Charlie Parr, a self-taught roots musician, grew up in Austin, Minn. There, he became obsessed with Texas bluesmen Mance Lipscomb and Lightnin' Hopkins, whom he discovered in his dad's rich and eclectic record collection. From there, Parr made his way to the legendary West Bank of Minneapolis, where he spent his formative musical years before migrating north to his current home in Duluth.

Armed with his 12-string and custom-made Mule Resonator guitars, Parr recently swung into Folk Alley's studio in Saranac Lake, N.Y., on his way home from the Green River Festival in western Massachusetts to play a few songs from his recent debut, Stumpjumper.

This song, "Over The Red Cedar," speaks to the "vague feeling of instability" and uneasiness Parr and his friends have felt lately about the state of the world.

Song Performed

"Over The Red Cedar"

This story originally published to the NPR Music website. Watch Charlie Parr's full Folk Alley Session at FolkAlley.com.

Video produced by Linda Fahey of FolkAlley.com and Jeff Oehler and Sue Bibeau of Beehive Productions, with audio assistance by Redia Spada.