Ryan's Gig Guide - July 2018

Artists from near and far will take to the cellar stage of Katie Fitzgeralds in Stourbridge on the last Friday of every month as part of a series of events under the title:“Songs of Anger and Redemption” - music that'll make you sit up and listen.  wegottickets.com/event/442173  www.nick-parker.co.uk First up, on July 27th , is Glastonbury based Nick Parker. Nick started gigging in his early teens playing mandolin and singing in folk/rock/skiffle band ‘Why?’, and spent the next 10 years bouncing around on stages at hundreds of venues and festivals around the UK and Europe. In 1998 Nick called it a day withWhy? and started guitar band ‘Tobermory’.After various false starts, a few flirtations with industry ‘big’ boys and a few tours in Germany,Tobermory played their last gig in 2004. In 2010 Nick embarked on a solo career and has since released three full-length al- bums, 2010’s ‘The King of False Alarms’ and 2014’s ‘Angry Pork and the Occasional Bird’ and last year’s ‘BestaVenya’, tracks from which have been played on various BBC6Music shows. Over the years Nick has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with TheWedding Present, Bright Eyes, Ben Marwood, Frank Turner, Mike Peters and Mike Scott among others, and he regularly tours with Bristol based Gaz Brookfield (as a separate act, but also playing mandolin in his band). Nick’s songs are often tongue-in-cheek and cheerful, and on the rare occasion when fun IS poked it is always with a wry smile and an element of satire. Although primarily a solo effort Nick often plays with his band ‘Nick Parker and the False Alarms’ which is a folky/rocky/country af- fair using guitars, fiddle, pedal steel, mandolin, bass and drums. Over the last few years they have played at many festivals including Farmer Phil’s, Chagstock, Glastonbury and Lakefest among many others. Support comes from local singer/songwriter Jess Silk and Sleaford based band The Saboteurs, who will be performing accoustically. RGG have a pair of tickets to give away for this gig. Just send an email to the address below with 'NICK PARKER' in the subject title to be in with a chance of winning: media@rggmag.com Friday 27th July Katie Fitzgerald’s, Stourbridge  Nick Parker  WIN www.ryansgigguide.com 36 rgg July 2018