Minnesota-based singer/songwriter/guitarist Charlie Parr has just released his new single, “Bear Head Lake.” The single is lifted from his upcoming album, Little Sun, which will be released on March 22nd via Smithsonian Folkways.

Reflecting on the song, Parr shares, “Go north. Find a quiet place where you can’t hear the engines anymore, can’t smell the cigarette smoke or diesel fumes, where you can’t see the neon lights or get a signal on your cell phone. Go for a walk and look at the sky, lie down and look at the ground, submerge yourself in cold, iron-colored water, then sit on the rocks and breathe.”

“Bear Head Lake” follows the previously released singles “Boombox” and “Portland Avenue.” Pre-order Little Sun here and listen to the new single from Parr below.

Notably Parr’s first ever album to not be recorded entirely live, Little Sun was produced by close friend and collaborator Tucker Martine (Sufjan Stevens, The Decemberists, My Morning Jacket) in Portland, Oregon during the worst snowstorm the city had seen in decades. Across these eight tracks, including previously release song, “Boombox,” Parr offers a clarifying work that reflects on the world and people around him.

In addition to Parr (vocals, guitar, harmonica), Little Sun — his eighteenth album — features highly acclaimed guitarist Marisa Anderson as well as background vocals from Anna Tivel along with Andrew Borger (drums, percussion), Asher Fulero (piano, Hammond, keys) and Victor Krummenacher (electric bass, upright bass, bass VI). 

Artwork:

Charlie Parr little sun

Track-listing:

  1. Portland Avenue
  2. Little Sun
  3. Bear Head Lake
  4. Boombox
  5. Pale Fire
  6. Ten Watt
  7. Stray
  8. Sloth

Tour dates:

March 7—Milwaukee, WI—Vivarium*
March 8—Stoughton, WI—Stoughton Opera Hall*
March 9—Chicago, IL—Old Town School of Folk*
March 10—Ann Arbor, MI—The Ark*
March 11—Rochester, NY—The Lovin Cup
March 12—Cambridge, MA—Club Passim+
March 13—Gloucester, MA—The Cut+
March 14—Exeter, NH—The Word Barn+
March 15—New York, NY—Mercury Lounge+
March 16—Jay, VT—Jay Peak Resort+
March 17—Northampton, MA—Back Porch Festival
March 19—Washington, D.C.—Jammin Java
March 20—Carrboro, NC—Cat’s Cradle†
March 21—Asheville, NC—Eulogy†
March 22—Nashville, TN—Legion Post 82
March 23—Lexington, KY—The Burl
April 4—Denver, CO—Bluebird Theater‡
April 5—Fort Collins, CO—The Armory‡
April 6—Salt Lake City, UT—Commonwealth‡
April 7—Boise, ID—Shrine Ballroom‡
April 9—Bozeman, MT—The Elm#
April 10—Missoula, MT—The Wilma#
April 11—Spokane, WA—District#
April 12—Seattle, WA—The Crocodile#
April 13—Portland, OR—Polaris Hall#
April 14—Arcata, CA—Humbrews#
April 16—San Francisco, CA—The Chapel#
April 17—Mariposa, CA—The Grove House#
April 18—Los Angeles, CA—Gold Diggers#
April 19—Phoenix, AZ—Valley Bar#
April 20—Flagstaff, AZ—Yucca North#
April 21—Albuquerque, NM—Fusion#
April 27—Austin, MN—Paramount Theatre
May 3—Minneapolis, MN—First Avenue^
May 23—McAlster, OK—Spaceship Earth
May 24—Eureka Springs, AR—Strings of the Kings 2024
June 22—River Falls, WI—Kinnistock
July 13—Monticello, MN—Nordic Folk Festival
July 19—Oak Hill, NY—Grey Fox Festival 
*with special guest Two Runner
+with special guest The Wildmans
†with special guest The Resonant Rogues
‡with special guest Anna Tival
#with special guest The Lowest Pair
^with special guests Mama’s Broke and Marisa Anderson