Darren Poyzer
singer-songwriter /
special needs music teacher
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see also press kit . 10 things

* new for 2008:
Darren Poyzer - Bloody Love Songs
Bloody Love Songs - Darren Poyzer
a brand new cd full of brand new songs

DARREN POYZER
(Singer / Songwriter,
Manchester / Chester, UK)

Singer and songwriter who combines raw emotion with socio-politics, humour and charisma, 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 for over 20 years, since his debut in 1986, and professionally since 1988.

Working as a special needs music teacher by day has given his songs, stories and performance a new edge and vitality.

The desire to write, entertain and be embraced as a charming story-teller 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.

He has 3 self-published CD's and one live concert DVD to his name. These are 'Global' (CD & DVD); 'Brilliant Words'; and 'Passion & Conflict'.

Darren is also noted for sharing his energies to the benefit of up and coming musicians and writers. As well as co-hosting 'Stand And Deliver' in the mid 1980's, which was a catalyst to the rise of alternative cabaret and comedy, he launched the music programming for one of Greater Manchester's most prolific live music venues 'The Witchwood', and continued through 10 years at the heart of the Madchester scene and beyond.

Darren was also prolific at the outset of the Manchester acoustic scene at the end of the 1990's, fronting 'Acoustica' events all over Greater Manchester and producing the first acoustic songwriter compilation cd of that era 'Words & Pictures' for Raw Fish Records.

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

Darren continues to work with special needs children and adults providing music therapy and tuition, also running occasional music and songwriter workshops.

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

  • The Guardian Newspaper
  • Channel M TV
  • BBC Radio Manchester
  • BBC Radio Merseyside
  • High Peak Radio
  • Assorted Radio USA
  • Manchester Evening News
  • City Life Magazine
  • Manchester Is Music
  • Keeping Music Live (Yorkshire)
  • Bang Yer 'Ead 'Ere Fanzine

and many local, regional publications and radio shows

Online Credits Include

  • Approx 21,000 plays at My Space
  • MP3.com Manchester Pop - No 1
  • Besonic.com Global Songwriter - No 1 Worldwide

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

  • The Saw Doctors
  • Steve Coogan
  • Wishbone Ash
  • Walter Trout
  • Hawkwind
  • Hayseed Dixie
  • Eddi Reader
  • The Wonderstuff
  • The Bluetones
  • New Model Army
  • Glenn Tilbrook
  • Lloyd Cole
  • The Alarm
  • The Zombies
  • Roy Harper
  • John Thomson
  • Focus
  • Nick Harper
  • Hazel O'Connor
  • Johnny Bramwell (I Am Kloot)
  • The Mock Turtles
  • John Cooper Clarke
  • Michelle Shocked
  • The Chameleons
  • Dave Sharp
  • Nazareth
  • China Crisis
  • Martin Stephenson
  • All About Eve
  • Josh Ritter
  • Jospeh Arthur
  • The Tiger Lillies
  • Kirsty McGee
  • Kathryn Williams

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

  • Edinburgh Festival
  • 2 Tours of Texas USA
  • Manchester Festival
  • Bradford Festival
  • Buxton Fringe Festival
  • Glastonwick Festival
  • Chorlton Arts Festival
  • The Independence Festival, Leeds
  • The Manchester Busker (original line-ups and 20th Anniversary Invitation)
  • Inter-Action Disability Arts, Milton Keynes
  • Paddington International Poetry Festival, London
  • North Moor Urban Art Street Festival, Manchester
  • Glossop Folk and Roots Festival
  • Nantwich Folk & Roots Festival
  • Wigan One World Festival
  • Halton Show
  • Lift Global Music Festival
  • Haigh Hall Music Festival, Wigan
  • Stop The War Coalition (Bradford and Glossop)
  • Glossop Manor Park Festival
  • Adur Festival

Influences are many ...

  • Billy Bragg
  • 'Guitar' George Borowski
  • Martin Stephenson
  • Bert Jansch
  • Nick Harper
  • Difford and Tilbrook
  • Attila The Stockbroker
  • The Chameleons
  • The Children at Delamere School
  • Daevid Allen (Gong)
  • Greg Brown

... and of course every good soul on Planet Earth!!