Parker Smith

Atlanta singer/songwriter and guitarist Parker Smith’s breezy third studio album Short Street (out June 7) was made with sensitivity, humor, and an innate knack for creating art from life. It's easy-flowing melodies and lilting pedal steel infuse some rural Americana without going full-on country. Smith’s sweet, zephyr-like sound and welcoming everyman vocals continue from the album’s opening lightly strummed guitars through its eight brisk, yet never blustery, tunes. All aching pedal steel and cigarette-soaked pleas, Atlanta folk/Americana artist Parker Smith seems to put his own spiritual turmoil in a chokehold, elevating it until he squeezes out the elegant songs that make it onto his recordings. Unlike most of his peers in the Americana community, Smith manages to defy being pigeonholed by inflecting his music with touches of blue-eyed soul, roots, bluegrass, and jazz. He has played innumerable gigs as a sideman, soloist, and leader of his roots-rock group “Parker Smith and the Bandwith.” He has toured the country and independently released five albums, Garden Hills (2011), Solo Flight (2013), Long Live Jazz Vol. 1 (2014), Live at Smith’s (2018), and Underground (2021). His newest record Short Street, will be released in June 2024. In addition to his own band, Parker performs with Long Horn (jazz), Bald and in the Way (bluegrass), and In Cahoots (cover band).