American singer Dean Friedman to play New Brighton

Jul 8 2009 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

Dean Friedman

LEGENDARY singer -songwriter Dean Friedman is performing in Wirral later this month as part of a series of summer concerts at Fort Perch Rock.

It was the summer of 1977 when Friedman’s recording career took off with the release of hit single Ariel – a pop song all about a free-spirited, music loving, vegetarian Jewish girl.

A year later his duet with Denise Marsa, Lucky Stars went to the top of the UK charts.

Another single, McDonald’s Girl, was banned by the BBC for mentioning the name of the fast food restaurant but has since been covered by bands like the Barenaked Ladies.

During the 1980s, Friedman turned his hand to composing and producing music soundtracks for television and film.

In 1986 Wirral band Half Man Half Biscuit famously released an EP containing the song “The B*****d Son of Dean Friedman”.

Friedman, now 54, will be at Fort Perch Rock on Saturday, July 25, supported by Al Willard Peterson and Wirral band Searchin.

His show is the second in the Fort’s series of Concerts in the Courtyard 2009, which start on Friday, July 24 with fire eaters, clowns, fireworks and the Amazing Kappa Band.

Eric Faulkner’s Bay City Rollers will perform on Friday, August 7. China Crisis round off the series on Saturday, August 8. All events are outdoor.

Liveguide has teamed up with Fort Perch Rock to give away two pairs of tickets to Dean Friedman’s show on July 25.

To be in with a chance of winning, answer the following question: According to the lyrics of Ariel, the girl he fell in love with lived “Way on the other side” of which river? a) Mersey, b) Hudson or c) Thames?

Entries should be sent to: Dean Friedman Competition, Wirral News, PO Box 48, Old Hall Street, Liverpool L69 3EB.

The closing date is Friday, July 17.

Tickets (Kappa £12, Dean Friedman £17, Eric Faulkner’s Bay City Rollers £14, China Crisis £15) are available from the Fort box office or www.seetickets.com. For more information call 0797 628 2120.