When you start playing the guitar at the age of ten and grow up surrounded by the likes of Keith Moon, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and Dave Gilmour, chances are you're going to turn into quite an artist.

And Nick Harper, right, has done just that. The son of singer/songwriter Roy Harper, he made his recording debut on his father's Whatever Happened to Jugula? album in 1985.

Nick's 1994 solo EP, Light At The End Of The Kennel, was swiftly followed by his powerful debut album, Seed.

In 1996 Nick met Squeeze frontman and songwriter Glenn Tilbrook who was so impressed that he offered him a job playing with and supporting Squeeze and promptly signed him to his own label, Quixotic Records.

Following tours around the world, Nick recorded the 1998 album Smithereens with Tilbrook as producer.

Nick has just returned from Nepal touring with Glenn Tilbrook, Mike Peters and Slim Jim Phantom. Last autumn they set a new world record for the highest gig on earth - at Kala Pattar above Mount Everest Base Camp - while helping to raise more than £200,000 for cancer charities.

Nick's recently-released album Miracles For Beginners is a return to his more familiar stripped-down acoustic-based style, featuring songs about family, friends, love and life.

His live shows are said to blend personal introspection with biting political satire and a charmingly caustic wit.

  • Catch Nick Harper at the City Varieties in Leeds on February 2. For tickets ring 08456 441881.