Laura Cortese digs deep and aims high.  She grew up in San Francisco and moved to Boston to study at Berklee College of Music, immersing herself in the city’s vibrant indie music scene and enjoying appearances with Band of Horses at Carnegie Hall and Pete Seeger at Newport Folk Festival.

But it’s been with her band The Dance Cards that she has made the biggest impact. It’s bold and elegant fare, schooled in the lyrical rituals of folk music and backed by grooves that alternately inspire Cajun two-stepping and rock ‘n’ roll swagger.

Writing in RnR magazine, David Innes awarded them his “Most Memorable Gig of The Year” vote.

Songlines magazine drooled: “This was a celebration of American string playing par excellence.”