Grant Sharkey, who's currently recoving from hand surgery, plays double bass and "sings songs about the bad things in a way that they seem lighter or smaller". He's on a mission to release an album every six months for the next 20 years. "Three down, 37 to go!" he says.
Pic: Damian Cook
The Qs & the As
What’s your link with Bitterne Park?
Cobden Bridge.
How could the area be better?
A waterslide down Bond Road.
Tell us something we probably didn’t know already about Bitterne Park
As if I could. You hold all the info on this place!
What’s good about the wider city?
So many good people doing good things, regardless of all the bad people doing bad things.
Southampton: points for improvement?
More art. Less sponsored art.
What’s your passion in life?
I get really excited about the fact that everyone has a big lovely brain inside their heads and they’re all accessible with a bit of passion and hope. I love tapping in them and seeing where they can go.
How do you put bread on your table?
With a day job at the university bookshop.
What has your career taught you?
Fame isn’t success and success isn’t being rich.
What really gets your goat?
Watching greedy people stomp up and down on other people’s minds.
How do you relax?
The Butcher’s Hook sees me quite often. And dancing at The Hill when I can. I danced for two solid hours at the last one.
What’s your favourite dish?
FAJITAS!
Which is your favourite pub?
No favourites. We’re blessed here to have The Butcher’s Hook and The South Western in such close proximity. Both have a great passion beer and community.
What’s on your iPod?
Nothing. I don’t own one. On CD in my car, there’s currently Mike Watt’s Hyphenated-man, Scott Freeman’s CD and a load of demos of my own new songs that I’ve got write before September.
Can you recommend a really good read?
Anything by George Saunders but especially Pastoralia, The Brain-Dead Megaphone and The Very Persistent Gappers of Fipp. He’s the new Kurt Vonnegut.
What’s a great day out?
A good walk with good friends, then food, then a gig.
Tell us a secret
I don’t know any jokes.
Tell us a joke
... :)
Thanks so much for taking part!
Tune in next time when another Bitterne Parker answers our searching questions. But before then, do you know a Bitterne Parker we really should feature? If so, please nominate them by emailing us using the contact form, and we'll do our best. No promises, mind.
You can hear Grant playing on our last live podcast from this link, with his set starting at around 24 minutes in. Grant Sharkey's website is here: you can buy his three albums and book from this page.