So for the first time in a few years I've been issued a visa and been allowed to enter the u.s and boy did I do it! First i went to Seattle to hang with a friend for a couple days, then went for a five day drive up and down highway 101, which goes from Olympia National park to the southern end of California. 

I drove the high five down to Cottage Grove, Organ and from there did a detour through some side roads and found my self on what must be one of the best highways on the continent. Driving through the logging town of Coos Bay, which is probaby about mid way through organ I picked up a couple of dead head hitch hikers making their way to Arizona. They had a library of cds and it was all Greatfull Dead in various situations and positions. I hadn't had a smoke at that point in almost a week, so they shared some of theirs, and the scenery was amazing with the sounds. Just at sun set we entered northern California and drove past Pelica Penitenary, one of the biggest prisons in the u.s. The irony struck hard of such a place in the midst of so much beauty, and I was feeling freer than ever!

I spent that night in northern California in Cresent City where i dropped off the hitch hikers, and the next day I headed in to the Yorak Nations territory, also known as the Red Woods Forest. I was amazed by the size of those trees. I've seen trees that big on Vancouver Island but not that many of them! People were organizing to prevent the logging of those trees as far back as 1907, which must be the reason there's so many of them. i also walked the west coast trail, though only for a couple hours to write some lyrics. When i came back out there were a family of people from the Yorak Nation, the native people of that area. The man told me his boy was half Chamanish, a First Nation some where up by where i live, and like the first people's up here the life style and culture is largely built around the salmon. When I went to the nearby reservation, the air of the whole place smelled like smoked salmon and I did some great eatin' there.

After that I turned back north and took my time driving the 101 back to Seattle. i had the best clam chowder i ever had in a small pub in Lincoln City organ, and basicaly layed easy on the booze and did some writting ever where i went.

Now it's time to get some recording going and new songs together. I've been invited to do a tour with Los Maranoes in September, an excellent Latin band from Calgary, Alberta. I'll be putting a band together for this one and very excited about it!!!  

So for my third summer in a row i'll be coordinating a song writters work shop at the Artswells Festival in Wells/ Barkerville BC which takes place over the BC August long weekend (Aug. 1-4) The work shop will be Sunday August 3rd 1:30 pm - 3 pm at the IMA Gallery

Last year we had a very succesfull work shop with 7 complete strangers, mostly inexperienced or begging song writters co--wrote a terrific song. This year we're extending the work shop half an hour to give people a little more time for some individual attention, and to offer feedback on their work in progress or otherwise.

Then some games designed to shake out of writters blog or stimulate group creativity will be used to co-write a song as a group. The song will be performed at the final jam of the festival

I really do hope to see you all there :)

I will be playing at Rhada Cafe's Sweet Sounds brunch this Sunday Sept. 23 from 10:30 a.m to 2:30 pm. The afternoon will also see sets from my friend Tamara Nile and her band. I will be playing with Andy Mason, T Nile, and other contributers to my recent Matters of Survival album. My first set that morning will be filmed for my first ever tv airing on Shaw Cable to be viewed on Wed. Oct. 24 at pm . The food is great and the room has a great vibe, hope to see ya ! The address is 728 Main St. Vancouver BC

Dave

Just wanted to say that the beatiful voice singin with me in Cloud 9 Inn is that of Tamara Nile. :) 

For people who live around the BC interior, or for that matter any where , (I know a guy who's biking across Canada to this event!), one of my favourite indy music festivals will be held on the Aug long weekend Aug. 3 -6 at Wells, BC.

The Sunday I'll be co-ordinating a song writting workshop, where we can talk about techniques, calaboration exercises, and tricks to shake our imagination up and get the creative juices flowing. Sun. night I'll perform at 10:30 and then around 11:30 -1:30 we'll have an open stage and jam.

There are many other artists and band from my friendds list that'll be there, including Joey Only Outlaw Band, Tamara Nile, Kia Kadiri, Cory Fox, D Trevlon, and too many others to name. Plenty of spontaneous jams happening at the camp site's and just an all 'round great weekend! Hope to see ya there!

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My cd Matters of Survival is finally done and will be officialy released April 7 at Vancouver's Rhizome Cafe at 317 E Broadway 8 pm The night will iclude a solo set from Joey Only, and musical contributions from musicians who played on the album Joey Only , T Nile, Zippy Zhaenker, Andy Mason,  and others

For those who would like a copy you can contact me or visit High Life Records on Vancouver's Commercial Drive, or Red Cat Records. The album is also currently carried at Mountain Eagle Books in Smihers , BC

Just wanted to mention that the great flute solo that introduces the song Maple Hills which is currently the 1st song on my profile is that of Toby Moisy. Toby who is my cousin was a 16 year old high school student when it was recorded and is now a classical music student at the University of Victoria. His flute playing graces many of the songs on my Bottle of Stars album, and Maple Hills being the first song on that album, his performance on the song intro's the whole album. The idea was to play some thing, that would conjure the immage of a bird swimming over a river, diving down and bouncing over the ripples of water before again rocketing upwards and back like a dance. I sang the musical idea as my producer Jordy Walker accurately transcribed it for Toby to play.

Another moment of Toby's magic on Bottle of Stars was in the first version of Sweet Silluette. I hd never heard the combo of harmonica and flute so beautifuly before as on the solo of that original version. I tried to recapture that magic on a subsequent and more up beat version of the song two years later at Soona songs studio in Dallas Tx. How ever what resulted was a very different magic. Damn if I can remember tht flute players name at the moment, but he was a 2 time Gramy winner with a polka band. It was the first and last time I met him and we had dinner that night. He was a very interesting guy guy as well as a great musician, tall, stalky, with long hair and a long beard, the type of flute he played on Sweet Silluette had two long ends. The immage I have of him playing that double horned thing on the later version never escapes me when I hear the song. Immagine a dancing wallrus!! I wouldn't say we recapturted the magic of the solo on that original recording with Toby but it has it's own kind of funn! I will get the Wallrus's name for the credits when the album comes out!

Quite the previledgew this life being a recording artist :)

Dave

I wish the story was more interesting, and i promise the song will be much more exciting! unfortunately i have badly broken my left index finger

the doctor said if i don't have surgery in the next five days i will be permanently unable to play guitar.

I have no choice but to cancel my tour this month.

I'm hohoured to have been booked with some of the acts and clubs i was due to play, i still suggest you check them out, the dates are still on my profile and i will be replace, i will re-book this tour in september and make it bigger and better.

thanks for the hard work of the promoters and the acts involved, i will see you in the fall..

sorry and thanks friends and fans.
Dave

Press Release: Super Happy Fun Jambouree


Re: David Roy Parsons introduces his new Super Happy Fun Jambouree EP to the world in Montreal, Que May 2 at the Green Room
followed by a five city romp through Ontario.

David Roy Parsons a Vancouver musician and youth worker will be releasing his Super Happy Fun Jambouree ep in Montreal May 2 8:30 pm in a double bill with fellow Vancouver song writer Joey Only other dates include:

May 8 - Books For Prisoners Benefit - Ottawa's Saw Gallery, (the old court house) including an evening with speakers on prisoner rights issues followed by an evening of music with David Roy parsons and Joey Only

May 11 Cinema 379, Peterbourough, On. a double bill featuring David Roy parsons and Joey only

May 13 Down omar Pub, Oshawa featuring Vile Richard with David Roy Parsons

May 16 Holy Joes , Toronto - a BIG NIGHT featuring Chris St Pierre, Wiggler, Vile Richard, and David Roy Parsons, backed by percusionist Joe Sorbara, and Kitcheners' Rob Smith on lead guitar

Ma19 in Guelph at a venue TBA David Roy Parsons will do a double bill with The Faceless Lasers (remnants of the now defunct but awsome Haymakers)      

 More Info and sounds can be found at www.myspace.com/davidroyparsons

" David's tunes put a smile on my face, cool stuff, down to earth vibe"

Don Coleman A/R Attack Records

" Parsons music is both sunshine and rain with lyrics and melodies that stick with you for days. Imagine the poetry of Leonard Cohen mixed with the lightness and humour of Beck"

Erik Paulsson, Producer of the Sun Dance Film Juror Prize winning Eve and The Fire Horse  

" I have the highest respect for artists like David I put him in the same spot light as Fred Eaglesmith and Leonard Cohan and other great Canadian singers who sing about our land and life style"

Chris White, of partyinkingston.com

"Deputy Dave's newest material is his hottest to date he's been writting the sort of songs i'll be singing on the back porch to my mamma for years to come. Personally knowing David has enriched my music  and life, it very well will do the same for you with a listen or two "

Joey Only fellow folk singer