When Brad Parsons steps out on a stage, it’s not long before he overpowers a roaring crowd. With little but his voice and an acoustic guitar, Parsons channels raucous energy into original songs that are as hopeful as they are heart-wrenching.

Brad Parsons is a singer/songwriter from Idaho, but has been taking the Portland music scene by storm since 2008. He built a strong following as a singer/songwriter in his band The Bellboys, and is now primarily working on his new project: Brad Parsons & The Local Talent. He has also gained some notoriety as a multi-instrumentalist and back-up singer for Horse Feathers and drummer for rock and roll outfit Rose City Thorns. You might also find him as an artist-at-large for music festivals such as WinterWonderGrass and Northwest String Summit, lending his artistry to bands like Fruition and ALO.

His songs and style aim to hit you right in your chest and his big voice goes for your gut. He begs you to sing, shout, dance, laugh and cry with him with songs that sound like standards but are wholly unique to his own style.

Parsons released his first solo EP Anywhere the River Runs in 2012. He’s currently dedicating his time to the production of his first full-length album, due this fall.