Acoustic Tuesday’s First Performer: Ellen Perkins
Written by Arlo Grey MacFarland
Starting Tuesday, October 9, 2025, The Downtown Neighbors Alliance will be hosting weekly concerts at Liberty Magic, in a new series called Acoustic Tuesdays. Located at 811 Liberty Ave., DNA will feature local acoustic artists each Tuesday, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m..
The first concert will feature Duquesne graduates Ellen Perkins and Sarah Fair. Best friends since college, the two will bring their solo and duo work to feature at Acoustic Tuesdays.
Multi-instrumentalist Ellen Perkins studied Music Education at Duquesne University. Performing on piano, her main influences are soul and jazz icons like Ella Fitzgerald and Stevie Wonder. With a performance background in a wedding band, Perkins is excited to share her music with a new audience.
Liberty Magic seats just 66 guests, allowing for an intimate performance without the need for microphones of amplifiers.
“[There are] no additives, it's very raw as in you can't [do] any tricks with the microphone to make something sound really interesting, and it makes it a little more challenging, which I really enjoy. I think it helps with that intimate setting to create an experience where it's just the music and nothing else,” said Perkins.
For a mid-size city, Pittsburgh has a bustling music scene spanning nearly every genre. Here, it feels like there are only a few degrees of separation between local musicians, creating strong connections with one another. Perkins values this in her music, saying:
“I love the city and the community of it. It's such a small town feeling in a larger city and a lot of the musicians are really close, almost everybody knows everyone so it's a really nice community to be a part of. Whereas in other cities, that might get lost or there might not be enough support, it's a really great middle ground.”
Playing such an intimate venue strengthens the connection between the artist, the music, and audience.
“With a small group, you have a lot more flexibility in how you perform. I like to come in with a lot of different options and not use every single song I planned on during a set so I can adjust to the atmosphere and what everyone is feeling that night. So, having a really small intimate setting, it's helpful to play off of that energy a lot more easily to see what's going to work and really connect with people,” said Perkins.
Acoustic Tuesdays commits itself to fostering these connections within Pittsburgh music, and Ellen Perkins embodies this in her art and values. The small-town feel in a metropolitan area, this concert is sure to have you feeling the music. Perkins and Fair will join together on Tuesday, October 9, at 7 p.m. to kick off the DNA’s first Acoustic Tuesdays concert!
