Biography
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DARREN POYZER - (Singer / Songwriter, Manchester & Chester, UK)

Singer and songwriter who combines raw emotion with socio-politics, humour and charsima, Darren has starred alongside many great contemporaries to wide and outstanding acclaim. Raised on comedy and performance poetry, he turns the angst of a Thatcher-era teenager into a burst of musical theatre, using little more than voice and acoustic guitar.

Acclaimed as one of the most versatile solo acoustic creative artistes in the UK, Darren has been actively involved in playing, recording and promoting original music since 1986, and professionally since 1988. The desire to write and entertain has always been strongest - he is truly a passioniate and powerful contemporary singer songwriter who has taken a happy-go-friendly independent road to success.

Darren has never gone short on promoting and organising events, most notably sharing his energies to the benefit of up and coming musicians and writers. As well as hosting 'Stand And Deliver' in the mid 1980's, which was a catalyst to the rise of alternative cabaret and comedy, he was there at the outset of the Manchester acoustic scene at the end of the 1990's, promoting 'Acoustica' events all over Greater Manchester and launching the first acoustic songwriter compilation cd of that era 'Words & Pictures' for Raw Fish Records.

In 2008 he launched a new regular event, '3 Chords & The Truth', in Cheshire, and became a working Director for The Hive (Social Enterprise Project).

Darren also works with special needs children providing music therapy and tuition, and runs occasional music and songwriter workshops.

'10 Things ...'

1. Darren has one full concert dvd and three cd albums, with a fourth due 2007. These are 'Passion and Coinflict' (CD); Global (CD and DVD); Brilliant Words (CD). He has appeared on a number of compilation albums, notably co-writing a song with Chris Difford (Squeeze) and Jen Clapp (New York) for 'Songs From The Weald' (2006).

2. Recent live shows have included performances alongside the likes of Walter Trout, Hawkwind, The Wonder Stuff, The Bluetones, Focus, Wishbone Ash, Hayseed Dixie, Eddie Reader, Lloyd Cole, Glenn Tilbrook and many more, including early days gigs with a fledgling Steve Coogan, The Mock Turtles, Henry Normal, Dave Gorman, John Bramwell from I Am Kloot and many more - see the list! Darren's first gig was in 1987 at a 'Stand And Deliver' poetry event at a pub called The Dog And Partridge, supporting the esteemed literary poet Adrian Mitchell, in Ashton Under Lyne.

3. He currently has over 17,000 song plays at My Space, a remarkable number for a solo independent songwriter.

4. Alongside his performance work, he contributes to a vibrant UK music scene via workshops, higher education tutoring, music guidance for disaffected and disabled children, and is a noted contributor to the MusicLeader North West network.

5. In 2001 whilst on tour in Texas, he survived a near death experience when he was bitten by a Black Widow Spider ... he only cancelled two gigs though!

6. In 1998 he had a nervous breakdown and, following a month long stint in the 'jigsaw ward', had to include heavy meds and therapy in his daily life. A fire in which he lost most of his posessions had preceeded that, however his writing guitar survived the calamity, and so eventually after much soul searching, did his sanity.

7. In 1982, aged 18 and having left school to follow careers advice and 'see the world', he took a job catering on board a Royal Navy ship, HMS Broadsword, and was subsequently heavily involved in The Falklands War. He wrote his first poem on the way home which was a veiled attack on the war, subsequently published in the ship's own magazine record of the conflict. Leaving the RN at the earliest contracted opportunity in 1984, he returned to college to study drama and performing arts, and taught himself to play guitar.

8. Those who know the autobiograhpical song 'Darren Poyzer's Substitute For Homesick Blues' will have noted the happy ending, and celebration of life with partner Cath and little Jasmine. The very night before Darren came to record that song, he and Cath agreed to split, as Darren had known for sometime that all was not well. It was a very difficult moment therefore, and the option to change the lyrics at the last moment became an added pressure. As it was, he chose to consign their story to a happy ending for the song at least, to document a celebration of his place in what was at times a wonderful family and a source of true happiness. Cath and Jasmine now live in Australia.

9. The name Poyzer, strange though it seems and for as long as records can be traced, appears to originates from Nottinghamshire, England. However on his Father's side, Darren has a touch of Irish blood, and on his Mother's side, Welsh!.

10. Darren is also the lead inspiration behind Stereo Graffiti, having been presented with a UK Visionary Design Award in 2003.

Honorary '& Friends ...' include:

with honorary badges for production to

Media Credits, Radio Sessions, press and TV appearances include:

Online Credits Include

Darren has toured the UK and Texas, USA (twice), and has shared concert stages with the likes of:

Darren has performed at a variety of festivals and events including ...