Kathleen Parks is a fiddler, singer, and songwriter who brings inexhaustible energy and creativity to the stage and studio. Her lyrics and melodies lean toward pop, while her fiddle blends and reimagines traditional and modern musical styles with a boundless improvisational spirit. From her deep grounding in bluegrass, jazz, and Irish music springs something entirely new.
A graduate of Berklee College of Music on full scholarship, Parks vocally fronts the Boston-based fruitgrass band Twisted Pine. On Signature Sounds Recordings, the band has released 2 works including their 2017 self titled debut album of original material, 2018 EP of twisted covers, and now one on the way, a full length of original and even more twisted material out in August of 2020. Widely recognized as one of the most exciting and skillful bands in the Boston-area acoustic music scene, Twisted Pine has been nominated for the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Momentum Award, has won the 2018 Boston Music Award for Americana Artist of the year, and has performed at a multitude of festivals and venues across U.S. NPR Music enthuses about the “upbeat, poppy vibe; energetic, driving rhythms; virtuosic solos; tight harmonies” on the self-titled 2017 record, which features five original songs by Parks. Newly released is an entirely different EP by Twisted Pine called ‘Dreams’ featuring a wide range of covers by artists such as Blondie, Bill Monroe, Vulfpeck, The Beatles, Joni Mitchell, and The Cranberries. Parks takes a unique approach to each track she is featured vocally and almost magically morphs into a new being from song to song. During 2019 and 2020 the band has continued to tour around the country, and Canada and has beenat work writing and recording new original material at Dimension Sound Studios in Jamaica Plain. Parks and the rest of Twisted Pine are now putting the finishing touches on this album and are gearing up for an August 2020 release.
Her duo, Kathleen Parks & Brad Bensko, comes a completely different sound and vibe. Kat and Brad write and perform songs that include 1950’s and 60’s rock and pop, as well as influence from American Songbook Standards. Together, the duo brings a springy, happy, and romantic sound full of harmonies, lush guitar (acoustic and electric) tones, and sparkling jazz string sections with just the two together. They released and received high praise for tneir first full length album in March of 2019 called, Kat & Brad. Since then they have been touring, and performing their music for audiences all over New England. They'll be releasing two live takes from their March 7th set at Club Passim, on May 22nd. Keep an eye out for their new release, here!
As a solo artist she has performed on numerous recordings and has managed to put out one completed album of original and collaborated instrumental works with, Cat and The Moon and with Elias Alexander & The Bywater Band which features her Celtic fiddle playing. Hear her as a string section, or wild soloist on Paula Cole's upcoming record of Americana classics (release date TBD) Rachel Sumner's 2018 EP, and Brad Bensko's 2018 solo record as well!
Parks has shared the stage with artists such as The Punch Brothers, Margo Price, Darol Anger, Peter Rowan, Aoife O’Donovan, Claire Lynch, John Doyle, Allison Brown, Bobby Vinton, Eugene Friesen, Dr. David Wallace, The Suitcase Junket, Michael Cleveland, John Whelan, Jimmy Sturr, Paul Rishell & Annie Raines, Lindsey Webster, and more. Other projects include the new Irish quintet Cat and the Moon, Elias Alexander and the Bywater Band, and the duo Kathleen Parks and Brad Bensko.
As a teacher, Parks is currently working with private students in person and via Zoom, Google Hangouts, and Skype. She gives workshops and group lessons on Celtic and American roots music, as well as rhythmic techniques, songwriting, and arranging. She teaches via the Passim School of Music (Club Passim) and through private hire. Contact her for a lesson today!
A graduate of Berklee College of Music on full scholarship, Parks vocally fronts the Boston-based fruitgrass band Twisted Pine. On Signature Sounds Recordings, the band has released 2 works including their 2017 self titled debut album of original material, 2018 EP of twisted covers, and now one on the way, a full length of original and even more twisted material out in August of 2020. Widely recognized as one of the most exciting and skillful bands in the Boston-area acoustic music scene, Twisted Pine has been nominated for the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Momentum Award, has won the 2018 Boston Music Award for Americana Artist of the year, and has performed at a multitude of festivals and venues across U.S. NPR Music enthuses about the “upbeat, poppy vibe; energetic, driving rhythms; virtuosic solos; tight harmonies” on the self-titled 2017 record, which features five original songs by Parks. Newly released is an entirely different EP by Twisted Pine called ‘Dreams’ featuring a wide range of covers by artists such as Blondie, Bill Monroe, Vulfpeck, The Beatles, Joni Mitchell, and The Cranberries. Parks takes a unique approach to each track she is featured vocally and almost magically morphs into a new being from song to song. During 2019 and 2020 the band has continued to tour around the country, and Canada and has beenat work writing and recording new original material at Dimension Sound Studios in Jamaica Plain. Parks and the rest of Twisted Pine are now putting the finishing touches on this album and are gearing up for an August 2020 release.
Her duo, Kathleen Parks & Brad Bensko, comes a completely different sound and vibe. Kat and Brad write and perform songs that include 1950’s and 60’s rock and pop, as well as influence from American Songbook Standards. Together, the duo brings a springy, happy, and romantic sound full of harmonies, lush guitar (acoustic and electric) tones, and sparkling jazz string sections with just the two together. They released and received high praise for tneir first full length album in March of 2019 called, Kat & Brad. Since then they have been touring, and performing their music for audiences all over New England. They'll be releasing two live takes from their March 7th set at Club Passim, on May 22nd. Keep an eye out for their new release, here!
As a solo artist she has performed on numerous recordings and has managed to put out one completed album of original and collaborated instrumental works with, Cat and The Moon and with Elias Alexander & The Bywater Band which features her Celtic fiddle playing. Hear her as a string section, or wild soloist on Paula Cole's upcoming record of Americana classics (release date TBD) Rachel Sumner's 2018 EP, and Brad Bensko's 2018 solo record as well!
Parks has shared the stage with artists such as The Punch Brothers, Margo Price, Darol Anger, Peter Rowan, Aoife O’Donovan, Claire Lynch, John Doyle, Allison Brown, Bobby Vinton, Eugene Friesen, Dr. David Wallace, The Suitcase Junket, Michael Cleveland, John Whelan, Jimmy Sturr, Paul Rishell & Annie Raines, Lindsey Webster, and more. Other projects include the new Irish quintet Cat and the Moon, Elias Alexander and the Bywater Band, and the duo Kathleen Parks and Brad Bensko.
As a teacher, Parks is currently working with private students in person and via Zoom, Google Hangouts, and Skype. She gives workshops and group lessons on Celtic and American roots music, as well as rhythmic techniques, songwriting, and arranging. She teaches via the Passim School of Music (Club Passim) and through private hire. Contact her for a lesson today!
