I last caught musician Ryan Jarvis at the Salford Music Festival last year. His set was one of the stand-out gigs that I have had the pleasure of attending. This Friday he is playing live to raise funds for St Mary's Hospital Snowdrop Suite, and his no nonsense solo songs will be backed, for the very first time by a full band.
It's an evening they have put together to raise money for the hospital's Intensive Care Baby Unit, and it's something that means a lot to the young song-smith.
Ryan's tunes are unmistakably northern and have an element of melodrama and a kitchen-sink sensibility; wise way beyond his twenty two years. I asked the prodigious troubadour a few questions about his upcoming show...
When did you start to play guitar and realise you had a gift for writing songs?
I started playing when I was about 12/13. When I realised I was no good at football, I packed that in and grabbed the acoustic that was sat in the corner gathering dust and had a few lessons to give me a push. A few years later I went to college and volunteered myself for this gig they were putting on in Piccadilly Gardens, part of the old In The City Festival. Armed with a handful of covers I got a great reaction, then I kind of realised I wanted to be a solo artist so I just started writing and writing.
Who were your early song-writing influences?
My early influences would have to be people like Guy Garvey, Liam Fray and James Allen of Glasvegas. They were the first bunch of songwriters from bands I kind of found myself investing so much of my time into them, then I went back a few years into my dad and granddad's record collections and found the likes of Johnny Cash, Dylan and The Stone Roses of course to name a few.
Your songs sound very natural and honest, what inspires you?
I'd say relationships, the 219 bus, house parties, conversations with people, sometimes drunken ones...just everyday life.
Is it going to be different playing with a band?
Yeah, It'll be nice to have some team mates up there with me. When I've been writing these songs, I've always written them knowing they'll be backed by a band. It's been a long time coming but now I've found a good set of like-minded musicians in Joe, Duncan and Drew. We've been rehearsing non-stop for the past few months for this gig and we're really looking forward to taking it out there.
Come along and see Ryan's first ever full band show. All money from ticket sales is going to The Snowdrop Suite in Saint Mary's Children's Hospital. It's one you won't want to miss; support on the night comes from the wonderful Jordan Drinkwater and Holly Jenkinson. It's going be a very special night for a very special cause
Ryan Jarvis Live
Friday 24th February
Gullivers
Oldham Street, Manchester
Tickets available £5 click here
For more details on Ryan Jarvis see his Facebook page – click here
Words by Ian Leslie
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
(3).jpeg)
.png)
(1).JPG)
