A TEENAGE singer-songwriter from Paisley will make a “life-changing” appearance at New York Tartan Week as a result of her involvement in the town’s UK City of Culture Bid. Lisa Kowalski, who to date has only performed in central Scotland, will sing at a lunchtime concert in Manhattan’s Bryant Park in April.
As well as performing her own songs, she will be polishing up renditions of some popular Scottish folk tunes to entertain participants in the Tartan Day Parade.
Kowalski’s hosts will be the American-Scottish Foundation, which has awarded her one of their annual Lord Malcolm Douglas Foundation bursaries, named after the organisation’s founder.
Kowalski contacted the Foundation last year after reading about their support for Scottish culture, telling them about her debut EP Free Spirits, her involvement in the Paisley 2021 bid and her American family connections. Liking her songs and her story, they featured her in their magazine and offered to support her if she wanted to bring her music to the States.
Kowalski will fly out for a week on April 4. With many New York-based artists having influenced her musical development, she is delighted to be visiting the city for the first time and will also catch up with family members in New England.
“I absolutely love performing, no matter where I am,” said Kowalski, who often busks in Paisley High Street. “To perform in New York, though, which I’ve always wanted to visit, will be absolutely life-changing. I can’t wait to see what it’s like to be there.”
The year has already got off to a great start for Kowalski. She had a headlining gig at King Tuts on the night of her 18th birthday, part of the prize for reaching the finals of the inaugural Salute Music UK Song Writing competition last year.
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