Charlie Parr

The drony improvisational trio I play guitar with ... artwork thanks to Judd Thornburg and Liz Draper.

New southern shows with Phil Cook just announced, tickets on sale Friday! More info: http://www.charlieparr.com/shows.html 5.29 | Raleigh, NC - Kings 5.30 | Asheville, NC - Ambrose West 5.31 | Nashville, TN - City Winery Nashville 6.01 | Huntsville, AL - Tangled String Studios 6.01 | Atlanta, GA - Terminal West ~Previously Announced~ 5.16 | Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall + Schubas 5.17 | Milwaukee, IL - Pabst / Riverside / Turner Hall 5.18 | Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue & 7th St Entry 5.19 | Duluth, MN - Sacred Heart Music Center 5.20 | Eau Claire, WI - Pablo Center at the Confluence 5.21 | Eau Claire, WI - Pablo Center at the Confluence

Heading out with Mandolin Orange​ this week! 04.04 | Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse​ (sold out) 04.05 | Birmingham, AL - Saturn Birmingham​ (sold out) 04.06 | Jackson, MS - Duling Hall (sold out) 04.07 | Memphis, TN - Minglewood Hall​ 04.09 | St. Louis, MO - Delmar Hall 04.10 | Kansas City, MO - The Madrid Theatre 04.11 | Dallas, TX - The Kessler​ (sold out) 04.12 | Austin, TX -Empire Control Room & Garage * 04.13 | Houston, TX - Heights Theater (sold out) 04.14 | Oklahoma City, OK - Tower Theatre OKC​ 04.16 | Cincinnati, OH - Taft Theatre​ (sold out) 04.17 | Louisville, KY - Headliners Music Hall​ (sold out) 04.18 | Chattanooga, TN - Tivoli Theatre • Walker Theatre • Memorial Auditorium (sold out) 04.19 | Charlotte, NC - The Evening Muse * 04.20 | Knoxville, TN - Bijou Theatre​ (sold out) * w/o Mandolin Orange

Here’s a great piece about Mikkel Beckmen, I’m grateful for his friendship and musical partnership for over 20 years! https://soundcloud.com/minneculture/washboard-for-the-modern-folk

Happy to announce a run of shows with my friend Phil Cook in May. Tickets on sale now! More info: http://www.charlieparr.com/shows.html 5.16 | Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall + Schubas 5.17 | Milwaukee, IL - Pabst / Riverside / Turner Hall 5.18 | Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue & 7th St Entry 5.19 | Duluth, MN - Sacred Heart Music Center 5.20 | Eau Claire, WI - Pablo Center at the Confluence 5.21 | Eau Claire, WI - Pablo Center at the Confluence

UK + EU tour coming August/September! More info + tickets: http://charlieparr.com/shows.html 28.08 | Glasgow, UK - CCA Glasgow * 29.08 | York, UK - The Crescent Community Venue * 30.08 | Dorset, UK - End Of The Road Festival 31.08 | Abergavenny, UK - The Art Shop * 02.09 | Newcastle, UK - The Cluny * 03.09 | Chester, UK - St Mary's Creative Space * 04.09 | London, UK - The Lexington * 05.09 | Lewes, UK - Lewes Con Club * 08.09 | Asten, NL - Misty Fields * 09.09 | Amsterdam, NL - Bitterzoet * 10.09 | Nijmegen, NL - Merleyn * 11.09 | Zurich, CH - El Lokal * 12.09 | Orléans, FR - Blue Devils Orléans * 13.09 | Bienne, CH - Nebia poche * 15.09 | Groningen, NL - Vera Groningen * * w/ J.D. Wilkes

Heading out for a little run of shows with The Ghost of Paul Revere! Tix + info: https://bit.ly/2NrNZoC 01.30 | Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge 01.31 | Indianapolis, IN - HI-FI Indy 02.01 | Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon 02.02 | Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall + Schubas

Heading south with Mandolin Orange in April! More info + tickets: http://charlieparr.com/shows.html 04.04 | Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse 04.05 | Birmingham, AL - Saturn Birmingham 04.06 | Jackson, MS - Duling Hall 04.07 | Memphis, TN - Minglewood Hall 04.09 | St. Louis, MO - Delmar Hall 04.10 | Kansas City, MO - The Madrid Theatre 04.11 | Dallas, TX - The Kessler 04.13 | Houston, TX - Heights Theater 04.14 | Oklahoma City, OK - Tower Theatre OKC 04.16 | Cincinnati, OH - Taft Theatre 04.17 | Louisville, KY - Headliners Music Hall 04.18 | Chattanooga, TN - Tivoli Theatre • Walker Theatre • Memorial Auditorium 04.20 | Knoxville, TN - Bijou Theatre

Welcome to 2019, here's what's on for January/Feb! 01.03 | Braham, MN - Wiese Auditorium (SOLD OUT) 01.04 | Braham, MN - Wiese Auditorium (SOLD OUT) 01.05 | Lutsen, MN - GNDWIRE Records Ski Party (SOLD OUT) 01.06 | Saint Paul, MN - Turf Club 01.09 | Superior, WI - Cedar Lounge 01.13 | Saint Paul, MN - Turf Club 01.16 | Superior, WI - Cedar Lounge 01.17 | Cedar Rapids, IA - Paramount Theatre - Cedar Rapids * 01.20 | Saint Paul, MN - Turf Club 01.23 | Superior, WI - Cedar Lounge 01.25 | Viroqua, WI - Viroqua Masonic Center Banquet Hall 01.26 | Winona, MN - Eds (no name) Bar 01.27 | Saint Paul, MN - Turf Club 01.30 | Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge ^ 01.31 | Indianapolis, IN - HI-FI Indy ^ 02.01 | Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon ^ 02.02 | Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall + Schubas ^ 02.22 | Red Wing, MN - Big Turn Music Fest 02.23 | Red Wing, MN - Big Turn Music Fest * w/ Tedeschi Trucks Band ^ w/ The Ghost of Paul Revere

Returning to the Turf Club on Sundays in January - tickets go on-sale Friday at 10am central! http://charlieparr.com/shows.html poster by _birdchow_ https://www.instagram.com/_birdchow_/

Heading west with Willie Watson tomorrow! More info + tickets: https://bit.ly/2NrNZoC 11.27 | Bozeman, MT – Rialto Bozeman ^ 11.28 | Missoula, MT – The Top Hat ^ 11.29 | Seattle, WA – Tractor Tavern ^ 11.30 | Grants Pass, OR - Rogue Theatre ^ 12.01 | Eugene, OR - HiFi Music Hall ^ 12.02 | Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios ^ 12.04 | San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall ^ 12.05 | Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour ^ 12.06 | Flagstaff, AZ - Flagstaff Brewing Company 12.08 | Laporte, CO - Swing Station 12.09 | Denver, CO – The Bluebird Theater ^ ^ Co-bill w/ Willie Watson

There appears to be a large community of cats in the Short North neighborhood of Columbus OH. I spent the night there across from a park where someone had placed several plates of food for the roaming gangs of cats and when I pulled up they were all lounging around contentedly near a tree with what looked like a small wooden sculpture stuck into the grass at its roots. Maybe an icon, or a sign for them to come and eat, maybe an idol, a cat messiah, or maybe an old folk singer’s poor eyesight making philosophy out of garbage. Whatever it was, I was welcomed to the neighborhood in true cat fashion - with absolute indifference. These cats were perfectly content to just let me be me, and the more I sat on the porch talking to them the more I realized that I didn’t need to say anything at all. My talk was only a futile effort to understand something that I can never grasp, and my true task is to learn to accept and embrace that lonely reality and live meaningfully and peacefully in spite of it. I want to take some time to say a very sincere thank you to everyone who came out to the Palace on Saturday night, along with the amazing crew and the musicians that I feel so honored to be able to spend time with. It means the world to me to be able to continue playing music, and I’m very grateful for having folks come out and enjoy what we’re doing. This entire tour has been fantastic, and I’m happy to report that the metal in my shoulder held up very well. I’m looking forward to heading west with Willie Watson soon, and hope to see some of my friends along the way. And I’m going to try and be quiet and stay awake and see what I can learn from that, like the residents of cat town

Excited for this one at Palace Theatre on Saturday night! Tickets still available: https://bit.ly/2w48rBa

Wrapping up the final leg of dates for the east coast/midwest tour this week, Minnesota bound! 11.13 | Ann Arbor, MI - The Ark - Ann Arbor * 11.14 | Columbus, OH - Woodlands Tavern * 11.15 | Urbana, IL - Blackbird Urbanaa * 11.16 | Milwaukee, WI - Colectivo Coffee * 11.17 | Saint Paul, MN - Palace Theatre * *w/ The Ghost of Paul Revere

First tour back since the skateboarding crash starts Thursday! Tix: https://www.charlieparr.com/shows 11.01 | Philadelphia, PA - Boot & Saddle * 11.02 | Washington, DC - Black Cat DC * 11.03 | Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg * 11.04 | Hamden, CT - Space Ballroom * 11.06 | Lancaster, PA - Chameleon Club * 11.07 | State College, PA - Zeno's Pub * 11.08 | Pittsburgh, PA - Club Cafe * 11.09 | Albany, NY - The Hollow Bar + Kitchen * 11.10 | Burlington, VT - Higher Ground * 11.11 | Syracuse, NY - The Westcott Theater * 11.13 | Ann Arbor, MI - The Ark - Ann Arbor * 11.14 | Columbus, OH - Woodlands Tavern * 11.15 | Urbana, IL - Blackbird Urbana * 11.16 | Milwaukee, WI - Colectivo Coffee * 11.17 | Saint Paul, MN - Palace Theatre * 11.27 | Bozeman, MT – Rialto Bozeman ^ 11.28 | Missoula, MT – The Top Hat ^ 11.29 | Seattle, WA – Tractor Tavern ^ 11.30 | Grants Pass, OR - Rogue Theatree ^ 12.01 | Eugene, OR - HiFi Music Hall ^ 12.02 | Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios ^ 12.04 | San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall ^ 12.06 | Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour ^ 12.08 | Laporte, CO - Swing Station 12.09 | Denver, CO – The Bluebird Theater ^ * w/ The Ghost of Paul Revere ^ w/ Willie Watson photo: Anthony Mulcahy

Fall/Winter tour dates with Willie Watson & The Ghost of Paul Revere are all on-sale now, can't wait to get back on the road again! tix: https://bit.ly/2NrNZoC 11.01 | Philadelphia, PA - Boot & Saddle * 11.02 | Washington, DC - Black Cat DC * 11.03 | Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg * 11.04 | Hamden, CT - Space Ballroom * 11.06 | Lancaster, PA - Chameleon Club * 11.07 | State College, PA - Barrel 21 Distillery 11.08 | Pittsburgh, PA - Club Cafe * 11.09 | Albany, NY - The Hollow Bar + Kitchen 11.10 | Burlington, VT - Higher Ground * 11.11 | Syracuse, NY - The Westcott Theater * 11.13 | Ann Arbor, MI - The Ark - Ann Arbor * 11.14 | Columbus, OH - Woodlands Backyard * 11.15 | Urbana, IL - Blackbird Urbana * 11.16 | Milwaukee, WI - Colectivo Coffee * 11.17 | Saint Paul, MN - Palace Theatre * 11.27 | Bozeman, MT – Rialto Bozeman ^ 11.28 | Missoula, MT – The Top Hat ^ 11.29 | Seattle, WA – Tractor Tavern ^ 11.30 | Grants Pass, OR - Rogue Theatre ^ 12.01 | Eugene, OR - HiFi Music Hall ^ 12.02 | Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios ^ 12.04 | San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall ^ 12.06 | Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour ^ 12.09 | Denver, CO – The Bluebird Theater ^ * w/ The Ghost of Paul Revere ^ w/ Willie Watson

Excited to announce this tour with Willie Watson in November/December! Tickets on-sale Friday! 11.27 | Bozeman, MT – Rialto Theater 11.28 | Missoula, MT – The Top Hat 11.29 | Seattle, WA – Tractor Tavern 11.30 | Grants Pass, OR - Rogue Theatre 12.01 | Eugene, OR - HiFi Music Hall 12.02 | Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios 12.04 | San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall 12.06 | Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour 12.09 | Denver, CO – The Bluebird Theater

My great friend Jeff Mitchell has a new EP coming out in October! https://youtu.be/kOthN097uoU

It looks like I took on a little more than I can handle. The days following my fall I was thinking hard about when the last day was that I went without playing the guitar and I couldn’t think that far back. I’m not much of a guitar player but just doing the little that I can do with the instrument has changed my life, and trying to imagine living without playing guitar left me feeling pretty empty. So I’ve pushed a bit too hard in trying to get back to it, and I’m feeling the consequences now. I’ve decided to cancel my show in Winona next Saturday and hopefully reschedule for a time when I’m in better shape than I am now. I’ve got a few shows here and there before November and a bunch of OT and if I’m careful I’ll be back to playing every day by Halloween and hopefully be back in Winona soon. I apologize for the cancellation. I asked the doctor a thousand unanswerable questions about the future and during his patient silence I said “sorry. I’m new here”.

So my first gig back after my fall was in Eau Claire for the Chippewa Valley Blues Society this last Tuesday and I was pretty nervous about it, even though I got the ok from my doctor and the guru-like occupational therapist I’ve been seeing. Things feel a little different now, though, and I feel very tentative about everything from driving to walking down the stairs. My brain seems to want to show me pictures of what it would be like if I fell down an embankment or stumbled onto a busy highway, and it’s making me really wary. I’m worried that the hesitation and fear will show up in my guitar playing. Anyway, I carefully made my way to Eau Claire and Revival Records brought me a little peace, a reminder of the spread-out community of souls that I participate in, shared skateboarding injuries, and a beautiful Big Joe WIlliams record. The gig went better than I thought it would, even though I have a long way to go, and I’m very grateful to everyone who stopped by. There are so many people to thank for so many kindnesses, I’m humbled by all the support and help I’ve received throughout this experience. This will be my first weekend back on the road since the accident. I’ll be in Madison at the Edgewater Friday evening for their summer series and on Sunday I kick off the Labor of Love festival in New Munster WI at noon. Both shows have fantastic lineups and I’m happy to be a part of them, I’m deeply grateful that I’ll be there at all, and I promise I’ll do my best to play well and not fall off the edge of the stage.

Looking forward to getting back out on the road in November! Tix available here: http://www.charlieparr.com/shows.html 11.01 | Philadelphia, PA - Boot & Saddle 11.02 | Washington, DC - Black Cat 11.03 | Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg 11.04 | Hamden, CT - Space Ballroom 11.07 | Lancaster, PA - Chameleon Club 11.08 | Pittsburgh, PA - Club Cafe 11.09 | Albany, NY - The Hollow 11.10 | Burlington, VT - Higher Ground 11.11 | Syracuse, NY - Wescott Theater 11.13 | Ann Arbor, MI - The Ark 11.14 | Columbus, OH - Woodlands Backyard 11.15 | Urbana, IL - Blackbird 11.16 | Milwaukee, WI - Collectivo 11.17 | Saint Paul, MN - Palace Theatre

Just announced: Saturday, November 17th at the Palace Theatre w/ The Ghost of Paul Revere! Tickets on-sale Friday at 11am. https://bit.ly/2w48rBa Poster by Logan Schmitt Illustration

How old do I need to be before I understand how old I am? When I was younger I often felt old, or at least what I imagined old must feel like, and now that I’m older I often feel younger. Sometimes I feel as though I’ve collected all the ages I’ve ever been and can rummage through them at will, strolling through town like a 30 year old with important things to do or riding my bike through ditches as if I were 11. My daughter and I went skateboarding last night and I fell pretty hard, breaking my shoulder in three places and having to be taken by ambulance to the hospital. They put a bracelet on me that has my age on it. Maybe I should leave it on. Unfortunately I can’t play the guitar for a spell and will have to have surgery this week - my first ever. Grateful to Mark for working hard to reschedule the upcoming shows, and to my amazing daughter for thinking fast and sprinting for help while her old man writhed in the weeds. She’s 11, and according to my new bracelet I’m 51.

I’d never been to the Newport Folk Festival before, neither as a fan nor a performer, and I didn’t know what to expect. I have a lot of the recordings that came out of the festival’s earlier years, and I listen to them quite a bit, although not so much as recordings from the Newport Folk Festival, but as recordings by Robert Pete Williams, Big Mama Thornton, Mississippi John Hurt, Jean Ritchie, Doc Reese and so many others. It seemed hard to place them within a specific time and place somehow. I didn’t feel the ghosts of my heroes at the festival, although I did feel the immense weight of their shoulders underneath me, holding me up into an atmosphere that I never could achieve without them. If I’m doing a good job, though, I feel this way every time I get to play. This festival, unlike most festivals I’ve had the good fortune to play, was an integral part of bringing the musicians that I love out of relative obscurity and onto a larger stage. I doubt that I would have access to a lot of the music I listen to today if it hadn’t been for the careful curation of the Newport Folk Festival. When I arrived at the festival, I wondered why I didn’t feel changed by it. What I had forgotten was that I had already been changed by it, decades before, when it brought me to the shoulders that I would stand on from the Harbor Stage overlooking Newport. I’m very grateful to have been included in the festival this year, grateful to have seen so many amazing musicians and met so many great folks and humbled by the invitation to add my voice to the sing-along.