Abby Parks: News

I have been selected to be interviewed by Tapestry, a radio show out of Birmingham, AL. I am very excited about the interview that I believe will take place sometime this week. I will post the day and time once I know. Below is a description of the radio show. Please tune in and listen!

Tapestry is a locally produced, half-hour arts and culture radio magazine airing on 90.3 WBHM-Birmingham and 91.5 WSGN-Gadsden. We are the public radio stations serving North Central Alabama.

The program showcases the region's diverse and vibrant arts and culture scene, as well as national and international arts and culture related to Alabama. Local musicians of many genres are often profiled. Tapestry airs Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 11:30 a.m.

I've been cast to play the part of Golde, wife of Tevye, in the JSU production of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF in Jacksonville, AL. It will be performed in late February of 2008. I'm not sure of the exact dates yet, but will post them when I know. I'm excited for this opportunity to return to musical theater. Past musicals I've been in include OKLAHOMA, THE FANTASTIKS, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, and (who would have guessed?) FIDDLER ON THE ROOF! I admit that I have a much better part this time, so can no longer feel jaded about this particular show. Ha! Please come out and see us in action!

In the beginning of August I took a songwriter tour in Nashville with Marc-Alan Barnette, a prominent songwriter who has been in the Nashville scene for 20+ years. It was a fun, entertaining, and informative experience. I was given a personal tour of music row, met contacts from publishing companies, NSAI headquarters, recording studios, and chatted with several Nashville hit songwriters. Marc was friendly, hilarious, and very knowledgable about the industry. I got hands-on experience in how to write a song that would be marketable in Nashville by actually co-writing two songs with Marc himself. We then took one of them over to his favorite recording studio and did a working demo. I learned my way around downtown Nashville pretty well and strolled up and down streets lined with music venues showcasing various country bands. The music was inspiring, the food was great, the company was enjoyable, and I left Music City feeling like I'd had the time of my life. If you are a songwriter looking to break into the Nashville scene, I'd definitely recommend this tour, as it lets you into secrets of the industry that Marc-Alan spent years to learn himself. I feel fortunate to have had such an eye-opening glimpse into what is an exciting but difficult industry.

I will be appearing on the Channel 24 TV morning show in Jacksonville Monday, March 27 at 7:30 am to plug the upcoming concert at Zannie Theater, and then again on Monday, April 3 at 6:30 am for a live performance. Set your VCR's--it should be a blast!

The magazine Steal Frame is hosting an acoustic music event at Fort McClellan for ten musical acts to perform at. I was just accepted as act #6 today. It will tentatively take place Saturday, March 25. I will reveal details as they unfold.

For all you songwriters out there, there is a new chapter of the NSAI that meets in Birmingham, AL once a month at the Moonlight Music Cafe, www.moonlightmusiccafe.com. The next meeting will be Monday, March 13 at 6:00 p.m. There is a link through the Moonlight's website on the calendar page that can get you through to info about NSAI.

I've attended two meetings thus far. A songwriter/"expert" gives a lecture on songwriting or a talk with Q&A, and then songwriters can bring a song on CD, play live, or just bring a lyric sheet and have it critiqued by the expert and the group (they require you bring 20 copies of your lyrics so attendees can read them as they listen). It is a nice, laid-back setting to share in, and everyone is friendly and tactful with comments so far. It's good exposure for closet songwriters as well as those who heartily subscribe to shameless self-promotion.

This is a great opportunity for anyone in this neck of the woods who is looking to break into a songwriting community and still have some access to Nashville without actually living there. In fact, the speakers last week made the comment that some songwriters prefer to be outside of Nashville just for the competition factor and the pressure to conform to industry standards that can have the adverse affect of choking individual creativity. Yet being a member of NSAI gives you all kinds of channels to network and market your songs to that very city, as well as elsewhere. But you don't even have to join to take part in the meetings here in B'ham and have your songs critiqued, which is nice for those with a tight budget (the $150 yearly fee for membership in NSAI may not be easy to come by for starving artists).

So come on out and join us for some fun and bring a song with you. If you don't know anyone else, just seek me out. I'm the one with the infectious laugh that will either cause you to laugh with me or make you run the other way!

Well, the CD's are finally in as of last week and available for purchase. CD Baby is still working on getting them onto their site, but they are available through me as well. Just go to the Contact Info page and email me with your request.

The release of my first album, Moving On, will take place in mid-October. I'm really psyched! CD's will be available through CDBaby, as well as Amazon, and others once I get the ball rolling. Email me for an early copy.