Warwick The Tunemaker

Ricky Warwick is an interesting soul. His cultural references include Axl Rose, Ciaran Carson, Terry Bradley and Glentoran Football Club. During his time with The Almighty, he was a Kerrang! cover star and he delivered eight singles into the UK Top 40. These days, he's making progress as a roots rocker, drawing on the American troubadours while searching for a mythology that's closer to home.

Last night, he was amplified and wholly committed to an event called 'Time To Be Proud'. It was a gathering in Belfast to celebrate the legacy of our punk era, and the new contenders who have taken something from the tradition. In Ricky's case, it was the chance to sing 'Alternative Ulster' by Stiff Little Fingers. The boy has often played testament to the life-changing potential of SLF and so he brought it home with maximum commitment. The guitar line resonated, the lyrics were refocused and he was joined on stage by Buck from The Defects, who were also in raucous form and happy to find fresh value in songs like 'Brutality'. Ace entertainment.