Alun Parry

Alun Parry is a Liverpool songwriter, known for his slice of life lyrics and punchy performance style. A story telling musician, Parry often weaves social commentary into his tales, and political songs feature as part of his repertoire.

Parry began his musical career as a busker shortly after learning to play guitar, and went on to be awarded the title of Merseyside’s number one busker by the local media.

He went on to become a solo acoustic artist before recording his first album Corridors of Stone in November 2006. The album represented a new sound for Parry as he was backed by drummer Thomas Western and bass player Rob Harper, formerly a keyboard player with The Mighty Wah.

The music writer Lianne Steinberg (Big Issue magazine) said of the album: "The Liverpudlian singer-songwriter packs more weight in the punch of his folk songs than most acoustic musicians do in a lifetime."

BBC Radio’s longest running folk radio programme, BBC Radio Merseyside's Folkscene, featured Parry’s music and message during a one hour profile, broadcast in December 2006.

Parry followed this up with a commemorative EP of original songs dedicated to Liverpool to celebrate the city's 800th Birthday. BBC Radio’s Spencer Leigh described Parry as "one of the most incisive songwriters on Merseyside."

The EP continued with his now familiar acoustic fronted band sound, this time supported by regular band members Howard Northover on drums and Chad Draper on bass guitar and keys.

Due to his commitments with his musical studies, Chad was no longer able to continue with the band and was replaced by Stuart Thompson on bass in March 2008.

Parry is also a champion of the local music scene, firstly through his Second Friday events, his Payday Playtime band nights at The Casa, but more particularly for the hosting of his weekly Acoustic Slice showcases at Liverpool's famous Parr Street Studios. Liverpool.com described Acoustic Slice as "by far the best acoustic night in Liverpool."

In January 2008 Parry was chosen by BBC Radio 4 to present a grassroots music special to introduce Liverpool’s European Capital of Culture celebrations. The Liverpool Echo, in the run up to Capital of Culture year, placed Alun Parry in the top 30 reasons why Liverpool was culturally great.

Alun Parry is also the founder and organiser of the Liverpool Working Class Music Festival, supported by the TUC, set to take place in September 2008 with the aim of bringing the very best radical musicians to Liverpool for a celebration of working class life through music and song.

Outside of music, Alun Parry is one of the main driving forces behind AFC Liverpool, a co-operative football club who will be playing in the Vodkat League Division Two from season 2008/2009.

External links

(1) http://www.parrysongs.co.uk(2) The Liverpool Echo, 1992(3) The Big Issue In The North, Dec 11, 2006(4) http://www.parrysongs.co.uk/folkscene.html(5) BBC Radio Merseyside, 27 August(6) http://www.liverpool.com/features/where-to-find-an-open-mic-night..html(7) A Sense of Liverpool, BBC Radio 4, 10/1/08(8) The Liverpool Echo, 23rd August, 2008(9) http://www.workingclassmusic.org.uk