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To call Nick Harper a superlative singer/songwriter could put his highly lauded guitar talent in the shade and to call him a guitarist's guitarist might slight his distinctive, soulful voice and passionate songs. Not forgetting the wild ride that is one of his live shows! From personal introspection, to biting political satire via a charmingly caustic wit that would make Groucho Marx proud!
Son of the legendary UK singer-songwriter Roy Harper, Nick was born in London and raised in Wiltshire. Having played the guitar from the age of 10 and surrounded by the likes of Keith Moon, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and Dave Gilmour as he grew up, it was no surprise when Nick made his recording debut on his father's Whatever Happened to Jugula? in 1985.
After a chance meeting with Squeeze frontman and songwriter Glenn Tilbrook in 1996, Tilbrook was so impressed that he offered Nick a job playing with and supporting Squeeze and promptly signed Nick to his own label, Quixotic Records. Following tours in the UK, USA and Japan, Nick recorded the 1998 album Smithereens with Tilbrook as producer. This album and subsequent 40 date solo tour, including dates in New York and Glastonbury, confirmed Nick as a formidable talent in his own right. "If imagination, energy and bags of talent were the only factors in making a successful pop career, few would deny that Squeeze man Glenn Tilbrook has backed a winner in Nick Harper Splendid stuff" - MOJO magazine.
'The Last Guitar Tour' saw Nick touring the UK throughout spring 2010 supporting his 7th studio album 'The Last Guitar' This album had more than a few songs inspired by Nick's travels and treks with Love Hope Strength and with legendary producer Tchad Blake at the helm the album took on a new, bold and forthright sonic quality.
After the success of 'The Last Guitar', Nick once again teamed up with Tchad Blake to produce a classic recording, 'Riven' in 2013. Nick also called on old friends Jeremy Stacey ('Blood Songs'), Ben Jones ('Harperspace') Jon leveller ('Blood Songs') Jakko Jakksyk and his daughter Lily to add to his own performances.
2014 saw Nick go right back to the beginning and produce a recording made in 9 days of 9 songs called NIX, his 9th studio album. This album pleased long time fans of Harper for its unadulterated style, featuring Nick on acoustic guitar and vocals with nothing else added- that is more immediate and closer to his live performances.
After leaving a streak of rip-roaring, celebratory shows in 2016, road-testing his back catalogue of 12 albums, Nick Harper & The Wilderness Kids (aka Port Erin) returned with a new album Lies! Lies! Lies! and UK tour for 2017.
Amidst a backdrop of flags being changed and mottos applied, 350 million reasons why, written on the side of the bus, saw Nick and The Kids nailing their colours to the mast.
The album was recorded in Studio La Fabrique, France (Radiohead- Moon Shaped Pool, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds-Push the Sky Away) with the legendary producer Tchad Blake (The Black Keys, Pearl Jam, T-Bone, Peter Gabriel). Blake brought his masterful touch to the unceasingly creative cauldron of Nick, his songs and now, his band.
The Wilderness Kids met up with the renowned solo acoustic singer-songwriter at a record store day event, where they jammed on some of Nicks tracks from his Best of triple LP set The Wilderness Years. Nick immediately realised the potential, promptly picked up a baritone electric guitar and the pace hasnt let up since. The exciting energy and chemistry between the 4 had Nicks fans in rapture and the combination of the much-loved songwriter added to the zest present in this new gang, made capturing the zeitgeist in the words and music of the new album inevitable. Lies! Lies! Lies! is an intelligent, yet exuberant album rooted very much in the now.
Nick's other recent work has seen him appear in the studio alongside Lana Del Ray playing on her cover of Leonard Cohen's hit Chelsea Hotel no 2 from her acclaimed 2014 album Ultraviolence as well as featuring on recordings by Newton Faulkner, Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree) and The Levellers.
After 10 studio albums, a double live CD, 2 EPs (including Instrumental, a stunning display of his guitar talents) and a rockumentary style DVD 'Love is Music' Nick's work is still as fresh and vital as that of his first solo release in 1994 but as evidenced by his highly personal 2004 "family album" Blood Songs, he still has time to sing about the most important things in his world - family, friends, love and life.
"Frank Zappa would have been impressed he deserves to become a major figure in his own right."
ROBIN DENSELOW, THE GUARDIAN
"Nick Harper is a force of nature the sheer weight of ideas in his music makes him irresistible and unstoppable... Harper the performer is a fearsome weapon. Phenomenal? You bet your life."
SOUTHERN REPORTER
"If you've never seen [Harper] live, you're missing out on one of the musical phenomenons of our age."
ROB ADAMS, GLASGOW HERALD
"Dylan for the iPod generation...Betjemen with a guitar."
GUITARIST (UK)
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LocationLODGE at LOCHSIDE Lintrathen (View)
LODGE at LOCHSIDE Lintrathen
Lintrathen by Kirriemuir DD8 5JH
United Kingdom
Categories
| Kid Friendly: Yes! |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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