Freightrain Brings Soulful Roots Music to Fogartyville in Sarasota, Florida

American songwriter and recording artist Robert “Freightrain” Parker is a multiple award-winning Hall of Fame inductee, whose Indigenous Heritage (Seneca) infuses sensibility and intense passion in the messages he delivers, through his masterful musical landscapes – a unique and recognizable blend of soul, funk, blues and roots. You can get a taste of Parker’s signature sound at Freightrain’s performance at the Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center on Friday, February 25 at 8pm. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 day of show. Advance tickets are available at www.wslr.org or by calling 1-800-838-3006.

Freightrain is led by bassist Robert “Freightrain” Parker, the first Native American to be inducted into the Buffalo, NY Music Hall of Fame. Parker has made a name for himself over the years touring internationally with many big names in the blues world including Rock Bottom, Sherman Robertson, Chief James Billie, and Paul Reddick.

His current project Freightrain, based in Buffalo, NY, is a culturally diverse, soulful band that possesses a distinctive and energetic approach to American Roots. Parker is recognized as one of the absolute best bassists in western New York state, and was awarded the coveted best blues album award in neighboring country Canada in 2018. He is also a soulful lead vocalist and harmony expert.

Robert says, “We’re not really a blues band, but we play the hell out of the blues.” Parker is an internationally recognized performer who was inducted into the Buffalo, New York Music Hall of Fame in 2015, being the first Indigenous inductee since the inception of the hall in 1983. More recently “Freightrain Live” won a 2018 International Indigenous Music Award for “Best Blues Album” and the band was also nominated in the 2018 Native American Music Awards for New or Debut Artist, Best Blues Recording (Outside Ourselves) and Best Music Video (Outside Ourselves).

Photo from Fogartyville