Nick Harper
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- For the Tennessee Titans player, see Nick Harper (American football)
Nick Harper (born June 22, 1965) is an English singer-songwriter/guitarist. He is the son of English folk musician Roy Harper.
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[edit] Career
Despite being destined to be forever known as the son of the legendary folk/blues singer-songwriter Roy Harper, Nick Harper has forged his own way ahead to become recognised as one of Britain’s finest acoustic singer/guitarists. Having played the guitar from the age of 10 (he is completely self-taught) 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.
Nick's talent and energy entranced Roy's fans and it was inevitable that he would begin touring and recording in his own right. The 1994 EP Light at the End of the Kennel was swiftly followed by his powerful 1995 debut album Seed prompting The Independent to describe him as "hugely talented".
A meeting with Squeeze frontman and songwriter Glenn Tilbrook in 1996 led to his offering 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. He teamed up with Tilbrook again on 2000's highly acclaimed album Harperspace.
To call him 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. To see Nick Harper live (with a style that combines a multitude of musical influences from folk to rock, classical to flamenco) is an unforgettable experience, where no two gigs are the same. His own material is frequently accompanied by segued offerings from Jeff Buckley, Blur, Led Zeppelin, Prodigy; a little Zappa here, a touch of Monty Python there (and even a few bars of Kylie) are liable to be thrown into the mix of a two-hour set - that’s when he’s not walking across glass-littered bartops or never dropping so much as a single note as he re-strings his guitar, mid-song. This is all part and parcel of what an audience now comes to expect from this inveterate showman.
With 6 studio albums, a double live CD and 2 EPs (including Instrumental, a stunning display of his guitar talents) under his belt, Nick’s work is as fresh and as vital as that of his first solo release in 1994.
His 2006 album Treasure Island attests to his ability to craft songs that take in, absorb and spit out coruscating political scorn (as on the tracks Knuckledraggers and Sleeper Cell), social history comment (the title track being inspired by an obscure Liverpudlian philanthropist who employed men returning from the Napoleonic Wars to dig tunnels), the seven ages of man (in the infectious melody of By My Rocket Comes Fire), pride in his country (A Wiltshire Tale is an epic poem to his beloved home county), and turn them into catchy, robust tunes that grab the ear and remain in the memory long after the last track has ended.
During 2006 he played a series of festivals around the country, including acclaimed sets at the Moseley Folk Festival (Birmingham), JerseyLive (Channel Islands) and Beautiful Days (Devon), and playing live in session on Janice Long’s Radio 2 show, prompting her to describe him as “absolutely astonishing”.
2007 proved to be one of his most creative and successful years to date. Alongside live sessions for Charles Hazlewood on BBC Radio 2, Radio Wales, Scotland and a further session on BBC Radio 2 with Janice Long he released the long-awaited DVD, Love Is Music: a collection of live performances, interspersed with insights from friends, family and fellow musicians.
May 2007 saw the iTunes download release of his first single "Blue Sky Thinking", taken from the new album Miracles For Beginners. Reaching no. 1 in the iTunes chart[citation needed], it has received favourable reviews and radio airplay across the UK and Europe. All proceeds from the single going to the LoveHopeStrength Foundation. In early 2007, a call from Mike Peters of Welsh band The Alarm, led to Harper's involvement with the LoveHopeStrength Foundation, a cancer charity set up by Peters to provide a global support network for cancer survivors.
After taking part in Snowdon Rocks, a climb up Mt Snowdon with a gig near the summit, he then went on to be part of a 38-strong team of musicians including Glenn Tilbrook, Mike Peters, Billy Duffy (The Cult) and Jimmy Barnes, mountaineers, cancer survivors and those whose lives have been affected by cancer, taking part in a 14-day trek and acoustic concert at base camp of Mt Everest in aid of the Foundation. The Everest Rocks event entered the Guinness Book of World Records for being the highest concert ever performed in the world - at 18,500ft at Base Camp, Mt Everest on October 21 2007.
The trek culminated with a grand finale concert in Kathmandu on October 29 and raised more than US$250,000 for the only charitable cancer hospital in Nepal, situated at Bhaktapur (approx. 10 miles east of Kathmandu).
His sixth studio album, Miracles For Beginners, was released in June 2007. A ten-track album of love songs, witty parodies and social and political comment, including "Field of the Cloth of Gold", a track that refers to a meeting of the kings of France and Spain 500 years ago, with a parallel reference to today's music festivals), "Evo" (inspired by the Bolivian president, Evo Morales), the quirky "Simple", and "Blue Sky Thinking", a heartfelt ballad on a theme of 'looking outside the box'.
On January 31 2008, he embarked on his 25-date Dig On Down UK Tour, which took him across the country from Penzance to Glasgow. During the summer of 2008, Nick will play various festivals in the UK as well as a series of open-air dates as special guests to the Levellers; on September 27 he will join them again to play at London's Royal Albert Hall.
In October, he will be working in support of the LoveHopeStrength Foundation - this time in a trek to Machu Picchu, Peru, to raise further funds for local cancer hospitals.
[edit] Live work
Nick frequently plays solo acoustic tours of the UK. In addition, each summer he covers the European festival circuit. In 2003, he was awarded a Herald Fringe Angel award for performance excellence at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where he has played many residencies in recent years. He performed at the 2004 Cropredy Festival and Leicester's Summer Sundae. Harper has also played sets at the Glastonbury and Beautiful Days festivals in summer 2005. He also played shows in Thailand to raise money for Indian Ocean tsunami relief.
In summer 2006, he again played a multitude of festivals, including the Moseley Folk Festival, Jersey Live, Beautiful Days and Clonakilty's second annual Guitar Festival, along with appearances at festivals in France and Catalonia. In November 2007, he performed at the International Guitar Festival of Great Britain for the fourth time.
[edit] Reviews
Reviews for Miracles For Beginners:
Mojo: "Miracles For Beginners, his most focused, warm and triumphant album to date" (4 stars)
BBC Online: "Miracles For Beginners is trademark Nick - perfectly constructed folk tunes with impassioned, and often witty, lyricism."
Scottish Herald: "Shameless love songs, a heartfelt tribute to the Bolivian president and a kind of medieval talking blues are all borne on masterful acoustic guitar patterns...ten minor miracles." (4 stars)
Twisted Ear: "This album is simply superb...an essential acquisition." (5 stars)
Americana UK: "Songs of class and distinction. This album should be in most homes."
The Sun: "Like his dad, he's a fine folk troubadour and a great guitarist...this is a witty, vibrant affair...a rewarding listen." (3.5 stars)
Rock 'n' Reel: "...his latest album, Miracles For Beginners, really does shine out as the greatest achievement in a long and often remarkable career."
[edit] Work with other artists
Nick's first recordings and major live exposure were with his father Roy Harper. He still works and tours with Roy occasionally.
Nick was a touring member of British pop/rock band Squeeze from 1996-7 and played on one track on their 1998 Domino album. Glenn Tilbrook of the band produced Nick's Smithereens and Harperspace albums, which were released on Glenn's Quixotic label. The pair often work together, with Nick most recently appearing on Glenn's 2004 solo album Transatlantic Ping-Pong.
Nick has written and played with Brighton-based political indie group The Levellers. He recently guested on the band's Top 40 UK single 'Make U Happy' - he co-wrote, played and sang on b-side 'Not in my Name'.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio Albums
- 1995 - Seed (Sangraal)
- 1998 - Smithereens (Quixotic)
- 2000 - Harperspace (Quixotic)
- 2004 - Blood Songs (Sangraal)
- 2006 - Treasure Island (Sangraal)
- 2007 - Miracles for Beginners (Sangraal)
[edit] Live albums
- 2002 - Double Life (Quixotic - Double album)
[edit] Singles, EPs
- 1994 - Light at the End of the Kennel (Sangraal EP)
- 1999 - Instrumental (Sangraal EP)
- 2007 - Blue Sky Thinking (Sangraal download single)
[edit] DVDs
- 2007 - Love is Music (Sangraal)
