Fri, May 8, 2026 | 8:00 pm
The Oasis Room, on the mezzanine level, is a cozy 100-seat “living room” theater ideal for jazz and other intimate music, theater and comedy performances as well as conferences, speakers, dining and private events.
Tickets
General Admission
Seating by Section
$25 plus fees
ABOUT THE SINNER’S CIRCLE
“To think it all began on an uneventful morn” –Bob Dylan
Sinner’s Circle is a Nashville-style songwriters’ circle in southern New England where local musicians share and perform new material in a supportive, collaborative environment. Founded in 2010 by Ben Parent, Jim Carpenter, Hugh Birdsall, and John Fries, it provides a space for songwriters to connect with peers and a discerning audience.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Nancy Parent – Host
Nancy Parent is a singer-songwriter hailing from southeastern Connecticut. Her vibrant soprano voice has drawn comparisons to some of the finest folk singers in the business, including Joan Baez, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Sandy Denny. Her original songs are poetic, personal and resonant, drawing from a deep well of inner reflection while still employing great hooks and truly memorable choruses.
Since 1998, Nancy has performed with the established folk-rock band, The Rivergods, as a lead singer, guitarist, and pedal steel player. Co-fronting the band with her husband, Ben, the Rivergods have enjoyed a rotating lineup of some of southern New England’s most talented roots/Americana players, and received many accolades over the years, particularly in regards to Parent’s soaring soprano and rich harmonizing abilities. Rick Koster, formerly of The Day hailed the Rivergods as “one of the area’s finest and best-loved bands.”
In 2012, Parent released a widely-acclaimed solo album, “Vision of Angels,” which was co-produced by Hugh Birdsall (The Reducers, Dogbite). Following that, Parent put out a string of singles including “Lock and Key” on several regional music samplers. Parent continues to write new songs, and recently contributed the bulk of the new material to the Rivergods’ forthcoming full-length album, currently in the final mixing stages and slated for a summer 2026 release.
In addition to her myriad musical talents, Parent is also a professor and division chair at Mitchell College in New London, and a dedicated mother to two college-aged children.
Kala Farnham
Kala Farnham crafts contemporary folk songs with roots and wings, weaving age-old truths into modern grooves. The 18th Connecticut State Troubadour and award-winning artist has earned national recognition as a 2020 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Emerging Artist, 2019 Rose Garden Performing Songwriter Contest winner, two-time Great American Song Contest finalist, and an Official Showcase Artist at both the Northeastern and Southeastern Regional Folk Alliance Conferences, among other accolades. She has shared the stage with legends such as Don McLean and Tower of Power, folk troubadours such as Lucy Kaplansky and David Wilcox, and more.
Drawing on a background in classical piano, musical theater, and therapeutic sound, she offers a signature reinvention of the folk tradition— infusing fairytales, historical fiction, and narrative medicine into vivid portraits of the human experience. Her intimate, interactive performances—featuring soul-stirring vocals and mystical folk harp, piano, and guitar—invite listeners on a transcendent journey that lingers long after the final note fades.
In addition to her solo career, Kala is the founder of KalaChakra Holistic Sound & Music and co-founder of Bigger Beast Records, where she curates concert events, mentors emerging artists, and collaborates with fellow artists as a session player in the studio and on stage. She is a teaching artist and holistic arts facilitator, offering workshops that integrate music, mindfulness, and creative expression.
Sue Menhart
Sue Menhart is a Connecticut blues/rock/soul singer-songwriter, recording artist and performer who has released two albums and two EPs, has contributed to multiple regional compilation albums, and has collaborated with musicians throughout New England. Her vocal style has been compared to Etta James, Bonnie Raitt, Susan Tedeschi and Diana Krall.
Menhart was voted Best Local Musician in the Day Paper’s 2018 Reader’s Choice Awards and has garnered many New London Whalie Award nominations and wins over the years.
The Sue Menhart Band appeared on the 61st Grammy Awards ballot for Best American Roots Performance (Love Ain’t Hard), Best American Roots Song (Moving On), Best Americana Album (Love Ain’t Hard) and Best Rock Song (Party on the Beach.)
Menhart is also a writer for the Old Mystic-based Sound Waves Magazine and published a memoir titled “They Made Me Play a Polka.”
An apt description of Menhart’s resilience in a merciless music industry can be found in her memoir: “The ability to strum an acoustic guitar on a porch somewhere, and sing a note in tune, is really enough for me, as unremarkable as it may seem. I will continue to rock on, as long as my hips hold out.”
Elana Zabari
Elana Zabari is a Connecticut-based singer-songwriter whose original music blends heartfelt storytelling with warm, acoustic-driven melodies.
Originally hailing from Queens, New York, Zabari began her singing career as the lead singer of Da Scrubz (later Big Sis & the Boom Bahs) from the Westchester/Fairfield County area. In 2012, Elana joined the band Ruby and The Diamond Kings and performed through CT, and later, Tyrone Shoelaces, where she did backing vocals and is recorded on several of their albums.
Zabari has performed at clubs and events across NY, NJ, MA and RI in addition to CT. Her powerful voice and ability to bridge genres has drawn her comparisons to Susan Tedeschi, Janis Joplin, and Lady Gaga. Deciding to finally learn to play guitar in 2015, Elana now writes and plays her own original music along with a variety of eclectic covers.
Drawing from personal experience and a deep love of connection, her songs explore themes of resilience, love, and the shared human journey. With an authentic voice and an intimate performance style, Elana creates a space where listeners feel seen, uplifted, and not alone.