From Summerfest to hometown West Bend

On the heels of her Summerfest debut, 14-year-old singer-songwriter Aubrey Marie is bringing her music to her hometown stage. On July 10, Aubrey and her band will perform in downtown West Bend as the opening act for her parents’ cover band, The Nix, as part of the Downtown West Bend Association’s Music on Main free summer concert series.

The evening promises to be a memorable family affair. Aubrey and her band will kick things off at 5 p.m., performing original songs from her debut album. At 6:30 p.m., her parents, Nick and Nicole Pari, will follow with a high-energy set alongside the rest of The Nix, a regional favorite cover band that Nick founded 14 years ago.

Music on Main

Featuring Aubrey Marie and The Nix

July 10 | Downtown West Bend

5 p.m. Pre-Show | 6:30 p.m. Main Act 

A Summer Packed with Milestones

For West Bend music fans, the timing couldn’t be better. Aubrey’s music career has been on a steady rise since the release of her debut album, “Where’s My Wizard of Oz?” last fall. Her summer calendar is packed with gigs and media appearances, a reflection of the growing buzz surrounding the young artist.

In addition to her hometown performance, Aubrey will open for former BoDeans frontman Sam Llanas at SnowFest in Two Rivers on July 26, and she’ll kick off the Wisconsin State Fair on July 31, once again opening for The Nix. She’s also gaining attention in the media, recently completing a one-hour interview on the Music of America Podcast with host Tom Pollard.

“We are incredibly busy, but we do it all because we love music,” said Nick Pari. “There’s no better feeling.”

Taking the Stage at Summerfest

This surge in momentum follows one of Aubrey’s biggest moments to date: her debut performance at Summerfest on June 21. Taking the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard Stage, Aubrey played to an enthusiastic crowd at “the largest music festival in the world.”

Aubrey and her parents at the Wisconsin Area Music Industry Awards

Of course, her parents were in the audience—along with extended family and a large cheering section made up of friends, coworkers, classmates, and supporters from the West Bend community.

“It was amazing to watch her up on a huge stage doing what she loves,” Nick said. “She rocked it!”

A Family Fueled by Music

For the Paries, music is a family thread that runs deep. Nick and Nicole each picked up instruments in childhood and continued to nurture their talents into adulthood. Nick handles lead guitar for The Nix, while Nicole sings lead vocals and plays piano. They balance their love of music with full-time careers—Nicole as a brand manager at Manitou/Gehl, and Nick as a manufacturer’s rep for Central US Marketing.

Though Aubrey was never pushed toward music, growing up in a household full of instruments, rehearsals, and live shows made it almost inevitable.

She started writing music at just 11 years old, and her parents quickly noticed the maturity and emotional insight in her lyrics. Her 13-track debut album (with a hidden 14th track) explores themes of identity, growth, and resilience, with standout songs like “Clueless,” “My Biggest Mistake,” “She’s the Man,” “Find Yourself,” and the reflective title track “Where’s My Wizard of Oz?”

Her music is currently featured on college radio stations and programs like Home Brewed on the Rockin’ Apple. She also earned four Wisconsin Area Music Industry Award finalist nominations last year.

“I love to watch her succeed,” said Nick. “It’s really special that we get to do this together.”

Want more?

To hear samples of Aubrey Marie’s music, click here.

Also, be sure to also catch Aubrey and The Nix on Sept. 5 at the Rockin For Heroes benefit. Organized by Nick Pari, the event supports Paintings for Pediatrics, a Milwaukee-based nonprofit dedicated to families with children battling pediatric cancer. The event will take place at Village Park in Menomonee Falls on the Milwaukee Tool stage.