NICK MALICKA
Singer /Guitarist/ Songwriter/Novelist
(0033)658846412
2 La Corbière, 22150 Ploeuc, France
About.
Beatnik Bay by Nelice &Nick Malicka
Sad Times by Nelice & Malicka
I began learning the guitar in 1968, stuttering with the chords for Hey Joe and Mr Tambourine Man; probably the first time I played in front of people was with my friend Dave Marshall, both aged 14 and I think we played If I Were a Carpenter.
From those hesitant beginnings I was a member of 2 groups, Smokeboat with Dave and Suzie Bekaert and Mark Purdey, and then Hyperion including Steve Ferry. I had learned some flute and harmonica riffs so when I went hitch hiking all over Europe and the Middle East in 1973, I was busking with these portable instruments, playing a guitar whenever one was available.Taking a guitar without permission in Ios,Greece led to a lifelong friendship with Mary and Johnny Burke. Back home, we lived in the forest in Glengarriff, Ireland,and played music most of the evenings in Harrington's Bar and the Blue Loo,along with Gerry Barry, Robb Bradstock, Dave Marshall and Steve Ferry.
Divil is Dead and Morrisons Jig(trad) by Morsgael
At University in Aberystwyth, Wales, I continued playing in folk clubs and as part of theatre productions as I was reading Drama and English; this continued at the Welsh College of Music & Drama in Cardiff in 76-77, and after moving to London in 1978 I played semi professionally in the folk and blues clubs around London, Essex and East Anglia, Kent and Sussex until 1987 when work as a teacher and fatherhood meant taking the decision to put live music into the cupboard for a while.I had enjoyed playing some blues with Robin Davidson from 1999, appearing in local Suffolk pubs and the occasional festival.
Then a chance phone call from Johnny Burke in 2003,suggesting that we record some of the songs which we had written in West Cork, Ireland in 1974, relit the fire for playing music, and since 2010 I have been living and playing in Brittany, France. Playing guitar, dobro,mandoline, harmonica and singing, solo and with various duos, I am fortunate to find gigs in Irish sessions, bars, restaurants, festivals,private events, cultural evenings organised by Associations and communes.
