Derek Meins

Having spent the last two years complaining that we only get asked "where we're from" or "how we came up with our name", I was a bit taken aback when Artrocker asked us to write an article about anything. Anything!? Having toyed with writing about Ru's ambtion to be a racing car driver, Noel Gallagher or my new found love for hip hop I decided it would be best used to tell you all that you have to listen to Derek Meins.

Derek is half crazed performance poet and half acoustic songwriter, best described at a gig as Tom Waits before his balls have dropped. We have taken him on the last few tours with us, compering the nights, and it has been an absolute pleasure.

Derek walked off to proper ovations as well as to booing depending on the open-mindedness of our crowds. It's always fascinating to see how people react to him. He's the kind of act that really makes you decide whether you love it or hate it, I have never seen anyone shrug their shoulders at his shows. I think that's really important, there's too much music around these days that presents itself as non-descript, with seemingly no purpose or intent.

I¹ve seen Derek play a lot over the past year, mostly to unsuspecting people in bars, and every time you see him it feels like a moment, like you¹ll be telling people in five years "I was there".

He's started his own monthly club night, the Soapbox club, which runs every month on the last Thursday at the New Evaristo Club on Greek Street, near Tottenham Court Road. It's this tiny underground mafia-like bar where Derek literally stands on a soapbox and belts out his songs and poems. He always gets really interesting supports in the form of storytellers or acoustic acts with cello's and things, it's just a really unique thing to go and see. And it¹s free entry. The soapbox club is starting in Brighton too thismonth, at the Fitzherberts pub.

For all his eccentricities as a performer thought, the most important thing about Derek is just that his songs are just great. Oh and that he's called Derek and he's from Berwick. Everyone should do themselves a favour and go see him.

He's putting out a mini-album on 1965 called "The Famous Poet" out on May 12th. Buy it.

FELIX