Impact

I have a page of music reviews on this site.

The comments on this page mean much more to me though, as they document the impact of my music as I use it to give support and solidarity.

North West TUC

Alun’s music tells the stories of the marginalised, the dispossessed and those forgotten or ignored by the so called mainstream. It also offers hope and support to those for whom struggle is a daily experience.

Steve Farley, Chair, North West TUC

Belfast Visteon Workers

Alun Parry, a singer/songwriter from Liverpool played at the Visteon workers solidarity event held in the occupied Visteon factory in Belfast in April 2009.

The Visteon workers had been sacked without notice and had been denied discussions about pensions and redundancy packages.

Alun organised independently to bring a message of solidarity from the Liverpool Dockers and also played a set of his songs to the workers and their families.

His music reflects day to day struggles of working people like those who were forced to occupy the Visteon factory and in keeping up the spirits of those in occupation he played a part in the eventual victory of that occupation.

Gordon, Belfast Visteon Workers Supporters Group

Big House Arts, HMP Liverpool

Alun Parry performed in Liverpool Prison in 2008 as part of the Big House Arts Music Week project in which prisoners produced and performed their own songs. The prisoners expressed how the lyrics of Alun Parry’s songs raised their awareness of the power of music in relation to expressing and communicating with others.

This experience significantly contributed to the prisoners’ experiences and achievements in song writing when they went on to work and perform with Billy Bragg the following week. In relation to these experiences the same group of prisoners were inspired to produce a political/social observational song to perform in a play they produced about Robert Tressell, reflecting their own life experiences and observations of socio-ecnomic struggles.

Collectively these projects created opportunities for social and personal development as well as the acquisition of music/performance based skills.

Delia Brady-Jacobs, Big House Arts, HMP Liverpool

Liverpool Slavery Tours

You have made me feel highly honoured to think that through taking you on a tour of the slave history of Liverpool you have understood and felt it so much that it has compelled you to put your feelings into music and song. I am so proud.

Eric Lynch, Liverpool Slavery History Tours

Sacked Liverpool Dockers

On behalf of the Sacked Liverpool Dockworkers and all at the CASA can I pass on our thanks for the help you have given to the Labour and Trade Union movement in supporting the struggles of working class men, women and children.

The joint work that you did with the CASA in supporting solidarity events for the Visteon Workers, the Dublin Dockers, the Leeds Refuse Workers, and the Working Class Music Festival gave so many people reason to believe in the true meaning of community spirit and international camaraderie.

At a time when the political and social edge seems to be leaving the music scene for the get rich quick celebrity culture its great to see artists like yourself giving your time freely to support people in struggle.

Terry Teague, Sacked Liverpool Dockworkers

Chester Transition

The Alun Parry Band rocked Alexanders in Chester in aid of Transition Chester. The money raised at the gig helped fund some of our community events over the year including paying for room hire for some of our film showings, skill shares and other events.

Alun’s support helped further the Transition movement in Chester. It helped make things happen. It also gave supporters of our cause a chance to get together and listen to some supberb, beautiful music, lifting and inspiring us to keep on keeping on.

Cheryl Buxton, Chester Transition

Manchester Trades Council

There are precious few pro-gay songs specifically directed at working class communities or ones which tell of LGBT people successfully living in poorer communities. Alun’s Waiting For The Lovers does. It’s very moving and gets to me every time I hear it.

Alun Parry has been a good friend to Manchester Trades Council turning up and playing at short notice and in spite of inclement weather. His strong voice and melodic song adds to the compelling lyrics to make a memorable performance every time.

Kate Richardson, Vice President, Manchester Trades Council

Liverpool Social Centre

Having a singer of Alun’s energy, talent and commitment performing in the Liverpool Social centre at its birth was a tremendous boost to our confidence and self-belief. It reaffirmed our sense of community and solidarity and made us far more outward-looking and hopeful.

Jerry Spencer, Liverpool Social Centre

Merseyside TUC

I am happy to put in writing the words that I have often said verbally concerning your contribution to the community, workers in struggle and the very positive work you do to help combat racism.

For over 6 years your contribution to the community events and particular anti racist events has been excellent and greatly appreciated by everyone.

I particularly recall the 6 July 2008 at the 60th anniversary of the NHS in spite of torrential rain you played to 500 very wet NHS workers and trade unionists.

Alec McFadden, President, Merseyside TUC

National Campaign for Justice for the Shrewsbury Pickets

As Chairman of the National Campaign for Justice for the Shrewsbury Pickets I wish to place on record our appreciation of the support we are receiving for our campaign from singer/songwriter Alun Parry and his associates in the music scene.

Undoubtedly Alun’s contribution to the Campaign rally in Shrewsbury earlier this year contributed immensely to it’s success. Not only did Alun perform at the after event social, he had written a tremendous song about the late Des Warren.

His support is greatly valued by our committee and we know that his association with us will enable the message of this just cause to be spread more widely than ever before. We look forward to a continuing and even further rewarding involvement with this good Comrade.

Eddie Roberts, National Campaign for the Shrewsbury Pickets

Liverpool Schools

The gig you did for my Year 3/4 class (7,8 & 9year olds) was totally ace. The school is in quite a financially deprived area of the city and a large intake of pupils start this school with communication difficulties and some also with learning and/or behavioural difficulties too.

It is very rare to find someone to give their time to such activities free of charge like you did. When you came into my class to perform most of the children had never been so close to a musical instrument other than percussion instruments.

Most of the children had never been in close proximity to someone who was able to play an instrument and sing too. You had a genuine warmth to your approach to the children and they instantly liked you. The fact that you wrote a song especially for them really impressed them all. It gave them a sense that you were interested in them and their lives. It gave you an instant bond with them.

They also loved the fact that your song showed your allegiance with them against authority (i.e. ME!) – which of course they thought was great and quite hilarious! It made your gig very personal to them and also very memorable too. They sang that song for weeks and weeks … and weeks!!

I remember quite vividly the smiling faces of all 18 children that afternoon in Everton. One of my best memories of teaching in mainstream education.

Rebecca Peers, teacher

Merseyside CND

Alun Parry’s music is the soundtrack to many work class struggles in Britain and he’s a regular on the local political and music scene. Alun’s songs resist oppression whilst getting the balance between a good rant and a great song just right.

Kai Andersen, Merseyside CND

AFC Liverpool

You writing our cup final song was fantastic. It’s there forever. When we re-live these days in years to come we’ve a song to go with the story that we tell.

Even more so for our younger supporters such as our son Michael. It’s something for him to refer to as he probably won’t remember as much as me of what we’ve done since the club began.

It gives me a sense of belonging for the club; part of moment in time captured in song.

Long may it continue. You did us proud as I hope we do in continuing to run the club.

Paul McCombs, AFC Liverpool

The Sophie Lancaster Foundation

Alun Parry has offered his support to the work of the Foundation (www.sophielancasterfoundation.com) since we approached him asking if we could attend the Working Class Music Festival in Liverpool in September 09.

Alun’s help at the festival enabled us to meet more people and musicians and therefore promote the campaign.

Alun came to Rawtenstall to play a benefit gig with Attila the Stockbroker and we look forward to working with him next year.

His song “We Are Not Afraid” inspired by Sophie and the intolerance people suffer in society is poignant and beautiful and, as he talks about Sophie’s murder for being a “goth” before he plays the song at gigs, he is spreading the word about the S.O.P.H.I.E campaign wherever he goes.

Kate Conboy-Greenwood, Campaigns Manager,The Sophie Lancaster Foundation

The Liverpool Councillor

Alun Parry has been described elsewhere as the “soul” of Liverpool. In my view he speaks (or should I say sings?) the words that the good decent people of Liverpool would want to hear and would want to be said.

When a Merseyside young woman was murdered for being a “Goth” and for looking different to her peers, Alun was at the forefront of the outrage we all felt and played a benefit for her surviving family and friends.

When a young man was murdered in Huyton, in his sleep, just for being gay, Alun dedicated a song for Michael Causer and takes great pains in explaining the meaning behind the lyrics, to his audience, so that they understand why homophobia is an outrage.

When awareness of the plight of failed or troubled asylum seekers reached Alun, he wrote and sang an important song about how Liverpool really feels, despite the presence in our city of the Immigration Directorate – Rosa should stay.

He is an ardent Trade Unionist and is not afraid to challenge the establishment or the bosses in song or in the commentary he gives to his sets. He is the voice of the questing, questioning, ordinary working people of Liverpool.

I wont call him a working class hero, because another man from Liverpool has already taken that badge, but he clearly has the respect of those who concern themselves with the political issues of the day, because he has a vital and relevant voice to share, he sings it how it is.

Cllr Louise Baldock