Double Feature: Tara O’Grady with The Black Velvet Band And Teddy Parker’s Teddy Hold On Band

Fronted by “Bliss Ambassador” Tara O’Grady, a master vocalist who taught for a decade at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and has recorded five albums of original jazz, blues, and folk music. Tara’s warm vocals and poetic storytelling are complemented by extraordinary guitarist Vinny Raniolo, a globe-trotting virtuoso seen on PBS, heard on multiple Scorsese soundtracks, and a Troubadour veteran playing with colleague Frank Vignola. Praised by the New York Times, Juilliard-trained reed player Peter Anderson has performed with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Wycliffe Gordon, Wynton Marsalis, and Vince Giordano’s Nighthawks. World-touring bassist Trifon Dimitrov was mentored by jazz legend Ron Carter and has performed at numerous jazz festivals, clubs, TV, Radio and Broadway shows. “

Teddy Parker is a theatrical pop-rock songwriter, performer, and music educator with a flair for emotional storytelling. Whether declaring, “I manipulate people’s emotions!” or helping students access their feelings, Teddy thrives on connecting through music. They found their voice at Buck’s Rock camp, teaching vocals and piano, directing choirs, and sparking inspiration for songs like the infamous “Michael.” A Berklee College of Music graduate, Teddy won Best Performance for their ballad “Rhode Island Roads” and later performed with Livingston Taylor. Now based in NYC, Teddy teaches with heart, helping students grow musically and personally. Her band, Teddy Hold On, with Vivian, Violet and Nate released the debut EP “Crying in Public” in 2024. They also compose for games like Return to Moria, crafting modular folk tunes sung by solo or co-op adventurers. Teddy grew up in the Folk Project and was a featured performer in the Project’s Golden Anniversary celebration.