Singer/songwriter Paddy Milner has recently emerged as one of the most distinctive new music talents in the UK; on May 28th he will be releasing his new album Based On A True Story through Gerry Brons’ legendary Bronze record label. He will be supporting the release with a full UK tour that will include a home coming gig at the Corn Exchange in Dorchester on Saturday June 2nd.More about Paddy's Dorset roots  | | Paddy Milner |
Paddy moved to Dorchester from Edinburgh with his family when he was two and a half but it wasn't too long before he was getting into music: "I started playing music at the age of 8 - I had straightforward classical piano lessons with a local music teacher which didn't really grab me, but I found a guy called Steve Berholt who taught me basic jazz and blues piano which fired my imagination." It wasn't surprising that Paddy should be bitten by the live music bug as his Dad ran a local Ceilidh band: "There was always music around, records playing all the time - I have fond memories of Dad playing squeezebox, melodeons, guitar and anything he could make a noise with!" While his schoolmates at Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester were getting on with their homework, Paddy was gigging around the local jazz and blues circuit: "I'm the sort of guy that once I start something, I'll do it as best as I can. Luckily there is a great live music scene around Weymouth and Dorset and I was lucky to get to know some of the players from quite an early age so I got a lot of gigging experience from the age of 13 or 14. I think I played every pub in the area!" It wasn't all plain sailing - along the way Paddy took part in some Jerry Lee Lewis impersonation shows: "I had a ball doing it, it appealed to my acting side - it didn't feel that cheesey at the time - it was really good fun and I think it brought me out as a performer."  | | Paddy Milner |
Record releases Having moved to London to study Physics, Paddy soon realised that he should have stuck to the music path and dropped out to record his debut album before going to Kings College to study for a music degree. Having signed to Bronze Records in 2004, Paddy released his second album Walking on Eggshells to critical acclaim: "We've been getting great feedback and reviews. I'm very happy with it - there is great artwork on the sleeve which brings out the fun side of the music."  | | Paddy Milner |
Paddy Milner’s music defies straightforward definition. Invevitable comparisons have been made with Jamie Cullum – partly due to his dark, brooding looks – but these don’t do the musical range, or artistic diversity apparent in Milner’s music, justice. Don't miss Paddy Milner's gig at The Corn Exchange Dorchester on Saturday 2nd June 2007.Tickets: £8 / £5 (Students) available in advance on 01305 852 773. Doors open at 8pm. | 
