Nick Harper makes a return to the Listening Room at Maple Court in Inverness, on July 16th 2005.

The lucky people who crammed into the uniquely intimate Inverness venue wich recently hosted shows with luminaries Chris Hillman and Steve Young, still describe his performance that first night as a Maple Court classic show.

Promoter Medicine Music's Rob Ellen recalls, "after gigs at the Maple Court invariable, in the even more relaxed after show glow, peoples conversation turns to some of best gigs at the venue, Nick's first show remains a huge favourite. Nick has the rare ability to connect very complicated idea's directly in very real but surprisingly different ways with all of his audience, there is always a very exciting - this could go anywhere - energy at a Nick gig" Rob continues "I have the privilege to witness the songwriters craft in many of its manifestations up close, week in week out performed by some of the best in the trade, but Nicks approach is way beyond craft, he is an artist in the true sense of the word, his genius (not a word I use to offer) is to be always clearly in the moment of performance and is adept at adapting the direction of the performance spontaneously to audience response and I guess his highly charged inward feeling, He's a frighteningly good singer and player Nicks performance is never the same twice "

Nick Harper is a highly accomplished guitarist to whom the term virtuoso truly belongs. Yet his guitar playing is only a part of his skill. As well as a distinctive and soulful voice, Nick is a rare kind of artist, one who reaffirms faith in the art of original song writing.

A rapt spectator at the last Maple Court show, was local avant-garde musician songwriter Jeep Solid, not a man unfamiliar with original thought and performance, Jeep says "That performance change my life" The veteran musician is a contemporary of Nicks iconic father Roy, and remembers hanging with Roy in 1968 as part of the influential Beetles Apple Record artist driven music collective, who released records for Jeeps band White Trash and who's ethos was influence by the freedom of musicians like Roy Harper. Jeep continues, "Roy's audiences always became part of the performance, Nick has the same ability, he dances with notions"!!

Nick’s debut recording was first heard in 1983 when he appeared on his father’s ‘Whatever Happened To Jugula’ album – a collaboration between Roy Harper and Jimmy Page. Nick went on tour with his father and recorded regularly with him thereafter. Nick’s energy and talent entranced Roy’s fans and it was no surprise when he began touring and recording in his own right. Nick’s first solo release was released in 1994; an E.P entitled ‘Light At The End of The Kennel’. It captured Nick at a raw and youthful stage yet contains songs mature enough to still be mainstays of the live set. Then followed ‘Seed’ in 1995 - his first album, and The Independent described him as ‘Hugely talented’.

The next stage of his career began when Nick supported Squeeze front man and songwriter Glenn Tilbrook. Tilbrook was so impressed that he offered Nick a job playing with Squeeze and promptly signed Nick to his own label, Quixotic Records. Following tours in the UK, USA and Japan, Nick recorded his second album ‘Smithereens’ with Tilbrook as producer. It was this work and his subsequent 40 date solo tour including devastating appearances in New York and Glastonbury that confirmed Nick Harper as a formidable talent in his own right.

His third album, ‘Harperspace’, was released to great critical acclaim - passionate, energetic and positively inspired. This is the album that confirmed his position at the forefront of a new generation of British Acoustic Performers.

‘Double Life’, which came out in May, is Nick’s first live album and as well as outstanding performances of songs from all his previous releases, also includes a few brand new as yet unrecorded tracks. He is one of the select few artists working in the UK who are simultaneously steeped in tradition and yet completely contemporary - 'Guitar Man (Whole Lotta Love Mix)', is a rip roaring marriage of 'Guitar Man' as recorded by Elvis Presley and 'Whole Lotta Love' by Led Zeppelin. Or 'Out Of It' which starts with two verses of 'Butcher' by Killing Joke and goes on to include some Gang of Four and even a fair few lungfuls of Prodigy’s 'Breathe'.

Rob Ellen say's "as soon as Jeep heard Nick was coming back he offered to open the show, I am delighted how could I resist, I can't think of a more interesting spontaneous and emotional charged, possibly dangerous combination ".

Jeep Solids new website is under construction here http://members.lycos.co.uk/jeepsolid
Nick Harper's website is at www.harperspace.com