(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- On Friday, September 26, 2025, The Folk Project's Troubadour Acoustic Concert Series presents Tara O'Grady & The Black Velvet Band and Teddy Parker. The concert takes place at the Morristown Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
Tara O'Grady & The Black Velvet 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.
Tickets are $15 for members / $20 for non-members. Tickets are available for purchase online. Morristown Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is located at 21 Normandy Heights Road in Morristown, New Jersey.
The Folk Project is New Jersey’s leading acoustic music and dance organization. It is a community of over 400 music lovers, musicians and dancers. Their member volunteers have been showcasing acoustic and traditional music in North Jersey for over 40 years. They invite you to join their audiences, enjoy the shows, and become a part of their dynamic, nonprofit organization.
The Folk Project is also an artistic community that offers support, instruction and performance opportunities. Their performing members range from local beginners to full-time touring professionals. They provide multiple showcases for every level of talent and many ways to interact with other musicians.
Their concerts, dances, festivals, parties and member shows are a great way to participate in this very active and social community, centered on a love of music, dance and fun.
The Folk Project does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.
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