Kathleen Parks

Kathleen Parks is a fiddler, singer, songwriter, and dancer 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 is one of two front-women for Twisted Pine, whose debut album is now out from Signature Sounds. 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 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 new 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. Twisted Pine is in the process of writing and recording a brand new album of original music to be out in the summer of 2019.

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’re in the process of recording their first full-length album which will be out by March 2019. Keep an eye out for their tour, 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 both Rachel Sumner's 2018 EP, and Brad Bensko's 2018 solo record as well!
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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 Skype. She gives workshops and group lessons on Celtic and American roots music, as well as rhythmic techniques, songwriting, and arranging.