Preview: Grace Potter @ Frederick Fairgrounds, 10/21/20

Posted on 10/16/2020 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged alt-country, California, Frederick Fairgrounds, Grace Potter, Los Angeles, singer-songwriter, soul.

Grace Potter (Photo by Pamela Neal)

Last year, Grace Potter released her latest studio album, Daylight, and she toured the country earlier this year with a stop at The Anthem in DC. Soon after, COVID-19 shut the country down, and live touring stopped.

But Grace is among a number of pioneers bringing live performances back with drive-in shows where audiences experience a big concert from their car. Catch Grace Potter in Showtime at the Drive in locally at the Frederick Fairgrounds on Wednesday, Oct. 21, in a show presented by All Good Presents and Baltimore Soundstage.

Preview: Cat Janice @ Jammin’ Java, 9/18/20

Posted on 09/17/2020 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged Cat Janice, DC, Jammin' Java, singer-songwriter.

Cat Janice (Photo courtesy Jammin’ Java)

DC alt-rocker Cat Janice performs in a free outdoor show at Jammin’ Java on Friday, Sept. 18.

Although the show is free, Cat is appearing as a show in the Jammin’ Java series A Song and A Slice, which benefits charity’s of the artists choice. Jammin’ Java accepts donations for BYP100, chose by Cat, during the show.

Song of the Day: “You Only See Me When I’m Gone” by Alan Scott

Posted on 09/01/2020 by Parklifer in Local Spotlight, Preview and tagged Alan Scott, DC, funk, singer-songwriter, Song of the Day.

Alan Scott (Photo courtesy Sacks & Co.)

In the wake of social unrest and long-overdue increased awareness of institutionalized racism surrounding the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless others, DC songwriter and recording artist Alan Scott’s viral 2016 single and video “You Only See Me When I’m Gone” — written originally to address issues of race and police brutality following the tragic death of Eric Garner — was recently re-released.

Required Reading: Welcome Back, Kathleen Edwards

Posted on 07/14/2020 by Mark Caicedo in Live Review and tagged alt-country, Canada, folk, Kathleen Edwards, singer-songwriter.

Kathleen Edwards performs at The Birchmere in 2013. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)

Required Reading is Parklife DC’s essay series on music appreciation.

“The next time Kathleen plays here, we’ll be opening for her.”

Eric Brace of Last Train Home uttered those prophetic words at Arlington, Virginia’s Iota Club back in summer 2003. One of those NPR drive-way moments had put Kathleen Edwards on my radar when I heard one of her first interviews.

Her first album, Failer (Zoë Records), had just been released and when I heard its first single, “Six O’Clock News,” I was hooked.

Song of the Day: “America” by Sufjan Stevens

Posted on 07/06/2020 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged chamber pop, Detroit, folk, Michigan, singer-songwriter, Song of the Day, Sufjan Stevens.

Sufjan Stevens (Photo by Andrea Morrison)

The Ascension, the eighth solo studio album from singer, songwriter, and composer Sufjan Stevens is set for release Sept. 25 on Asthmatic Kitty Records.

“America,” the album’s debut single, is out now alongside a video filmed by Sufjan.

Livestream Preview: Waxahatchee @ Noon Chorus, 6/8/20

Posted on 06/05/2020 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged Alabama, Americana, Katie Crutchfield, livestream, Noon Chorus, singer-songwriter, Waxahatchee.

Waxahatchee (Photo by Molly Matalon)

Waxahatchee (aka Katie Crutchfield) released her highly anticipated new album Saint Cloud on March 27 via Merge Records. Critics hailed Saint Cloud as a career-defining album with Katie’s songwriting front and center.

With her spring tour in support of the album canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, Katie has a series of five livestream shows dedicated to her five albums, starting on Monday, June 8, via Noon Chorus.

Livestream Preview: Sharon Van Etten @ Seated, 5/29/20

Posted on 05/27/2020 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged California, folk, livestream, Los Angeles, Seated, Sharon Van Etten, singer-songwriter.

Sharon Van Etten (Photo by Ryan Pfluger)

Sharon Van Etten’s debut album, because i was in love, has an upcoming anniversary later this month. To celebrate, Sharon livestreams a performance of the album in its entirety from her home in Los Angeles via Seated on Friday, May 29.

Song of the Day: “Sucker” by Madeline Kenney

Posted on 05/20/2020 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged California, folk, Madeline Kenney, Oakland, singer-songwriter, Song of the Day.

Madeline Kenney (Photo courtesy Grandstand Media)

Madeline Kenney released her critically acclaimed sophomore album Perfect Shapes in 2018, and recently she announced its stunning follow-up, Sucker’s Lunch. Madeline recently shared the album’s lead single, “Sucker,” featuring vocals from Lambchop’s Kurt Wagner.

My Favorite Artist: Lucinda Williams

Posted on 03/18/2020 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged Americana, appreciation, Houston, Lucinda Williams, My Favorite Artist, singer-songwriter, Texas.

Lucinda Williams (Photo by Danny Clinch)

Editor’s Note: Parklife DC asked its contributors to write essays about their favorite bands. These essays appear in an occasional series, My Favorite Artist, and provide our readers with insights into our bloggers, their motivations, and their approach to covering concerts.

In 1994, Lucinda Williams won her first Grammy Award for Best Country Song for “Passionate Kisses,” a track from her self-titled 1988 turn to Americana. Mary Chapin Carpenter’s cover of the song also won for Best Country Vocal Performance.

While Mary may have taken away the hardware for her performance of the song, Lucinda’s hardcore fans — like me — will always prefer her performance of the song.

Live Review: Ken Stringfellow @ Bright Box Theater — 3/7/20

Posted on 03/11/2020 by marcshea2 in Live Review and tagged Bright Box Theater, California, Ken Stringfellow, power pop, singer-songwriter.

Ken Stingfellow performs at the Bright Box Theater on March 7, 2020. (Photo by Marc Shea)

The Bright Box Theater is a little gem tucked away on the Pedestrian Mall in Old Town Winchester, Virginia. In addition to the main theater, there is a small area on the second floor called Out of the Box that hosts intimate events. Out of the Box recently featured Ken Stringfellow. Ken not only founded the alternative rock band The Posies, but has also played for many years with REM and Big Star, in addition to releasing several solo albums.

singer-songwriter

Preview: Grace Potter @ Frederick Fairgrounds, 10/21/20

Preview: Cat Janice @ Jammin’ Java, 9/18/20

Song of the Day: “You Only See Me When I’m Gone” by Alan Scott

Required Reading: Welcome Back, Kathleen Edwards

Song of the Day: “America” by Sufjan Stevens

Livestream Preview: Waxahatchee @ Noon Chorus, 6/8/20

Livestream Preview: Sharon Van Etten @ Seated, 5/29/20

Song of the Day: “Sucker” by Madeline Kenney

My Favorite Artist: Lucinda Williams

Live Review: Ken Stringfellow @ Bright Box Theater — 3/7/20

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