Singer-Songwriter and Poet Vinny Peculiar [aka Alan Wilkes] grew up in Worcestershire and trained as a nurse before signing to Manchester cult label Ugly Man records [former home to Elbow]. He's since put out twelve albums of literate autobiographical pop music over a twenty-year career and has regularly toured band, solo and duo shows. Variously described as 'an under sung national treasure' [UNCUT] 'a warm hearted Morrissey' [Q Magazine] and 'the missing link between Jarvis Cocker and Roger McGough' [Irish Times] past work associations include Bill Drummond [KLF], Luke Haines and Jah Wobble [PIL] and his various bands have included ex members of The Smiths, OASIS, Aztec Camera & The Fall. He's also written and recorded as Parlour Flames, the band he formed in 2013 with ex OASIS rhythm guitarist Bonehead. Current 'concept' album Silver Meadows is set in a 1980s long stay psychiatric hospital, it's also in development as a musical stage play. New album 'Return of the Native' a Worcestershire inspired collection of songs comes out May 2018 Press notes n quotes. Part Pulp, part Kinks, and very much part Peculiar, this is observational, punk-tinged songwriting at its best. HOT PRESS Vinny Peculiar songs make you laugh and cry and think all at the same timeTOM ROBINSON BBC 6Music 'A well-measured introduction to an under sung national treasure' UNCUT MAGAZINE Wildly witty with abject sadness and pathos in swathes, like a warm hearted Morrissey no less' INDEPENDENT 'The missing link between Jarvis Cocker and poet Roger McGough and some of the wittiest lyrics this side of Wreckless Eric' IRISH TIMES 'A strange brave captivating album, matched by fascination, dark humor and warmth' DAILY MIRROR This fifteen-track album from the Salford based singer songwriter is frankly, unmissable. A real joy. AMERICANA- UK Crashing poppily through Vinnys world of nostalgia and insight every song stuffed to the gills with melody and eccentricity, clever, funny and wonderfully weird' R2 MAGAZINE 'If Tony Hancock had made pop records they'd have sounded like this' Q MAGAZINE