Photographs by John Arnison (Mik in Fox masks) and Andy Bilewycz (Port Eliot festival shots). Please do credit if used.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Ego Has Landed
Mik Artistik is a poet, performer, artist and comedian. With his compadre, Jonny Flockton on guitars and a selection of well-heeled bass players, they travel from city to city, frightening and delighting adults.
The surreal and beautiful beast that is Mik Artistik's Ego Trip are on their 2018 'World Tour' ...and it promises to be an 'exotic' adventure.
Mik Artistik spouts lyrics, throws straws, and generally amuses himself over the top of an exquisite layer of rock, soul and punk, created by Jonny Flockton on guitar, a drum machine and one of a crack squad of bass players.
The cult band, have delighted and unnerved Glastonbury audiences for over ten years gaining more devoted followers each time they play, and are proving to be one of the most interesting, unpredictable and exciting acts on the circuit.
Shaun Keaveny, BBC6 Music presenter said they are, ‘as mad as a wasp trapped under a pint glass.’
Fans include John Shuttleworth, Johnny Vegas, John Cooper Clarke and Peter Kay. Mik, who sings in a broad Yorkshire accent, sings on subjects from his experiences down the local library to travelling from Leeds to London with a leaf wedged under the windscreen wiper.
Graham Fellows aka John Shuttleworth has recorded one of Mik's songs on his new album ‘Weird Town’.
Martin Parr the world famous photographer describes them as "My favourite band on the planet."
The art college graduate turned to playing live on stage after a stint on the dole and working on building sites. He developed a side line as Mik Artistik, roaming Leeds city centre offering to draw pen portraits of punters on paper bags. After being invited on stage in a local pub when he heckled a band, the audience loved him and Mik took his strange, singular stand-up act around the country. The show turned into the Mik Artistik’s Ego Trip becoming a festival favourite and popping up in such diverse settings as the London Fashion Show, supporting Chas and Dave, The Vortex Jazz Club and Batley Rugby Club.
His latest album, ‘Sound’, was released last year and contains two of his top tunes - the anthemic and poignant 'Sweet Leaf of the North' and the deranged 'Plastic Fox’.
Praised for being a ‘hugely talented singer-songwriter and artist’ (The Observer) for his ability to make up lyrics as he goes along, drawing on observations from the crowd, Gideon Coe, BBC6 Music Presenter declared Mik Artistik's Ego Trip: ‘The best live band I have seen all summer.’
This band brings joy. See them and get healed.
To purchase tickets go to http://mikartistik.com/live/
2018 Tour Dates and to Purchase Tickets go to http://mikartistik.com/live/
• 9 November, Mothers Ruin, Bristol
• 16 November, 24 Kitchen Street, Liverpool
• 17 November The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle
• 01 December, Le Pub Newport
• 07 December, The Green Jersey, Clitheroe
• 08 December, Glad Café, Glasgow
• 14 December, Shakespeare’s Sheffield
• 15 December, Gulliver’s, Manchester
• 22 December, Brudenell Social Club Leeds
Editors Notes
Listen to Mik Artistik’s Ego Trip tracks, including their latest album Sound and new single Hospitent:
https://mikartistiksegotrip1.bandcamp.com/
Guardian Review:
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2018/oct/14/martin-parr-on-my-radar-cultural-highlights
The anthem and poignant 'Sweet Leaf of the North' and the deranged 'Plastic Fox’:
'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUmsVT_R4Eg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXe4tQMUVCA&t=22s
For media interviews contact [email protected] 07531948014