Music in the Meadow, Saturday, June 29th, 6:00pm. Connecticut College Arboretum, New London, CT

Mystic Arts Cafe, Friday, May 10th

I’m delighted to be returning to the Mystic Arts Cafe this time with my acoustic ensemble on Friday, May 10th.  Pulitzer Prize poet, Carl Dennis will perform his poetry. Doors open at 7:00pm. Show starts at 7:30pm. $10 door. Students free admission.

Mystic Arts Center, 9 Water Street, Mystic, CT. (860) 912-2444.

Friday, March 8th Show at Mohegan Sun Cabaret Theater

Friday, March 8th Nancy Parent and ensemble will perform at the Mohegan Sun Cabaret Theater as part of a live broadcast of radio 94.9FM News Now Birthday Celebration. Performance is 8:00-9:00pm. Radio broadcast begins at 6pm. This is a private, invite-only event. Please contact nbparent@gmail.com for more information.

Nancy’s band will include Dana Takaki (violin & flute), Rachael Aikens (vocals), Dan Spano (keyboard), Steve Elci (percussion), and Ben Parent (bass guitar).

Nancy’s newly released CD Vision of Angels will be available for purchase.

“Vision of Angels” CD Release Concert, Oct. 26, 2012

From left to right: Mike Palazzolo, Dana Takaki, Ron Lewis, Rachael Aikens, Nancy Parent, Hugh Birdsall.   Additional musicians not in photo: Dan Spano (keyboard), Donna Piacenza (flute), and Chris MacKay (vocals).

CD Release Concert, Friday, Oct. 26th

Grace Revisited: Nancy Parent

By Faye Trafford

It’s been quite a year for University of Connecticut instructor Nancy Parent, who also sings, writes songs, and is pedal steel player with The Rivergods. Parent has completed her doctoral thesis (which analyzed science education in contemporary Native American communities) and is getting ready to release her first solo album later this month.

Last December, Parent received a letter from her department head advising her to wrap up her work by May.

“I was in overdrive. I went from having written nothing to writing 230 pages,” she said. “I had to write five pages a day. It came pretty quick. The analysis had been percolating for a few years. And I managed to write songs too —it was an intense time.”

At night she would pull together old lyrics to help her mind unwind.

“When I think back, I don’t know how I did that. But I did!” she laughed.

Parent will be performing in The Day’s Live Lunch Break series at noon on Thursday, Oct. 25 (streaming live on theday.com) and her 12-track album, “Vision of Angels” releases Friday, Oct. 26, with a concert at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 19 Jay St., New London at 7:30 p.m. Dogbite and Dirt Road Radio are the opening acts. Suggested donation is $10, and CDs, wine and refreshments will be available for purchase.

“These songs, I’ve never really played with a band,” Parent said. “It’s exciting because we’re also building the band from the ground up.”

Those familiar with The Rivergods will hear music that is much more “folky and lyrical.”

“There’s a lot of different layers to it,” she said. “It’s introspective,” but also socially minded.

Parent, who teaches anthropology and women studies, said political stakes “are very high for women right now, in terms of women’s basic access to health care — especially for impoverished women. I think that sexism is really dangerously alive in some of these conservative candidates.”

She said her Avery Point students are very attentive and tuned in to the issues in this year’s presidential election.

“[College students] are often misunderstood as being apathetic, or absorbed in their technology and peer group. They get fired up about stuff but so many of the issues are so daunting, they don’t know what to do about it,” she explained.

“Through the Avery Point Learning Community, we’ve done a lot of critical analysis of consumerism, and how our consumerism oppresses people around the world. There is not a lack of concern or desire to get involved improving things. People get overwhelmed.”

 

CD Release Concert Friday, October 26, 2012

Tangled up in Blue

I had an absolute great time with the Small Town Concert Series band performing at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center in Old Saybrook, CT on Friday, July 6th for the Tribute to Bob Dylan show.  Here are recordings of my two solo performances: ”Tangled up in Blue” and “Every Grain of Sand”with Dana Takaki on violin, Lauren Agnelli on bass and backing vocals, and Matthew Male on percussion.

Click audio links below:

Nancy Parent singing Dylan’s Tangled up in Blue @ The Kate

Nancy Parent singing Dylan’s Every Grain of Sand @ The Kate

Living in Community

Greetings, friends-

I want to share two upcoming benefits for two very important causes happening in New London. I’m continually reminded of the importance of living intentionally through community, and I’m grateful to be able to offer my own talents toward the benefit of others. Recently I heard someone say that when we don’t live for the benefit of others, we are living beneath our privilege. This was a profound reminder to put into action our unique contributions toward building a healthier, more supportive community. Indeed, it takes a village.

First, the Regional Multicultural Magnet School in New London is holding its 2nd Annual Music Festival and Fund-Raiser called MagnetPalooza to support the school’s enrichment programs. The event takes place Sunday, June 10th, from 3:00-5:00pm at the Hygienic Art Park, Bank Street, New London. Musical acts include local celebrity and children’s music artist, Steve Elci & Friends, as well as Mr. C & Friends (our school principal & talented teachers), the RMMS Chorus, WTO (local hip-hop group), and Dogbite (Hugh Birdsall and Kevin Salley are teachers at RMMS), and dancing with Mr. Leo. I have the pleasure of being part of the behind-the-scenes work for this benefit and will enjoy dancing and fun with the families, including my own, who will be there. All are welcome! Suggested donation $5/individual, $10/family. Here is the Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/351044854948559/?ref=ts

Second, a benefit for another local celebrity, Steve Kaika, long-time bassist for the Reducers, will take place on Friday, June 15th from 6:00-11:00pm also at the Hygienic Art Park. Steve is battling cancer and this benefit will provide monetary support for his treatments and the reality of not working for several months. It’s sure to be a bitter/sweet evening and an opportunity to show Steve how much love and support there is for him in the community.  I’ll be performing with the Rivergods at this event, alongside Dogbite (Reducer’s guitarist, Hugh Birdsall’s other band), Ken Atkins & the Honky Tonk Kind, and the Original Sinners (a four-some including Ben Parent, Hugh Birdsall, Jim Carpenter, and John Fries). Suggested donation $10. Please consider offering more. Raffle, food, and drinks will be available. Here is the Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/315313298554859/?ref=ts

Wishing you all a great transition into summer. I look forward to seeing you soon!

Love & Peace-

Nancy

Listen to “Memo”

Click here:  Memo  © 2012 Nancy Parent

Single released on Good Sponge Sampler, Vol. I, Jan. 2012, http://www.goodsponge.com