Tori Sparks’ made “Merry-Go Round” video here

Tori Sparks (Sat. - 5:15-6:00) is one hard-working DIY singer/songwriter/guitar player and part time Roller Derby aficionado. The roller derby part and the Nashville Roller Girls show up in her video for her song, "Merry-Go Round" which was made at the Shelby City Park Carrousel last spring.

She was looking for a carousel to use in the video when she was directed from her base in Nashville to Shelby. The restored ride proved to be the right backdrop for the project which can be viewed on her website, Myspace, or YouTube. Try ToriSparks.com for a link to all of the above.


With a background in theater, her songs and delivery tell stories, sometimes taken from her current life on the road self-promoting her music. Criss-crossing the country from New York to Wilmington to the west coast and back to Music City, she keeps up with fans via Twitter and all the rest.

But the Carousel Video brought her here and she will return for this year's Art of Sound, in a way to say thank you to the city that hosted the video shoot. Hold on to your socks when she comes on stage. She knows how to put on a good show, both visually and acoustically. Her voice will reach out and grab you and her guitar licks are strong and perfectly suited to the material which is recognizably personal and recognizably universal.

Art of Sound is happy that Tori has added us to the map of her widely traveled itinerary. She's right in the middle of a strong line-up Saturday in the First National Bank upstairs venue.