My radio ballad Tressell And Me is being broadcast on Preston FM this Friday (6 Jan).

It will feature in the popular 7pm show Best Kept Secrets presented by Paul and Lucy Breeze.

You can hear Preston FM on 103.2FM in the Preston area or worldwide over the internet by going to http://www.preston.fm/ and clicking on “listen live”.

I’d like to thank Paul and Lucy and Preston FM for sharing the radio ballad with a wider audience.

I am actively encouraging others to do the same, so please contact me with any ideas.

I have produced a radio ballad exploring the socialist ideas within the book The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists.

I hope that you enjoy it, that you share it, and that it helps spread socialist ideas in a way that is easy to understand.

I would love for it to become a well used resource within the labour movement – that’s my main hope for it. Enjoy!

Listen here:

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Download it here (right click and choose Save As)

Or find it on iTunes at http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/alunparry/id492465811

A couple of weeks ago I accepted an invite to have a sneak preview of a brand new Liverpool venue that launches tomorrow and is open for business from Friday night onwards.

The venue is called The Brink and is located at the heart of Liverpool’s music scene, in trendy Parr Street. They are actively looking to make contact with musicians and promoters who want to stage events in their lovely gig space. (Contact details below.)

The Brink is an innovative new social venue in that they don’t serve alcohol. They believe that a great time is better fueled by people and their creative spirited energy.

What they do promise though are great quality food and drink.

To back that up they’ve gone out and hired Tom Gill as head chef. He was formerly head chef at the Everyman. So if you’re missing lunch at the Everyman since it closed, you now know where to eat instead.

I very rarely drink myself so this venue really appeals. Sometimes you just fancy a good night out in town that’s a bit off the beaten track yet still very central – and without all the aggro and leeriness that you often find where the ale is flowing.

It’s all WiFi enabled too, and is open throughout the day and into the early hours.

The Brink’s Damien Kelly told me: “The Brink is the perfect place for anyone who wants an experience of something a bit different. The Brink is for those who want all the fun and delights of a great night out but without drugs and alcohol in the mix. So join us for a big slurp of aliveness.”

The Brink is open for business from this weekend onwards. Go and check it out.

Also, musicians and promoters, give Damien a shout on 0151 703 0582 to chat things over. Or email him on damien DOT kelly AT thebrinkliverpool DOT com

It really is a lovely space and they have their own PA in house too.

For more about The Brink check out their website at http://thebrinkliverpool.com/

I’ll be appearing on the After 8 stage run by The Phil’s Rodewald Suite at The Hope Street Feast on Sunday 18th September.

As ever, it’s a great line up with the likes of Amsterdam’s Ian Prowse and Groundpig’s John O’Connell playing the same stage during the day.

You can catch my set at 2.45pm, and the stage itself is in Myrtle Street.

If you look in the publicity it doesn’t name me, it just has Special Guest. Which makes me feel all super important hehe. I might even wear shades.

Oh alright then, I won’t. But I will have a great time, so come and join me.

Lefty music fans are in for a treat this weekend as the lovely Roy Bailey helps launch the new Radical Liverpool night at Studio 2.

Roy is a legend on the political folk scene and has been a regular at my Working Class Life & Music Festival, and a recent guest at the Woody Guthrie Folk Club too.

Anyone who has seen him knows to expect a charming, insightful evening of song.

Support comes in the form of The Trestles (featuring my ex drummer Howard), and new folk trio Our Morals (featuring Vinny Spencer, Emma Runswick and Josh Cartwright).

Here’s where you get your tickets: http://www.wegottickets.com/event/130004