News

Spring & Summer

Springing ahead, amigos...

The pandemic has meant compromises, time for reflection, a call to pivot.
Grateful for the opportunity to play LIVE in Mazatlán, Mexico in 2020-2022.

Revised SPRING 2022 MAZATLÁN SCHEDULE:

Wednesdays @ Patio Escobedo 7-9pm: "Lola y Los Lolos" (Dave Oakey, Daniel Sanchez & Omar Rios) - more smooth & soulful

Saturdays @ Macaws 7-9pm: "Lola y Los Lolos" (Dave Oakey, Benito Meschoulam, Dario Ávila & Omar Rios) - more rock 'n roll

Sundays @ Shrimp Bucket 3-6pm: SOLO LOLA - sweet, smooth, soulful & some originals

*Sometimes Fridays or Sundays @ Restaur Arte 7-9pm: SOLO LOLA

Summertime...
Looking forward to summer in BC.

BOOK NOW for shows, special events and private events: [email protected]

Also available for vocal sessions (English, French, Spanish), lessons (piano, guitar, voice), cowrites & collabs (in-person or remotely).

Bookings: [email protected]

Stay well, stay strong, stay tuned! - Mar 16th, 2022

Announcing LIVE SHOWS!

Hello friends!

Three upcoming daytime weekend gigs to let you in on:

Sat, Aug 21 - Massey Theatre Open Spaces - outdoors - 735 8th Ave., New Westminster 1pm-2pm
Sat, Sep 4 - City of Victoria - outdoors - Government St. @ View St. 3pm-4pm
Sun, Sep 5 - City of Victoria - outdoors - Government St. @ View St. 12:30pm-1:30pm

CDs of the last three releases will be available for purchase. Walk away with your very own personalized, signed album for only $10. Take home all three for just $25.

Now you can listen and buy all four albums directly from this site, no middle person - just you & the music. Simply:
Click on MUSIC at the top of the page
Click on the ALBUM you want to hear first OR press PLAY to start with the latest release, NO APOLOGIES.

Thank you for supporting original music. We can only do what do thanks to you!

See you out there! - Aug 16th, 2021

CBC Searchlight & Summertime

Hello, Bonjour, Hola, Kuei!

CBC's annual hunt for undiscovered talent - SEARCHLIGHT - is on now!
It couldn't be easier or faster to VOTE:

Simply
1. Click or copy & paste here: https://www.cbc.ca/music/searchlight/#/vote
2. Enter artist name
3. Click on VOTE

VOTE DAILY from MAY 11-20 for your musical artist/song of choice.
----x----

And guess what? I'll be back in Canada this summer and can't wait to tell you about a super cool gig:

CANADA DAY Drive-Thru: Cross Country Road Trip
"Celebrate Canada Day in Maple Ridge with a special drive-thru experience that will take you and your family on a cross country road trip! Soak in the sights and sounds of Canadian history, music, dance and more as you follow along from the comfort of your vehicle. Finish your journey with a taste of Canadian cuisine at the Food Truck Festival featuring diverse cultural favourites. All activities have been designed in compliance with the Provincial Health Order." https://www.mapleridge.ca/1744/Canada-Day

Location | Albion Fairgrounds & Albion Sports Complex
Date | Thursday, July 1, 2021
Time | 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

As always, I appreciate your love & support so much.
Fingers crossed we can safely connect in-person this summer!

"Life's too short to listen to bad music"

xx - May 11th, 2021

Happy 2021: Happier Times Ahead!

Wishing you a healthy, happy, warm & wonderful season and new year!

Looking to hear new, original music?
Head on over to the "music" tab of the site. Full Lola catalogue now available directly on the website to stream & buy.

Looking to hear LIVE MUSIC?
We’ve a fantabulous international music family of Mexican, Canadian & American musicos playing daily and also livestreaming — just for y’all while COVID keeps you at home and not going out for live music:

Go to Facebook —> Search for “Rob Lamonica & Friends” page:
Times are “loose” but here’s a basic lineup:

*Sat: Rob & the boys @ Macaws (5-8pm PT ish)
*Sun: Rob etc. @ Shrimp Bucket (1pm-4pm PT), Pedro y Lola’s (5:30-9pm PT)
*Mon: Barre Al Mar (2-5pm PT) (loving this beach gig!)
Tue: “Wingin’ It” with Lori & the boys @ Shrimp Bucket (4:30-7:30pm PT)
*Wed: sunset livestream from Rob’s with Rob and (usually) me.
Thu: “Wingin’ It” with Lori & the boys @ Water’s Edge (6-9pm PT)
Fri: “Wingin’ It” with Lori & the boys @ La Fabula (5-8pm PT)

*I play 2nd set on Sat/Sun/Sun/Mon and just Rob & I on Weds.

Hard to keep track? Make it easy on yourself: select “notifications” for the FB page and you’ll receive a gentle reminder when the page goes live.

Stay safe, strong, resilient, kind & hopeful.

All my love in this brave new year.

Having a 🎼 time, all the time❣️ - Jan 1st, 2021

Live & Livestream from Hermann's this Friday!

Excited to announce & invite you to a 🎶LIVE 🎶 In-Person gig next Friday!

Who: Lola Parks - LIVE in Victoria - joined by Chris Van Sickle & Gord Light
Where: Hermann's Jazz Club - 753 View St., Victoria, BC
When: Friday, November 13 - 7:30-9pm PST (doors at 6:30pm)
What: we are playing original tunes from all four Lola albums, including new release *NO APOLOGIES*

Buy In-Person Tickets: https://www.hermannsjazz.com/reservations&event_id=528656
Livestream by Donation: http://www.ArtsOnView.ca/Donate
*Donations directly support the musicians and this iconic Victoria venue.

*CDs of HERE (2012), THE HUSTLE (2017) & NO APOLOGIES (2020) will be available at the venue.

We are stoked to see you & play for you!

Thank you for supporting artists & venues ❣️

See you soon❣️🎶 - Nov 9th, 2020

New Album *No Apologies* out very soon!

YASS! New Album 🎶 NO APOLOGIES 🎶 is out Friday, Sep 25.

PRESAVE it TODAY: https://show.co/noB1UPg (through Sep 24) to hear it first & unlock your very own personal access to all 7 tracks of the new album.
🎶 🎶 🎶
*NO APOLOGIES* is a musical shotgun to your heart with empowering and inclusive messaging that centres around owning all of who we are, standing strong in our roots, speaking our truth and standing up for what’s right. It’s a sonic journey that calls us to value and honour ourselves and our right to be here, to be ourselves and to respect others. It’s about awareness & responsibility, empowerment & optimism.

“Lola Parks is an award-winning soul folk singer-songwriter with a mission to achieve cultural brokerage through voice and song. She sings with an honesty that inspires her audience to dig deeper and share a genuine connection across diverse barriers. Lola’s dangerous lyrics and seductive voice compel listeners of all ages to move closer, in hopes of capturing every note and word. Her new album, No Apologies, featuring “Dreamer” and “Freight Train” is a musical shotgun to your heart and will be available on September 25th on all major platforms.”

I'm really proud of every track & there really is something in it for everyone: it will uplift you, make you think, sigh, grin & dance.
🎶 🎶 🎶

THANK YOU:
With sincerest #gratitude to the First Peoples' Cultural Council, Creative BC & the Province of British Columbia - your continued support for BC artists to create and share #music has made the latest musical dream a reality. My heart smiles on the awesomest musical team too - Jeff Dawson (producer/engineer/mixer), MJ Dandeneau (bass) & Adam Dobres (electric guitar) --we weathered delays, social distancing and travel restrictions (almost) like we weren't navigating through a pandemic storm. You make music better & I love you hugely for it.

Thanks to all who've been along for this musical escapade. May we continue on the path for years to come.

🎶Merci for adventuring with me & daring to dream the music dream. 🎶

#beyou

http://www.fpcc.ca/ @firstpeoplesculturalcouncil
https://www.creativebc.com/ @creativebcs
https://www.jeffdawsonproductions.ca/ @dawsonproducer
https://www.mjdandeneau.com/ @mjdandeneau
https://www.adamdobres.com/ @adamdobres - Sep 18th, 2020

PreSave new single "Freight Train" today!

Be the first to hear new single "Freight Train"

Out this Friday, Sep. 4 -- you can PreSave today:
https://show.co/jBmpZaA (link valid only prior to release date)

“Freight Train” is a musical shotgun straight to your heart, an Americana folky-blues track that warns you to check your heart at the door. It's about collective and individual respect and responsibility. It asks you to be honest with yourself: When is it better to forge ahead together? To forgive and forget? Is it too late?

Reading: Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
Podcasts:Tony Robbins, The Happiness Lab
Listening: Nathaniel Rateliff, Leif Vollebekk, Dawes, John Mayer
Listening: Anaïs Mitchell, Sara Bareilles, Billie Eilish, Freya Ridings

Check out "Dreamer" - available online everywhere now:
https://open.spotify.com/track/4hpGp7qAjXH3o3iWUN0VeG?si=PtRi3gcaRnSiuJJKiXU4Cw

Life's too short to listen to bad music:-)

Be well, friends! - Aug 30th, 2020

New single "Dreamer" out July 31!

"This is what we've been waiting for!" say my mom & two besties #TBT.

It's happening though, friends! New single, "Dreamer" is out on July 31!

Presave it today and hear it the first day: https://show.co/rKoLHp7

I just know you're going to dig it! 🎶🎵

"Dreamer" has a groovy John Legend vibe that mixes pop and jazz with a clear and crisp female vocal.
It empowers you to be yourself, to live your best life, dares you to dream.

It was recorded at The Den in Vancouver, produced by Jeff Dawson
and features MJ Dandeneau on bass and Adam Dobres on lead guitar.

What else?:
Single #2 "Freight Train" will be released on Sep. 4
New album, NO APOLOGIES, coming to you Sep. 25.

Deepest gratitude goes to all of you who've supported and/or been involved in the making of this album.
A special thank you to First Peoples' Cultural Council, Creative BC (creativebc.com) & The Province of British Columbia without whom the album would still be a dream and not yet a reality.

#dreamer #noapologies #newmusic #gratitude #BCartist #femalesingersongwriter #Canadianmusic #originalmusic
https://www.fpcc.ca, @firstpeoplesculturalcouncil
https://www.creativebc.com, @creativebcs
https://www.jeffdawsonproductions.ca/, @dawsonproducer
https://www.mjdandeneau.com/, @mjdandeneau
https://www.adamdobres.com/, @adamdobres

"I'm a dreamer, 'cause I like to dream. Dare to dream with me..." 🎶🎵

Giddyup, amigos! - Jul 22nd, 2020