The Grand Parade: The Songs & Stories of Mark Harrison

Original roots songs for today that sound like classics. Music and stories to make you move, smile and think.

Mark Harrison is an established, multi-award-nominated singer-songwriter, storyteller and guitarist with an ever-growing reputation for being unlike any other artist out there. He and his band perform all-original songs in his own very individual style, with elements of rock, folk, blues and Americana. He has been frequently featured on BBC Radio, including the Radio 2 Pick of the Week show and the Radio 2 Folk Show, and he and his band have been live guests on Cerys Matthewss Radio 2 show. He has been described on the BBC as an artist who 'makes you think afresh' and by countless reviewers and audience members as 'uplifting' and 'inspirational'.

Mark's shows feature his memorable melodic songs with proper tunes, and thought-provoking and wry song introductions (which are not add-ons but are integral to the show and very much part of the songs and the audience experience). The songs cover a very wide range of topics of a kind that other people dont write songs about. He sings and talks about the shared experiences, thoughts and concerns that many people have in their lives today, making audiences both laugh and think.

Mark is widely considered one of the top roots guitarists, with a very distinctive style on resonator, 12-string, slide and electric guitars. Charles Benfield (double/electric bass and harmonies) and Ben Welburn (drums and percussion) form a fantastic rhythm section unlike any other and are hugely acclaimed by audiences. Mark has been nominated multiple times in the UK Blues Awards (including 2025).

Mark's music has wide appeal, and he and the band tour extensively. They have done sold-out headline shows at the wonderful Minack Theatre in Cornwall, Edinburgh Jazz & Blues and Celtic Connections, and appeared at numerous top festivals of many kinds, including the UK Blues, Rhythm & Rock Festival, Lakefest, Beardy Folk Festival, Jazz FM Love Supreme Festival and Bearded Theory. Mark has released eight albums which have been unanimously acclaimed across a wide range of areas of the music world, receiving a very great deal of airplay and highly enthusiastic reviews in the UK, Europe and the US.

What people say:
Everybody should be talking about Mark Harrison (Classic Rock magazine)
He takes very real things that happen in life and makes you think afresh about them (Paul Jones, BBC Radio 2)
a bit different and kinda groovy too (Cerys Matthews, BBC Radio 2)
a fantastic musician, he's got a great voice and what a songwriter! What a glorious sound he makes (Frank Hennessey, BBC Radio)
great stage presence innovative if Top Of The Pops was still around, he might well be on it (Jazz FM)
charismatic live performances . superb musicianship, melodic songs and humorous banter (RnR magazine)
songs that are relevant and modern, with the feel of classics (Music News)
fresh as morning sunshine and as sharp as a well-honed razor (Folkwords)