Al Parrish (Canada)
That chocolate-voiced bassist from Tanglefoot!
1st May to 5th June 2012
Next tour: 21st August to 30th September 2013
Website: www.alparrish.ca
Hi-res photos and copy for programmes and press.
One page promo - doc file
One page promo - pdf
Tech Spec and Stage Plot
AUDIO TRACKS Listen here to Al Parrish live
"A voice halfway between melted chocolate and sex..." - CBC Radio
"With stage presence, tall stories and good humour, he was the dynamo at
the heart of the Canadian folk supergroup Tanglefoot, from 1994 until
the band broke up in 2009.
With Tanglefoot you got unbridled ebullience,
swashbuckling verve, vigour, good humour and the promise of great
entertainment. Nothing has changed."
-- Chesterfield Folk Club
Al Parrish’s huge, charismatic stage presence, his boundless energy, and “that voice” brought fans to Tanglefoot shows across Canada, around the
US and throughout the UK, from the evening he first played with the band
in January of 1994, through to its final shows in December of 2009.
In 2010, Al began his solo career. Using the songwriting and story-telling
magic he honed during 17 years of international touring and the creation
of six CDs, he has developed a charming and riveting show which includes
new, original material, some carefully chosen covers and a few Tanglefoot
favourites. All these songs are accompanied on acoustic guitar, his
trademark double bass, or simply sung a cappella.
On January 15th 2011 at a sold-out show at the Registry Theatre, Paul Mills,
legendary producer of Stan Rogers’ albums, recorded the whole evening
for Al’s first solo CD, ‘Propensity for Joy’. Available now.
What to expect from an evening with Al Parrish: bags of stage presence for starters, a few tall stories, fabulous singing, good humour, some Tanglefoot songs, of course, but also a wide repertoire of traditional and contemporary songs from 'MacCrimmon's Lament' (in Gaelic) to 'When the Bass Players Took Over the World' via 'White Squall' , 'Fall Down Like the Rain' and Stephen Foster's 'Hard Times' with additional verses by Al.
It seems inevitable that Al would end up in the entertainment business - his father, Don Parrish, achieved considerable renown both as a singer and broadcaster on the CBC and later for 25 years hosting CHFI's "Candlelight and Wine".
Al grew up in Toronto singing in church choirs and playing tuba in the high school band. A friend convinced him to join an after-school rock band by saying, "You play tuba, you could play bass," . So he did. His musical experience covers everything from pop, country, bluegrass, rockabilly, and rock & roll to heavy metal.
In 1989 that repertoire grew to include folk/roots when he and three friends created Brean Derg Muc, a Toronto-based, pseudo-Irish band that took the Ontario folk festival scene by storm and saw two years of brilliant success. Al's fondness for folk music outlasted the band, and after several years of freelancing with October Browne, Kirk Elliot, Aaron Solomon, Cape Breton singer/songwriter David Stone and many others, he was invited to join Tanglefoot and began playing with the band in January 1994. His arrival brought about a major infusion of energy for which Tanglefoot became known. Al plays a Lou Currah double bass nicknamed "The Beautiful Joe".
"I dont think Alice has stopped grinning since she heard you were touring the UK. Hard part is making her wait a year...look forward to seeing you again." - Monty (by email)
2012 TOUR
Wed 2 May 2012
Cottingham - The Back Room 173 Hallgate HU16 4BB
0774 825 8481
Thu 3 May 2012
Glasgow - Saint Andrew's in the Square, 1 St.Andrew's Square, Glasgow,
G1 5PP
0141 563 0454
Fri 4 May 2012
Reeth Memorial Hall, DL11 6SP
01748 884759
Wed 9 May 2012
Birmingham Red Lion - Red Lion, Kings Heath, Birmingham
0121 472 4253
Thu 10 May 2012
Bromsgrove FC - Catshill Social Club, 13 Meadow Road, Catshill,
BROMSGROVE, B61 0JJ
0121 476 5938
Fri 11 May 2012
Chesterfield Folk Club - Club Chesterfield, Chester Street, Chesterfield
S40 1DL
Tickets via club website or by post
geoff@pennybun.co.uk
http://www.chesterfieldfolkclub.org
Sat 12 May 2012
Birdsedge Live - Birdsedge Village hall, Penistone Road, Birdsedge
Huddersfield, HD8 8XP
Tue 15 May 2012
Hoy at Anchor FC - Ship Inn, Leigh on Sea, Essex
01702 297982
Wed 16 May 2012
Ely FC - Lamb Hotel. Lynn Road, Ely, CB7 4EJ
01353 740999
Sun 20 May 2012
Hitchin - The Sun Hotel, Hitchin, Herts, SG5 1AF
01462 711164
Mon 21 May 2012
London - Monday Monday Folk - The Green Note, 106 parkway, London,
NW1 7AN
Box office/enquiries 020 7485 9899
Tue 22 May 2012
Dartford FC, Kent - Dartford WMC, Essex Road, Dartford, DA1 2AU
01322 222 553
Wed 23 May 2012
Llantrisant FC - The Windsor Arms, Llantrisant Rd, Pontyclun, CF72 9DQ
01443 226892
Thu 24 May 2012
Rondo Theatre, Bath - Rondo Theatre, St Saviour's Road, Bath BA1 6RT
http://www.rondotheatre.co.uk/
Box Office: 01225 463362
Sat 26 May 2012
Blaxton Live Houseconcert
01302 771354
£10 per ticket + accom -all
Wed 30 May 2012
Kirkham Concerts - The Willows Catholic Club, Bryning Fern Lane, Kirkham.
PR4 2BQ
Ann Green 01772 673744
Thu 31 May 2012
York Black Swan - Black Swan, Peaseholme Green, York, YO1 7PR
01904 632922
www.blackswanfolkclub.org.uk
Fri 1 Jun 2012 & Sat 2 Jun 2012
Chester Festival - The Lord Binning Pub, Kelsall (Morris Dancer Pub as
was), CW6 0ND
Box office 07005 977045
Sun 3 Jun 2012 & Mon 4 Jun 2012
Chippenham Festival - Various venues, Chippenham town centre, Wiltshire
01380 726597 / 07714 550990-m