Darren Poyzer - Music Showreel

Singer and songwriter who combines loving emotion with socio-politics, humour and charisma, Darren has starred alongside many great contemporaries to wide and outstanding acclaim.

Raised on comedy, performance poetry and an understanding family, he turns the angst of a Thatcher-era teenager into a burst of musical theatre, using little more than voice and acoustic guitar.

“Having seen you supporting the likes of the Saw Doctors and the Zombies to name but a few, receiving standing ovations as a support artist is quite an achievement … having an acclaimed singer songwriter of your pedigree hosting an event in our store is always a honour” – Michael Higgins, Borders Books

"Darren's songs are heartfelt with poignant lyrics, and a beautiful sensitive touch. We really enjoy it when he appears on the same stage as us." - Andy Powell, Wishbone Ash

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

"Inspirational ... a cross between Slade The Leveller & Frank Sidebottom" - The Guardian

"a genuine highlight of the festival as a whole ... fabulous stuff!!" - Damon Horrill, Pollen 8 / Middlewich Festival

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.

"Great, fantastic, brilliant, mind blowing and inspiring" - Your Southern Sister, Manchester Is Music

Acclaimed by fans and contemporaries alike 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.

"This man is one of the greats. His wonderfully lyrical version of "Love Will Tell Us Apart" with the great John Ellis on Piano redefined that song and will stay in my memory as one of the great live moments I will ever see. It was simply transformative." Nick Holmes, The Legendary Manchester Busker

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'.

"Where Darren Poyzer appears, unusual things happen and people enjoy themselves ... natural acoustic sound with trademark warmth, firmness and tenderness from his guitar and seemingly effortless projection of the distinctive voice that shares those same qualities ... Darren Poyzer had once again produced an evening that mattered" - Leeds Music Scene

Darren is a pioneer, 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 Poyzer - we think he's great" - House Of Harper, Nick Harper Fan Club

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.

"I am very impressed by his approach to music ... all his words are brilliant as far as I'm concerned ... what an unusual delivery and how effective. Excellent!" - Frank Hennessy, Celtic Heartbeat, BBC Radio Wales

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).

"... a truly uplifting set that managed to reduce the wall-to-wall, packed out Green Room to an almost religious silence ... his brutally honest, yet delicately delivered narrative transfixed even the most macho of grown men in the room ... " - Vicky Andrews, St Helens Star

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

"Darren Poyzer returns to Wigan to re-affirm his place as one of the best singer / songwriters in the local area. Poyzer offers a very personal feel to each of his cheery tunes and takes the listener on a lyrical journey that everybody will be able to relate to. Whether it’s the aches and pains of waking up on a Sunday morning to play five-a-side or the simple ups and downs of life itself, Poyzer guarantees to take you there again … and in style." - Wigan Music Collective

"... you can really empathise, sympathise, with the people in the songs ... it was often like being a kid again, sitting at the knees of a storyteller as another tale was deftly told" - Martin Coldrick, BBC-i

"a superb performer ... Manchester-based musician and songwriter with an inimitable take on the human condition: Sunday morning football, global wars, popular culture, working-class life, friendship and love. Traditional folk singers tell it like it was. Darren writes and sings it like it is now. While not a traditional "folkie”, Darren’s music is vibrant and original ... an eminently watchable performer" - Topic Folk Club, Bradford

"Manchester's hardest working and most respected singer-songwriter" - Nantwich Folk & Roots Festival

"A man who needs no introduction to Spotlight regulars, Darren Poyzer pays another visit to the club. His songwriting abilities are amongst the best I've seen in recent years. Very personal lyrics combined with a wit and enthusiasm to match. If you've never seen him, make sure you come and see him this time. If you have seen him before, I don't need to tell you how good he is" - Spotlight Oxford Acoustic Club

"Darren Poyzer is a powerful artist and one who certainly showed Haigh Hall how to rock an acoustic guitar ... I stood next to a lad that lives down my road and I’d not known he knew who DP was. He corrected me by stating 'Yeh! Who doesn’t know DP? From The Beaches Of Ibiza! I got barred from the Collective once when he played!' As the drunken fella on my right continued to tell me tales of fights in The Tavern, Poyzer played his set better than I’d ever seen him on the stage ..." - Chris Byron reviews Haigh Hall Music Festival, June 15th 2003

"As a live performer Darren Poyzer is the brand new rock and roll. Who says that rock and roll is all about sex and drugs, leather jackets and haircuts? It’s about liberation, freedom, magic and honesty, all of which you get on this CD" - John Togher reviews the live album 'Global' April 2003

"... Darren Poyzer is a f***ing brilliant solo artist! I don't really see anyone say much about him on here and im not sure why. Last night at the Lux Darren just totally showed everyone how it should be done. Top class performer! Great songs! loved it." - Ben Wolland, Wigan Music Collective

Review of GLOBAL CD: "An amazing songwriter fighting for the cause against the karaoke, the tribute acts, the DJs, the bile of Saturday night 'fun' acts. He is the anti-pop, the working class hero, an amazing talent. Nothing more can be said. Buy this album and see the light." - Bang Yer 'Ead 'Ere Fanzine, August 2002

Review of BRILLIANT WORDS CD: "An excellent 9 track cd of Poyzer's songs, well worth getting hold of ... There's more to this than the usual Poyzer voice and acoustic guitar: track 3 'Men & Machines' starts off with a laid back lounge music feel, and throughout the cd we get beautiful violin sounds weaving through the songs ... Darren's songs are catchy, memorable and never feel contrived. It's like the songs have written themselves, there's no sense of them being laboured over, they just flow out, as natural as can be ... a touching hairs-on-the-back-of-your-neck job ... if you see Mr Poyzer press money into his hands and demand a copy of this album" - Feedback Magazine 2004

" ... the forceful demand for an encore brought Jamie and his fiddle back to join him in 'From The Beaches Of Ibiza To The Shores Of Vietnam' - a song written in the wake of September 11th. I have heard many songs dedicated to that event, but his was by far the best" - Ring O'Bells Folk Club, Widnes, 29/1/02 ...

"... Northern, warm, human, fragile. A few questions are asked, "Have you ever wanted to front a band?" Darren says "Yes, in my dreams. We played Wembley!" Someone shouts "I played Wembley! Same dream!" Quick as a flash, Mr Poyzer says "Yeah, but in my dream you were the support act!" - Feedback Magazine (May 2001)

"Suddenly the cavalry came over the hill in the shape of Darren Poyzer of Acoustica who amazed us with his speedy conversion of an empty alcove into a full blown gig ... a charming little fella and his songs are every bit as charming as the man himself" - Keep It Live .co.uk

" ... adds his own brand of musical humour with his amazing 'Have A Nice Day' song ... very professional, on the surface very funny but very human ... a bundle of emotion" - Feedback Magazine (Feb 2001)

"One of the Manchester scene's best loved music personalities" - Manchester Evening News

"An amazing folk singer from England" - Texas Current (live review, US Tour)

"Then welcome back for the second time to Darren Poyzer and Fluff. An acclaimed songwriter and an inspired performer, Poyzer and Fluff produced a fantastic set. Fluff, only yesterday playing with Bernie Marsden of Whitesnake fame, played some virtuoso fiddle to Poyzers energetic and at times moving guitar work, don't forget the Instigator! Superb" - Audlem Music Festival 2008

"One of my favourites: Darren Poyzer. I wish he would release the single From The Beaches Of Ibiza To The Shores Of Vietnam. An acoustic matching anything David Gray could produce" - Tyke Writer

DARREN WOW'S WU'S (Dr Wu's, Leeds, Jan 2006)
"On this, a rare visit to Leeds, it is easy to see why he is acknowledged as one of the best in the business by fellow musicians and fans alike. With a stage presence that puts you at ease, to the point where you feel Darren has been your best mate for years, this was a gig you didn’t want to finish ... With songs that explore and analyse all aspects of human life and behaviour, Darren is in a class of his own and Leeds can only hope for a very quick return." - Paul Abraham, Yorkshire Music Promotions

"What a fantastic treat it is to witness Darren Poyzer in performance. Alongside fellow musician Kevin Farrell, Mr Poyzer was in great form at De Bees Music Bar on the 18th of April 2007. His set is jam packed with songs of the highest quality and Darren Poyzer performs them quite majestically. Darren Poyzer reminds me of another great songwriter/storyteller that is Martin Stephenson with his onstage manner which is funny, charming and witty. He readily engages the audience with anecdotes which portray each of his songs in the appropriate context. The audience at De Bees were ecstatic in their appreciation of this fine performance. It is to be hoped that Darren Poyzer and Kevin Farrell play here again very soon." - Ian Scanlan, Film-Maker, Absolute Media

"Poyzer, Fluff and Farrell provide a real taste of clotted cream folk – complete with fiddle, rainbows and hats. The style has a slight Irish twang, seasoned with humour, and a real political aftertaste that could leave tears in the eyes of sensitivity. It was a great moment" - Pollen 8 review of Poyzer Trio @ Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival 2007

"I was lucky enough a couple of weeks ago to be at a gig where I was blown away by the support act. The main band Wishbone Ash, was excellent too, I have reviewed one of their gigs in an earlier column, and this gig was just as good, but how many times do you go to a gig and think that you’ve got your monies worth just by seeing the support?

Picture it… two very ordinary guys come out on stage and all they have is acoustic guitars, so I’m thinking a nice little acoustic set.

Think again … it was a great, fantastic, brilliant, mind blowing and inspiring acoustic set! Have I gone a bit OTT? Maybe … but on second thoughts no, cos that’s exactly what I felt at the time.

These fella’s made sounds come out of their acoustic guitars that I’ve never heard before, they were playing them like electric guitars and I was mesmerised. The songs were full of energy and were lyrically masterpieces of urban poetry. They tackled everyday scenarios with humour and sensitivity and made social and political comments that made you sit up and take notice, and not in a preachy way, this was intelligent music!

Add to that is a stage presence and repertoire of humour that had us liking, no lovin’ these guys from the very beginning. For a support band that’s a tough nut to crack cos they know and we know that what we’ve really come to see is the headliner.

Would I go and see them again? Yes I most definitely would and they wouldn’t need to be supporting anyone to get my money at the door."

- Your Southern Sister aka Kym (Manchester Is Music) Review of Poyzer & Farrell, Bolton Albert Halls, November 2006

"Darren Poyzer delivered a fantastic collection of humorous, poetic, touching songs. I still stand by my reckoning about his 'Sunday Morning Footballer' being the best football song written. It avoids the laddish culture of football and has no burly chant but is touching in the beauty and dedication that a nation of people who get up on a piss wet Sunday for a game have. Plus he has the amazing 'Beaches Of Ibiza' that grows with meaning the more the cycle of violence continues with Iraq. A true talent of the acoustic performance" - Bang Yer 'Ead 'Ere Fanzine (Jan '03)

"Darren started the day off and in the true singer songwriter style and played a blinder, very talented" - DAWSONS MUSIC ONLINE (dawsons.co.uk)

"The best football song ever written" - Bang Yer Head Here Fanzine reviews 'Sunday Morning Footballer'

"Darren Poyzer was on form once again and proved that he is a pro. This man really knows how to work an audience. He has a great set of songs... but then you already knew that. 'From The Beaches Of Ibiza To The Shores Of Vietnam' sounded timeless tonight. Top class" - Haigh Hall, Wigan