West Coast-bred songwriter Mel Parsons first gained attention in 2009 with a set of heart-breaking acoustic songs, some of which were written as a cathartic outpouring after the sudden death of her partner in Canada. That album, Over My Shoulder, was nominated for the NZ Music Award Folk Album of the Year, as was her second album in 2011, Red Grey Blue.
Since then, Mel has called her suitcase and a hotel room home, on a near-continuous tour both here and abroad. She’s performed as part of the all-star Fly My Pretties line-up, spent time on the road with Anika Moa, and toured woolsheds around Australasia as part of comedy theatre show The Bitches’ Box.
She’s just finishing up a long list of shows with comedian James Nokise, and Gráda’s Gerry Paul.
Fresh off the boat from Picton, Mel and Gerry played us a couple of songs; Far Away, from her time with Fly My Pretties, and Down So Long, a brand new song which will be on Mel's third album, to be recorded at the end of this year.
Related Stories
Mel Parsons talking about her 2011 album Red Grey Blue with Nick Atkinson.
