West Coast shows and are open- ers for gigs and bands but we have been able to play a lot of shows in our area,= said Ellsworth. The Nugget Newspaper Crossword By Jacqueline E. Mathews, Tribune News Service — Last Week’s Puzzle Solved — This summer they went on a full tour together, working with Sofar Sounds, a music startup company based in London that now works in the U.S. They are a <listening room= company 4 they book bands for smaller venues and house concerts. <Sofar Sounds helped us book small venues and house shows around the West Coast,= said Ellsworth. Ellsworth is currently working on podcasts and video editing on her own. She produces and hosts her own podcast working with Roofer9s Coffee Company in Denver, where she inter- views songwriters and makes it sound good. She is continu- ing her own solo work as well as working toward releasing the Sister Neapolitan EP in March of 2020. <I am working on record- ing the album with one of my professors from school, and we have already released a couple singles,= she said. Ellsworth, after gradua- tion, plans to stay in Colorado for awhile and will be on tour with the band in June. She will release her solo record in July. Ellsworth is grateful for her experience with the Americana Project and Sisters Folk Festival during her high school career, and is thankful for how it prepared her for her future musical career in col- lege and beyond. <It was like being wel- comed in a beautiful family,= she said. This Week’s Crossword Sponsors Greg Wieland L.Ac. Practicing since 1989 352 E. Hood Ave., Ste. E Sisters Acupuncture Center 541-549-1523 When the going gets tough, even the tough call us. Banr Enterprises, llc Consult | Construct | Complete Earthwork • Utilities • Grading • Rock Walls • Snow Removal Residential and Commercial Contractor CCB: 165122 www.banr.net | 541-549-6977