Charlie Parr

In the music of Charlie Parr, there is a sincere conviction and 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, taking to the road between shows, writing and rewriting songs as he plays, fueled by a belief that music endures. He draws closely from the sights and sounds around him, his lyrical craft 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 echoes of blues and folk icons of decades past. Parr sees himself as a continuer of the 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.”

Charlie Parr started recording in Duluth in 2002, where he lives today. Life in the port town on Lake Superior finds its way into his work, as does his childhood in Austin, Minnesota. He self-released his debut album, Criminals and Sinners, and did the same for his sophomore album 1922 (2002). With growing popularity abroad, he signed with Red House Records in 2015, where he recorded albums Stumpjumper (2015) and Dog (2017). His music often focuses on being present and mindful, rooted in folk and blues. Charlie Parr performs at The Cluny on 24 May 2026 at 18h30.