Wes Parker

Wes Parker

For Wes Parker, sounds interlock like puzzle pieces. A ruddy guitar riff might click next to a broken piano melody, or a hauntingly angelic vocal could mesh just right with an off-kilter chord progression and D.I.Y. beat. All of these elements fit together in order to paint the personal portrait depicted in his music. It’s almost like he’s a mad scientist in his home studio, architecting poetically primal alternative rock that could’ve appeared in the MTV Buzz Bin back in the day or would make for a fiery sunset set at Coachella. The Richmond native grew up as the youngest of four kids with two older brothers and a sister. Mom bought a copy of Green Day’s American Idiot from PACSUN for him, and it proved life-changing. He honed his skills as a songwriter and producer and also devoured classics from the likes of Muse, Radiohead, and more. He dropped out of college after one semester and co-founded the band Camp Howard alongside a cohort of childhood friends. The band saw some success on DSPs and the road, touring with everyone from Stone Temple Pilots to Backseat Lovers. Though the group eventually parted ways, Wes continued to write and record on his own. After quitting a day job, he dropped his first solo single “Why Won't You Pick Up The Phone?” in February 2024 followed by “Annie Moore” and “Tattoo.” Gaining momentum, he ignited 2025 with the Splinter EP applauded by VPM and more. Signing to Big Machine in 2025, he emerges as just the alchemist rock music needs with his Fantom EP, presenting an arresting perspective on the devil’s downfall over a cinematic soundscape threaded together by eerie piano, glitchy beats, off-kilter guitar, and transfixing vocal transmissions.

Slow Funeral

Slow Funeral is the alias of South Carolina-based musician Mary Norris. In 2020, she recorded a demo of “I Loved You In Another Life” in her room with a limited version of Ableton Live and two microphones. After releasing it on Bandcamp, SC-local The Old Earthquake heard the demo and was moved, requesting to produce a fuller version. Norris then released the song as Slow Funeral’s first single, marking the beginning of an artistry defined by resourcefulness, tenacity, and abraded lyrical and musical vulnerability. She set out to record her debut album, funded by three different arts grants and crowdfunding, and began performing with a band in 2022.Performing as a 4-piece, Slow Funeral has been making early impact in the Southeast, selling out shows in her home state and touring beyond. Slow Funeral has already shared the stage with acts like Slothrust, Babe Haven, owen (Mike Kinsella of American Football), Chase Petra, Pinkshift, and more recently was selected to perform pre-shows for Weezer/Flaming Lips/Dinosaur Jr. and Linkin Park at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC. Her alt-rock project is a marriage of her 90s influences, such as Radiohead, The Cranberries, and Jeff Buckley, paired with her Americana roots, such as Jason Isbell, Bruce Springsteen, and John Prine.Norris worked with producer Corey Campbell on her debut album, Conditions of Trust, after being awarded community/project grants through Chapman Cultural Center, The Metropolitan Arts Council, and The South Carolina Arts Commission. Released on May 9th, 2025, the album details Norris’s experiences growing up and living in poverty in the south, along with topics of abuse, patriarchy, heartbreak, queer identity, and healing. Since going viral multiple times throughout her album cycle, Slow Funeral has been steadily building a passionate fanbase and creating a space for others to feel and be seen.

Ash Tuesday