Mysterious and magical are two words that come to mind when describing Parlor Sessions, the new concert series being launched Saturday, February 8, by Peekskill couple Adrian Murray and Jessie Rogowski. The mystery arises from the fact that the concert’s location, along with the names of the performers, are a secret.
“We want to create something intriguing and mysterious, offering a unique experience in Peekskill,” Murray said. “To add a sense of exclusivity and privacy, the venue details will only be shared with those who purchase tickets.” And those details will not be shared until 48 hours before the event. “We know this might be a bit unconventional, but we really want to embrace the element of surprise.”
Each Parlor Sessions event will revolve around a unique theme. “Our first is Desire, a nod to Valentine’s Day, though not strictly about love,” Rogowski added. “We invite you to explore the question: What do you desire most?” This could be love, an adventure you’ve been longing for, a dream job, or a life goal. “We’re adding an immersive twist to the evening,” she offered, adding that, in keeping with the mystery of the event, they won’t reveal what that twist is until the night of the concert.
The couple is especially excited about the first event. “We’ve curated a night showcasing four incredibly talented performers,” Murray told the Peekskill Herald. “You’ll experience the raw power of spoken word, the soulful melodies of a singer-songwriter, the warmth of a folksy duo, and a few surprise theatrical performances along the way. We’re confident you’ll be blown away by the talent on display!”
That, in part, is where the magic comes in. The couple is pulling talent for the Parlor Sessions from Peekskill and the surrounding area.
“We’ve had the pleasure of meeting so many talented creatives, musicians, and performers while living in Peekskill,” Murray said. “Our goal is to shine a light on this incredible creativity, giving performers a supportive, non-judgmental space to workshop fresh, new material.”
And they want to do it in unique and unexpected spaces, from living rooms to rooftops. “In Peekskill, we would love to utilize spaces that aren’t typically open in the evenings,” Rogowski said. The Field Library, the Lincoln Museum, the Ford Piano building and art galleries are several of the couple’s dream locations.
Both Murray and Rogowski bring strong creative spirits to their new endeavor.
Murray, originally from Liverpool, England, has a passion for music. In London he filmed and live-edited concerts for Amy Winehouse, Muse, and Robert Plant, among others. He later moved into feature films and became hooked on editing.
Murray moved to New York City in 2014 to work on a documentary about O.J. Simpson. “I enjoyed my time in the States so much that I decided to make it a permanent move,” he said. “Well, that, and meeting my now American wife.”
“Today, I specialize in long-form documentaries and have a passion for telling impactful stories that shine a light on challenging and important subjects,” Murray said. The most recent of these is The Fall of Diddy, a just finished project about Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs streaming on Max.
Rogowski, like her husband, often wears an editor’s hat. “My love for editing started when I was young,” the Cincinnati native said, “creating commercials and music videos with the family video camera. When girls were asking for dolls for Christmas, I was asking for editing software.”
Rogowski has been editing ever since. “In my 13 years as a television editor, I’ve edited everything from docu-dramas, to travel shows, to home renovation shows, to Tony Awards featurettes and beyond.” The editing she keeps returning to is for the Food Network. These shows “are my comfort blanket, my bread and butter,” she said. Food Network shows Rogowski has worked on include “Chopped,” “Beat Bobby Flay,” “BBQ Brawl,” and “Worst Cooks in America.”
Although she has made a career out of it, editing wasn’t Rogowski’s first love. “My performance bug started much earlier,” she said. “Singing always brought me to my happy place. Even though I chose media as my career, music was my passion and always found itself a little pocket in the jacket of my life.” When she wasn’t editing, Rogowski sang with big bands, indie bands, and even toured the country with an orchestral pop band.
Rogowski missed acting, however, and in 2018 found a way to bring musical theater back into her life. “Auditioning in New York City can feel hopeless and overly competitive,” Rogowski said. “I felt a growing urge to do something on my own. One day, while on my Brooklyn roof practicing ukulele, Adrian suggested I should do a performance, right there on our rooftop. Since it was overlooking Manhattan, I thought, what better musical than Rent.” Rogowski says her growing fascination with immersive theater led her to want to bring some of that into her show.
Two months later, she put on a free popup performance of Rent on her roof. “People loved that the characters were interacting with them,” she said. “It was a huge success! Rooftop Musical Society (RMS) was born!” RMS has since put on a number of immersive shows in unique spaces, and Rogowski has been in all of them except one, when she was having a baby. Although the actor promises more such shows, she said that RMS is on hold while the couple launches Parlor Sessions and tends to their baby.
Murray and Rogowski have had a busy couple of years. They moved to Peekskill from Brooklyn in May 2023 after finding what they describe as their dream home. They welcomed their daughter, Penny, in August 2024. And now they are starting this concert series.
“Peekskill has welcomed us with open arms,” Murray said. “It’s exciting to see how we can come together to build something special.”
Parlor Sessions, the couple’s passion project, could well be that something special.
You can get a ticket to the first Parlor Sessions for $20 on parlorsessions.eventbrite.com. To learn more or find out about hosting or performing, follow parlor sessions on Instagram @parlorsessionslive or email the founders at [email protected].
