Photo: Ruby Glass Media

Born under the shadow of greatness, Ric Oliva, son of Minnesota Twins baseball legend and National Baseball Hall of Famer Tony Oliva, once dreamt of the crack of a bat and the roar of the crowd. Yet, destiny had other plans. As the twilight of childhood gave way to the dawn of adolescence, it was the guitar, not the glove, that captured his heart. In the echo of each strum, Ric found his true calling, dedicating countless hours to mastering the art of music. His relentless pursuit of perfection led him to the hallowed halls of the Berklee College of Music, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree, and further still, to Boston University, where he obtained a Master of Music degree.

Ric’s journey through the musical labyrinth saw him conquer stages with Minneapolis bands like Slide, Boom Factory, 8 FOOT 4, and World According to Garth, playing thousands of shows and honing his craft with each performance. But within him stirred a deeper vision—a sound darker, heavier, and more profound than he had ever before conceived. Thus, the creation of PARKERS PICNIC was inevitable, a manifestation of his truest musical desires. 

Welcome to PARKERS PICNIC—we've been waiting for you.

BAND*

Ric Oliva (guitar, vocals)
Nic Oliva (guitar)
Damion Oliva (guitar)
Bob Mitchell (bass)
Fladger Phenix (drums)

*The third Parkers Picnic installment, The Ghost of Parkers Picnic, will feature Bernie Miñoso on bass along with Ric Oliva on guitar/vocals and Fladger Phenix on drums.