Charlie Parr

About Charlie Parr

In the music of Charlie Parr, there is a sincere conviction and earnest drive to create. The Minnesota-born guitarist, songwriter, and interpreter of traditional music has released 19 albums over two decades and has been known to perform up to 275 shows a year. Parr is a folk troubadour in the truest sense: taking to the road between shows, writing and rewriting songs as he plays, fueled by a belief that music is eternal and cannot be claimed or adequately explained. The bluesman poet pulls closely from the sights and sounds around him, his lyrical craftsmanship built by his influences. The sounds from his working-class upbringing—including Folkways legends such as Lead Belly and Woody Guthrie—imbue Parr’s music with stylistic echoes of blues and folk icons of decades past. Parr sees himself merely as a continuer of a folk tradition: “I feel like I stand on a lot of big shoulders,” he said in an interview. “I hope that I’ve brought a little bit of myself to the music.”

With a discography simultaneously transcendental in nature and grounded in roots music, Charlie Parr is the humble master of the 21st century folk tradition. Parr started recording in Duluth in 2002, where he lives today. Life in the port town on Lake Superior has a way of bleeding into his work the same way his childhood in Austin, Minnesota does. Parr self-released his debut album, Criminals and Sinners, and did the same for his sophomore album 1922 (2002). With growing popularity abroad, Parr signed with Red House Records in 2015, where he recorded break-out albums Stumpjumper (2015) and Dog (2017). Parr’s music has an overwhelming sense of being present and mindful, and his sound is timeless.

Parr’s mastery of his craft is only more apparent when contextualized within the history of folk tradition of which Parr has dedicated his practice The land and lives around and intersecting with Parr have always influenced him, from the hills and valleys of Hollandale, Minnesota to the Depression-era stories from his father. Parr strives to listen to everything: “I don’t see that I’d ever be capable of creating anything if it weren’t for these inspirations and influences, books and music as well as the weather and random interactions with strangers and animals. So, the well never runs dry as long as my eyes and ears are open,” Parr said in a 2020 interview. Before he was even 10 years old Parr was rummaging through his father’s record collection—sometimes drawing dinosaurs on the vinyl sleeves—and listening to country, folk, and blues legends, many of whom are staples in the Folkways catalog. When Parr sings and plays his resonator or 12-string, you can hear influences like Mance Lipscomb, Charley Patton, Spinder John Koerner, Rev. Gary Davis, and Dock Boggs. This is especially true in his playing, when, after a diagnosis of focal dystonia, Parr turned to greats like Davis, Doc Watson, and Booker White for two-finger picking inspiration. Gifted a 1965 Gibson B-45 12-string by his father, Parr has never had a formal lesson and learned by to listening records and watching musicians he admired.

Parr’s first album with Smithsonian Folkways, Last of Better Days Head (2021), foregrounded his lyrical craftsmanship and sophisticated bluesman confidence, with spare production highlighting Parr’s mastery of guitar and elevating his poetry. Last of Better Days Ahead is a portrait of how Parr saw the world in that moment, reflecting on time and memories that have past while holding an enduring desire to be present. In his 2024 release, Little Sun, Parr weaves together stories celebrating music, community, and communing with nature. Putting forth an ambitious and raw album that exemplifies the best of Parr's sound: a blend of the blues and folk traditions he continues to carry with him and the steadfast originality of a poet.

About Dead North

Dead North is a progressive bluegrass band from the northwoods of Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. Now residing in Minneapolis, the band is comprised of Luke Pascot (guitar, vocals, banjo), Kora Melia (mandolin, fiddle, vocals), and Nate Miller (bass, vocals). Together, they push the limits of the bluegrass genre with bold experimentation while still maintaining a high level of respect for tradition. Their sound elegantly mixes bluegrass with elements of jazz, rock, country, funk, and so much more. Influenced by the likes of Tony Rice, Billy Strings, David Grisman, etc., Dead North is a must see for any fans of progressive acoustic music.

About the Venue

Gates open at 6pm. Show starts at 7pm. This is an outdoor, rain or shine event.
The Hotel grounds overlook the Mississippi, with fabulous sunsets and a warm and friendly vibe. Entry is through the Main Street gate of the Hotel yard. Bring photo ID for proof of ticket purchase and consumption of alcohol.

Hotel food and drink purchases are cash only during the event. ATM on premise for the show. Pets are not allowed on grounds during these large shows. Food is available for purchase outdoors during the show by a TBD Food Truck and Trempealeau Hotel. Food and beverage may not be brought into the venue. Bags and blankets will be checked. No coolers are allowed. If you bring foldable chairs in sacks, keep bags in your vehicle to avoid delays at entry (and you won't lose them).

There are rooms for rent at The Hotel as well as Inn on the River, Little Bluff Inn and various short term rentals. There is camping at Perrot State Park and Lake Road Campground.

Restaurant
The Restaurant and Saloon will be closed for dinner service Saturday August 22. All food and drink during the shows will be sold outside. Lunch from the restaurant will be available Saturday from noon until 4pm.

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