Beginnings The band began as an offshoot of the university's folk music club. Chris Freeman, Antonio Alcorn, and others met weekly in the student union to play traditional music. The gatherings were open to anyone, and didn't hold any performances, through a misunderstanding, members of the club were offered an opening set at
Toad's Place in New Haven, Connecticut. Freeman and Alcorn put together an impromptu band, and soon recruited music students Harrison Goodale (bass) and Max Shakun (guitar) to continue playing shows. Erik Hischmann, the session drummer hired for the album, joined the band soon after recording was completed. In July 2014 the band changed its name to Parsonsfield. The following month marked the band's second studio release,
Afterparty EP, featuring covers of songs by
Mississippi John Hurt,
Bert Jansch, and
Huey Lewis and the News, as well as traditional songs and one original. In September 2016 the band released its third studio album,
Blooming Through The Black, also produced by
Sam Kassirer (
Josh Ritter,
Lake Street Dive,
Langhorne Slim), and recorded in Collinsville, CT in an abandoned axe factory on the banks of the Farmington River. In March 2018, Parsonsfield released their fourth studio album,
WE - produced by
Dan Cardinal (
Josh Ritter,
The Low Anthem,
Darlingside) and recorded at
Dimension Sound Studios in
Boston, MA. This marks their first time recording in a traditional studio. The first single, "Kick Out The Windows" was released in February with a companion video, which premiered by
American Songwriter. In early 2021, Max and Erik left the band.
Film, television and theater In winter 2013, and winter 2014–spring 2015, Parsonsfield wrote and performed an original soundtrack to
The Heart of Robin Hood, a theatrical production playing eight shows per week in
Cambridge,
Winnipeg, and
Toronto. After returning from Canada, the band relocated to
Leverett, Massachusetts. In September 2016, Parsonsfield wrote and performed an original score for the 1922 silent documentary
Nanook of the North. == Current members ==