Parlor in the Round Season 9
Contributed by Kevin Worrell
Parlor in the Round, Alaska’s songwriter improv gameshow, closes out Season 9 with a three-stop tour featuring Australian alt-rock phenom, Alex Lahey, L.A.-based Fairbanks darling Emily Anderson and local support in each tour stop. The tour kicks off:
- Thursday, April 18th at 8PM in Anchorage at the Bear Tooth Theatrepub, with Anchorage artist 3pitome, the lead vocalist of RnB ensemble Wasabi Black.
- Friday, April 19th at 7PM Lahey and Anderson will join Talkeetna born-and-raised
- Aspenyarrow at the Sheldon Community Arts Hangar in Talkeetna
- Saturday, April 20th at 7PM at the Palace Theatre in Fairbanks, local fiddler/songwriter Rachel DeTemple rounds out the trio.
Parlor in the Round is part Nashville style songwriters’ round, part dinner theater, and part improv musical comedy. Borrowing from the guitar pull tradition of porches and campfires, songwriters from all walks of Alaskan life are paired with nationally acclaimed artists to trade songs, stories and some songwriting homework. After the intermission, the musicians improvise songs based on written submissions from the audience. Hosted by Kevin Worrell, this unique concert experience draws out the strength and vulnerability of each artist while holding the crowd closely throughout the performance. This concert series has featured the likes of Joan Osborne, Peter Mulvey, Medium Build, and Quinn Christopherson.
Despite having only a few outdoor shows during the pandemic, Parlor’s Season 9 series doubled its performances with sold out shows in Bethel and Homer and touring with Anchorage artist Rosie Rush on a Washington tour, including a well-received performance at Seattle’s Fremont Abbey. As an operation of non-profit WellRounded Arts, Parlor has been able to reach small and remote communities through collaboration with local non-profit organizations and grant funding through the Alaska State Council on the Arts, the Atwood Foundation, and local sponsors. The season finale tour is in collaboration with Denali Arts Council and the Fairbanks Arts Association.
Fairbanks grown and Los Angeles based, Emily Anderson has recently released a sophomore record, “Salt & Water”. Her single “Gold” was featured in a national Miller Lite campaign and a number of her works have been featured in video games (Calico, The Stars Between Us).
Anderson is an award-winning songwriter (American Songwriter, International Songwriting Competition) and her songs tackle subjects like grief, mental illness, friendship, and resilience. Her music has been described as “tender and brutal” and her sound akin to Phoebe Bridgers ruminating over coffee with Regina Spektor.
Alex Lahey is an Australian alternative rock singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Her debut album I Love You Like a Brother was released in October 2017 and peaked at number 15 on the ARIA Albums Chart. Her second album, The Best of Luck Club followed in 2019, peaking at number 30. After winning the Josh Pyke Partnership award for unsigned artists, she went on to release “You Don’t Think You Like People Like Me” which received Pitchfork’s Best New Track Award. She’s had songs featured in Netflix biggest original animated release of all time, The Mitchells vs. the Machines and is currently touring her latest album “The Answer is Always Yes”.
Life-long Anchorage resident 3pitome was raised on church music and drawn to powerful voices from Mahalia Jackson to Jennifer Hudson. As the lead vocalist with genre-review band Wasabi Black she has performed on stages around Alaska including the Alaska Airlines Center presented by the UAA concert board.
Aspenyarrow is Talkeetna-grown singer/songwriter, now living in Palmer. She has studied and taught music and is now writing, recording, and releasing her own original music. She performs as a solo artist, as one-third of the harmony-heavy trio Solar Gain, and the long-time Alaskan music mainstay, the Denali Cooks. She lives with her kids and her dog, Mary Puppins.
Rachel DeTemple is a Fairbanks based fiddle player, songwriter, educator, and published author. Her band, Fireweed Fiddle, is an eclectic blend of folk, bluegrass, pop, and outlaw country featuring some of Fairbanks’ finest musicians. She was awarded a Rasmuson Individual Artist Grant in 2020 to record and release her debut record of original songs, “Orbiting Things”. DeTemple also tours nationally with the beloved Alaskan band Blackwater Railroad.
Tickets for Parlor in the Round are available on the website and at each venue:
Parlor in the Round Tour Tickets: https://www.parlorintheround.com/shows
April 18th @ Bear Tooth Theatrepub - Anchorage
Doors 7:30 / Show 8:30
https://beartooththeatre.filmbot.com/special_events/parlor-in-the-round-season-8/
April 19th @ Sheldon Community Arts Hangar presented by Denali Arts Council - Talkeetna
Doors 6:30pm / Show 7:00
https://denaliartscouncil.app.neoncrm.com/eventReg.jsp?event=107&
April 20th @ The Palace Theatre – Fairbanks
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/parlor-in-the-round-tickets-873756668717
Doors 6:00pm / Show 7:00pm.
Links
- Parlor in the Round https://www.parlorintheround.com/
- Alex Lahey https://alexlahey.com.au/#contact
- 3pitome https://www.instagram.com/3pitomeofmusik?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
- Wasabi Black https://www.instagram.com/_wasabiblack?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
- Aspenyarrow https://www.aspenyarrow.love/about
- Rachel DeTemple https://www.racheldetemple.com
- Emily Anderson https://emilyandersonak.com