Patrik Fitzgerald

Sunday July 12th at 8.00 p.m.
Members $7 Non-members $12

An acoustic folk-punk-poet, also described as mesmerising and highly influential, Patrik began his career during the punk days but has always trod his own path as a song writer and performer. He considers the folk traditions of story tellers, troubadours, political singers and protest singers amongst his influences, along with maverick singers and songwriters such as Jacques Brel, Bertolt Brecht, Tom Lehrer, Randy Newman, Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, Lou Reed, David Bowie and Ray Davies.

Patrik writes the songs about subjects other people don’t write about. And each song has something to say and speaks for itself. "I like to think that I write for people of our own age: the ones who haven’t given away their edge!” he says.

Patrik, originally from an immigrant working class London Irish background, has been living in Christchurch for 12 years where he has had occasional gigs at the Green Room, Al’s Bar and the Arts Centre.

He is regarded as the best of the original punk poets, known for the punk anthem Safety Pin Stuck in My Heart, but has a number of cd and vinyl releases since 1978 which have appealed to a very diverse audience. In 2006 he toured the UK and Europe attracting full houses to his concerts. He is the subject of a film called All the Years of Trying, which premiered in Norway in March and is due to be shown at London's international 'Raindance' festival in October. He is also the inspiration for a recently released double tribute cd, All Sewn Up, on which thirty international performers have covered his songs.

The acoustic guitar will provide its usual backing to Patrik's lyrics and voice, as may instrumental backing tracks of songs on his forthcoming album Subliminal Alienation, and there may be some street poetry for good measure.