Peter Harris & Friends at New River Studios 24/06/2018

The legendary Peter Harris has organised an astonishing music and art event that is taking place this coming Sunday.The Rebel magazine were cock a hoop when Mr Harris agreed to answer a few questions for us...

The Rebel: Are you an artist who makes music as a hobby or do you see your music as being of your art? Peter Harris: "I see the music as being the same as the art, it's all about trying to find original ideas and expressing them as well as you can, whether it's a painting, film, a play or a song."

Who is in your band and why did you select the musicians you did? "The people in the band came together naturally through the long journey that started out with me playing slide guitar and peddle steel with the Arthur Brick Band ( which is were I first started playing with Thom Driver and Rick Carbone) and then that became the Piper's Son Band with Thom, Rick and Jared Fisher on drums and Victor Bock on bass. Dylan Bates (Stanley Bad) is on violin, I knew him from playing in the flea pit orchestra and collaborated with him way back on an e.p. I made, he played on a track with J.J. Burrell from The Stranglers, so I always had him in mind for playing with me, I’m Lucky enough to have a dream team of crack musicians and consider myself well blessed because of it! I began writing loads of songs that unfortunately (for people who like good voices) I had to sing as the content of the words was so personal ( a sort of self-portrait in song) so I began recording demo's and through a Rasta connection (Jah Youth) I started recording with David Fullwood who is a brilliant trumpet player who plays with Zion Train. And then Victor suggested I send my demo's to Trashmouth Records who then got back in touch and we started working together.

What can you tell me about this venue? "The venue (New River Studio's) was a place I used to rehearse in and then realised they had a concert area, so for my album launch I used it and also exhibited art works too, it seemed to work well, so i am putting on regular art and music events, rather than slogging away on the pub scene, which is expensive and a bit depressing! the art world also seems like a dead place, so this approach in combining my main interests seemed like a natural thing to do."

What other musicians are playing at this event? "The other musicians playing are BLINOV (their first gig I believe) who are a synth duo, Me with my band who for this event will be scaling it down a bit and will have Jah Bunny on percussion and hopefully (if it's now fixed) a vintage 1970's synth drum! oh, and Warren Mansfield from Meatraffle with be spinning some discs too! plus from The Fat White Family and Insecure Men the legend that is Saul Adamczewski will be playing solo and showing some of his great drawings!"

What would be your desert Island Discs? Which records mean the most to you? "The records that never seem to get old and bore me are: Miles Davies Dark Magus, David Bowie All Saints, Brian Eno Thursday Afternoon, Yabby You Jesus Dread, Lee 'Scratch' Perry Disco Devil (the 12 inch disco mixes), Keith Hudson Playing it cool."

Listen to the music of Peter Harris on bandcamp: here

For details on how you can buy Peter's album from Rough Trade click: here To find out about Peter's past project click: here For info on New River Studios click: here Address of venue: New River Studios, Unit E, 199 Eade Road. N4 1DN The event starts at 7pm. No tickets required.