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NURS'N BLUES MUSIC FEST BENEFITS MUSIC THERAPY PROGRAM;
PRESENTED BY BUFFALO MUSICIAN AND NURSE, PATTI PARKS; GRAMMY-NOMINATED KENNY
NEAL HEADLINES STRONG LINEUP
Saturday, May 25 - THE COVE - 3PM to 10PM
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Patti Parks, creator of the Music Therapy program,
is also a member of the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame.
(Depew, NY) - The Nurs'n Blues Music Fest takes place at The Cove, 4701 Transit
Rd., Saturday, May 25. Showtime: 3pm to 10pm. Tickets: $20. Donation in
advance, $25. at the Door. Info: (716) 870-3600 or visit https://www.musicisart.org. Proceeds benefit Nurs'n Blues Therapy Program, that uses Blues
Music Therapy for those struggling with chemical dependency. Presented as a
non-profit collaborative by the Blues Society of Western New York
and Music Is Art.
Nurs'n Blues Music Fest features two stages with
continuous music all day long, headlined by Grammy nominee, blues guitar
great, Kenny Neal. Also performing: Robert "Freightrain" Parker;
Jeremy Keyes Band; Grace Stumberg and Grace Lougen; Hanna PK; 12 Pack Jack
McArdle; Sheila Connors; and the Patti Parks Band (Parks, from Buffalo and a
member of the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame, is the creator of the Nurs'n Blues
Music Fest).
Now in its fourth year, the program has served over
one-thousand clients and families. Each week, a Board-Certified Music
Therapist creates a plan of care that includes music interventions. During
these sessions the therapist makes a correlation examining influences of
Blues American History, lyrics or particular music format or rhythm which
help insight feelings or touch upon thoughts opening critical pathways to the
brain. This past March, the Music Therapy Program visited Kids Escaping Drugs
and Horizon Village, both located in the Buffalo area, where they've been
providing sessions every week for the last three years. At a 2018 press
conference, Music Is Art founder, Goo Goo Dolls' bassist Robby Takac,
formally endorsed the Music Therapy program.
"The Blues was chosen as a beautiful art form and
positive affect on improving communication," explains Parks, who felt
helpless as her own son was affected by struggles with chemical dependency.
"The Blues genre was a perfect means of communicating deep-rooted
feelings and mirrored Blues American history, while serving as a positive influence
on those struggling with chemical dependency and their families," Parks
adds. "Over one-thousand people within three years from ages
thirteen to adult have been helped. We currently provide services at Kids
Escaping Drugs and Horizon Village in Sanborn, (New York). We have also
expanded services to colleges, and see a need in other community
settings."
In 2016, Parks was invited by the Blues Foundation
to speak at their "Blues As Healer" symposium in Memphis about her
Music Therapy program along with famed guitarist Walter Trout, Dr. Marie
Trout, blues journalist Don Wilcock and the aforementioned Neal, whose
performance this year was donated by a family whose child was affected in a
positive way from the program. At the symposium, Parks shared dramatic
stories illustrating how the Blues has helped young people, veterans, and
performers in their road to recovery.
Patti Parks
Interviews/Music Therapy Promotional Materials Available.
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