Entertainment news and features

It can't be easy trying to get noticed when you're a trio living in Barnstaple.

But we're confidently predicting that acoustic singer-songwriters Parson Jacks will soon be known well beyond Devon's borders.

When they performed live at Big JG's first birthday party at the Reel Cinema in Plymouth (see the story and gallery links), they went down a storm with the audience.

The trio are: John Sharp (guitar and vocals), Sophie Parry (vocals) and Tony Hurst (guitar).

Tony and Sophie at JG's birthday show

They formed in 2006, but they weren't entirely strangers. Tony explained: "John and I have known each other for quite a while and been in bands before.

"Then we discussed getting back together again. John said it would be nice to have a female vocalist.

"I had worked with Sophie and I went to see her in a local musical and thought - she's the singer for us - and she said yes."

The trio's songs are heartfelt, and that's down to John's lyrics.

Their debut CD has five songs: one is an instrumental, one is quite chirpy, and the other three are really quite sad.

Farewell - a song about a broken heart - is one of them. John said: "This song was composed about eight years ago. I always wanted to record it, and Sophie has put her lovely vocals to it.

"When I play Farewell live, I always start to choke up. It's quite hard sometimes because all the memories come flooding back. It's a time-piece now.

John writes the lyrics, and they can be quite sad!

"But that's what I like - the songs are a part of me, really."

He added: "I have to be in the right frame of mind to write a song. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and I jump up and write down the words.

"I always have a notepad and pen with me, anyway. Tony is always on at me to write some happier songs!".

Then it's a case of putting tunes to the words.

The CD - called Parson Jacks - was recorded, mixed and produced by Tom Nordan, who's head of music technology at North Devon College.

John has just written a couple of brand new songs, and they are hoping to release a single this Spring.

At the moment, Parson Jacks - who don't have a record label - are gigging mainly in Devon and Somerset but they're hoping the CD will help them to become more widely known.

You can find out more about them on their myspace website - see the link on this page. The CD can be purchased by visiting the itunes website and typing Parson Jacks into the search engine.

You can also hear their live set on John Govier's Late Night Radio Show by clicking onto the audio link on this page.