About evalyn
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Songwriter, poet and ironic social commentator evalyn parry is gifted with a sharp pen, a quirky musical sensibility and a wicked sense of humour. “Equally funny and dangerous” (CBC Radio), “parry breathes new life into the folk tradition with her politics, passion and poetry” (Penguin Eggs). evalyn’s outspoken, personal and political creations hold out a powerful vision of social change, while her irreverent wit holds nothing sacred.
“Engaging, clever and constantly surprising, Parry evokes tears and laughter in equal measure” ~ Herizons Magazine
Defying easy categorization, evalyn’s performances blend music, storytelling and spoken word. Equally at home performing at music, storytelling, spoken word and theatrical festivals, universities, pride festivals, intimate house concerts or festival main stages, evalyn has delighted audiences from Whitehorse to St Johns. She is the recipient of the Colleen Peterson Songwriting Award from the Ontario Arts Council, the Beth Ferguson Upcoming Songwriter Award, and nominee for the KM Hunter Ward (OAC); Her spokenword commentaries have been featured on CBC radio and television; her spokenword videos featured on BRAVO, and her CD’s have enjoyed critical acclaim and charted high on national campus and community radio.
evalyn grew up running around at folk festivals, folk music running in her veins: her father David a member of the iconic Toronto folk ensemble The Friends of Fiddlers Green, and her mother Caroline a children’s music performer, author and folklorist. No surprise then that evalyn and her brother Richard (a member of Montreal’s Arcade Fire) have both emerged as innovative artists in their own right. evalyn’s material stands on the foundation of the traditional Celtic and American music she was brought up singing, but takes it in original and unexpected directions.
evalyn’s live appearances over the last few years include: The Banff Centre, The Yukon International Storytelling Festival, Word on the Street, Toronto, The Halifax Pop Explosion; The Lincoln Center Out of Doors Roots of American Music Festival (New York City); The Calgary International Spoken Word Festival; The Small World Festival, Atlin Music and Arts Festival, Hillside Festival (Guelph Ontario); The Vancouver Storytelling Festival; Home County Folk Festival (London, Ontario), The Ottawa Folk Festival; Toronto Pride; Ottawa Pride; Peterborough Pride; Guleph Pride; Harbourfront Centre (Toronto); North by North East; she has performed for numerous union events and conferences, political, legal and activist events. as well as numerous university and colleges campuses and folk venues.
“parry redefines folk music” ~ The Daily News, Hailfax
In addition to her musical adventures, evalyn is also an actor, playwright, theatre creator and educator. She is a founding member of Independent Auntie Theatre, with Anna Chatterton and Karin Randoja, known for their award-winning comedy “Clean Irene and Dirty Maxine”, and Dora Nominated production “Breakfast”. parry is also an Associate Artist at Toronto’s Buddies in Bad Times Theatre.
She likes to ride her bike.
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