Charlie Parr, Two Runner
Shelly Mosman
Charlie Parr and guitar.
Charlie Parr
The forthcoming album from Charlie Parr, Little Sun, was produced by Tucker Martine and features full-band arrangements with players such as Victor Krummenacher (Camper Van Beethoven) and Marisa Anderson. The singles released so far are indeed a bit different sound for the Minnesota singer-songwriter — bouncy honky tonk and meditative psychedelia — but still unmistakably Parr’s down-to-earth style. (Note, the current tour features a solo performance.) With Two Runner. Tickets were in short supply ahead of the show, but a livestream is also available.
$25.
media release: Little Sun, the eighteenth album from prolific Minnesota-based singer, songwriter and guitarist Charlie Parr, will be released March 22 on Smithsonian Folkways (pre-order/pre-save h
Ahead of the release, the new song, “Boombox,” debuted Jan. 9. Of the track, Parr reflects, “In this neighborhood, music is eternal and transcendent and surrounds us at all times, whether we’re listening or not. And it affects each of us differently, and that’s a gift. Listening to music can be interactive, even if you’re alone. I want to listen intentionally.”
Notably Parr’s first ever album to not be recorded entirely live, Little Sun was produced by close friend and collaborator Tucker Martine (Sufjan Stevens, The Decemberists, My Morning Jacket) in Portland, OR during the worst snowstorm the city had seen in decades. Across these eight tracks, Parr offers a clarifying work that reflects on the world and people around him. In addition to Parr (vocals, guitar, harmonica), the album features highly acclaimed guitarist Marisa Anderson as well as background vocals from Anna Tivel along with Andrew Borger (drums, percussion), Asher Fulero (piano, Hammond, keys) and Victor Krummenacher (electric bass, upright bass, bass VI).
Reflecting on the project, Parr shares, “Up until this very album, my recordings have always been done live, with few if any overdubs and nearly always the first take—leave all the mistakes, missed lyrics, extraneous noise, and whatever else might happen there for the ages. Most records have been recorded in roughly the time that it took to play the songs. And that’s been fine, actually. Here’s a new way for me, though: here’s an album that was recorded live but in collaboration with producer Tucker Martine, who’s become a friend and trusted musical ally. You’ll hear what happened, so I don’t need to describe it to you, but I’m very grateful for the opportunity to work with this very talented group of musicians.”
Relentlessly on the road, Parr has performed across the world for the past two decades, earning his reputation as an underground DIY legend. Parr will continue to tour through this spring including shows at Milwaukee’s Vivarium, Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk, Cambridge’s Club Passim, New York’s Mercury Lounge, Washington, D.C.’s Jammin’ Java, Nashville’s Legion Post 82, Denver’s Bluebird Theater, Seattle’s The Crocodile, San Francisco’s The Chapel, Los Angeles’ Gold Diggers and Minneapolis’ First Avenue among many others. See below for complete tour itinerary. Full details can be found at www.charlieparr.com/tour-
Born in Austin, Minnesota, and now based in Duluth, Parr has seventeen albums since his 2002 debut including his most recent, 2021’s Last of the Better Days Ahead, of which No Depression praised, “They don’t make them like Parr anymore—the sponge-like folk troubadour that imparts all he’s absorbed, beckoning us closer to sit cross-legged at his feet and listen, and to find crumbs of our own stories within his.” Additionally, Acoustic Guitar declared, “chock full of memories and energy with a sprightly sense of adventure” and Americana Highways proclaimed, “in the realm of traditional acoustic blues and folk very few people master it. With Parr’s latest release he has done just that.” In addition to his work as a musician, Parr also released his debut novel, Last of the Better Days Ahead, in the fall of 2022.
Two Runner is Paige Anderson and Emilie Rose. The American Roots duo from Northern California embody the hills they grew up in. Through the mediums of clawhammer banjo, flatpicking guitar, vocal harmonies, and oldtime fiddle, Two Runner puts a hip take on the Appalachian feel.
Front woman Paige Anderson grew up touring in her family bluegrass band, Anderson Family Bluegrass, starting at the age of 9. The family of six traveled for about 12 years as Anderson Family Bluegrass and later The Fearless Kin. Paige wrote her first song with Chuck Ragan at 15, which kickstarted her love for songwriting. In the last few years, Paige has spent her time creating new music, played bass for Family of the Year (2018), wrote a plethora of new songs to share, and has been discovering a new sound for herself and Two Runner.
Fiddler Emilie Rose was raised on Scottish Fiddle and fiddle camps starting at the age of 9. In her early years, she led Celtic band The String Sisters who played together for 10 years in the Sierra Nevada Foothills. Emilie has a deep understanding and love for folk music traditions.
Emilie took the fiddle out of NorCal to study at Berklee College of Music, where she graduated in 2020. In her studies, Emilie was mentored by the greats such as Bruce Molsky, Natalie Haas, and Darol Anger.
Together, Two Runner brings a rich mix to the folk music world, with their harmonies, banjo pickin', dirt kickin' duo.