Chelsea Berry Hosts 24-hour Livestream to Fund a New Album, "Peace Soldier"

By Gail McCarthy, Staff Writer

GLOUCESTER, MA- Singer-songwriter Chelsea Berry, a former Cape Ann resident, felt the love and support from the community when she recently held a 24-hour livestream song marathon.

On March 4, she woke up feeling overwhelmed by the headlines in the news and wondered how she could counteract them.“I was trying to think of what I could do to create something good,” she said. “I thought about what might happen if I spent a full day making music online and invited people to join in. I did just that — and something very cool happened.”

She decided to try to raise $10,000 to fund her next recording project. The very next day, she went live, performing on guitar and piano.“I wanted to raise that money to fund a record built on love and hope and community — and it worked,” she said. Berry’s spontaneous idea became an extraordinary community moment, raising $10,575 in just 24 hours. From Thursday noon to Friday noon, Berry performed during the 24-hour Facebook livestream marathon — singing, taking requests, sharing stories, and connecting with listeners tuning in from across the United States and around the world, from Alaska to Florida and beyond.“The support from Cape Ann was huge,” Berry said. “There were a ton of people from Gloucester and Rockport and Essex and Manchester on the livestream.”

The day after the event, she spoke with her producer and engineer, Rich Lamb, based in New York City. They discussed the game plan and theme of the upcoming recording project, which will be recorded both in New York City and in Gloucester with Warren Babson at Bang a Song Studios.Lamb told her he always experiences her shows as “outright lovefests.”

“It is like your audience would follow you into battle — a bunch of peace soldiers,” he said.That comment resonated deeply with her.“I love that term ‘peace soldier.’ I don’t know what the album will be called, but that’s certainly the theme,” Berry said. Known for her powerful vocals and intimate performances over more than 25 years, Berry has built a devoted audience for her music and storytelling.

An estimated 1,200 viewers tuned in over the course of the event.Several songs were requested repeatedly, including her song “Walk With Me,” which she recorded with the late David Brown of Gloucester — a song the two performed together many times over the years. Other popular requests included “Rainbow Connection” and “Anchor,” written by her friend Megan Burtt during a visit to Gloucester. “I think the most meaningful moments were the times people requested songs in honor of loved ones they had lost,” Berry said. “Music creates such a safe space for us to grieve and remember, and it means a lot to me to be part of that process with people.

”During the fundraiser, she brought viewers along as she made bread, stoked the winter fire, and even stepped outside into the snow. She drank plenty of water for her voice, and coffee to carry her through the night.“The bread tasted like heaven,” she said, “and people commented as I ate, saying, ‘Don’t forget the butter, Chelsea.’ It was like we all made that loaf of bread together — and it took hours because it has to rise twice.” At one point, when her shoulders began to ache, she went into the dining room to tend the wood stove and talked about how to properly start a fire.“I also asked people watching if they wanted to go through a yoga practice with me,” she said. “Then in the middle of the night, when only ten people were logged on, I laid on the floor and played guitar on my back. Around 4:45 a.m., when it started to get light, I said, ‘OK guys, we’re doing the next costume change.’ I had been in pajamas, and came back in my day outfit — very fancy, cozy overalls.”

More than 22 hours into the marathon, Berry broke into tears and announced that the goal had been reached. She strummed her guitar and joked that there should have been a celebratory task — so when someone suggested she go outside and make a snow angel, she did. She even built a small snowman in her yard in Maine.

Throughout the stream, Berry spoke about the project’s underlying message of community, empathy, togetherness, and love. “It was exhausting, emotional, and one of the most meaningful musical experiences I’ve ever had,” she said. “What a crazy ride.” In the aftermath, speaking with Lamb and Babson, she said they now have a “million beautiful ideas.” “I want these songs to be anthems for peace and joy,” she said. “I think my greatest strength isn’t just in writing or singing or performing — it’s in creating community, and making people feel seen, heard, loved, and appreciated.”

Reflecting on the stress of recent headlines, she added: “I’ve been feeling helpless — wondering what I can do to make a difference. Go to marches? Call my congresspeople? Rant online? I think my purpose is to bring people together and remind them that we have more in common than not. That’s what I want this record to do.”

Berry documented the marathon throughout, capturing moments of music, laughter, and the steady rise of donations marked on a thermometer poster behind her. Contributions continued even after the stream ended, bringing the total to more than $11,000. Berry plans to begin work on the project right away.

A recap of the marathon can be viewed at her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ChelseaBerryMusicOfficial/