Forthcoming Appearances

Rickmansworth Canal Festival with Graeme Knights and Tom Cully
17th - 18th May 2008
Rickmansworth, Herts

Ipswich Riverside Folk Weekend
13th - 15th June 2008
Steamboat Tavern, 78 New Cut West, Ipswich, IP2 8HW

You can hear Mike perform regularly as one of the resident singers at the Herga Folk Club
Mondays at 8.00 pm (except Bank Holidays)
Pinner Green Social Club, Rickmansworth Road, Pinner, HA5 3TJ (map)

Bookings

If you would like to book Mike to perform at your club or event, please drop him an email or use the contact form

Singing Sydney

An evening of reflection, humour and celebration of the songs of Sydney Carter.

Sydney Carter (1915-2004), folk poet and holy sceptic, wrote songs that both please and shock in equal measure. From internationally loved anthems such as 'When I Needed A Neighbour' to the unexpected like 'Down Below' in praise of the London sewerage system.

The presentation is available for performance to Churches, Clubs and Societies in aid of the Alzheimer's Society.

"A very entertaining evening mixing anecdote and music" - East Finchley Methodist Church

"Well thought out - an excellent evening" - Camden Road Baptist Church

Mike has also recorded a CD under the same title, featuring 10 of Sydney's songs.

Singing Sydney A4 Poster - Blank Outline Version - 65K pdf

Past Appearances

'Celebrating Sydney' - the songs of Sydney Carter
Saturday 6th October 2007 at 8 pm
Finchley Methodist Church, Ballards Lane, Finchley, N3 1NB

An evening of the songs by Sydney Carter, composer of 'Lord Of The Dance', 'When I Needed A Neighbour', 'One More Step' & 'John Ball', featuring:

• Franciscus Henri - accompanied Sydney on his Australian tour in 1973
• Mike Sparks - with friends from the Herga Folk Club: Johnny Collins, Graeme Knights & Christine Connolley
• Rabbi Lionel Blue - a long standing friend of Sydney

Sydney Carter (1915 - 2004) folk poet and holy sceptic wrote songs and poems that both please and shock in equal measure. His work spanned fifty years and has been event production by heard in churches, theatres, cabaret, folk clubs, school assemblies and on television & radio.

Shanty Singing for the Jubilee Sailing Trust
Sunday 23rd September 2007
TS Tenacious tall ship, West India Docks, London

Barton-Le-Clay Folk Day
Saturday 23rd June 2007
The Bull, 77 Bedford Road, Barton-Le-Clay, Bedfordshire, MK45 4LL

Manor Drive Methodist Church - 'Singing Sydney'
Saturday 16th June 2007
Manor Drive Methodist Church, Manor Drive, Friern Barnet, London, N20 0DZ

Rickmansworth Canal Festival - Shanty Singing with Graeme Knights
Saturday 19th May 2007
Rickmansworth, Herts

Reading Folk Club - Singing Sydney
Sunday 10th September 2006
The Clifton Arms, Gosbrook Road, Caversham, Reading, RG4 8BS (map)

Performing with 'Silvery Moon Productions'
Saturday 9th September 2006
Barking, London

Performing with 'Silvery Moon Productions'
Wednesday 6th September 2006
Banbury, Oxfordshire

Performing with 'Silvery Moon Productions'
Friday 1st September 2006
Bicester, Oxfordshire

Calling with the 'Mysteries Folk Dance Band'
Saturday 10th June 2006
Private function in Friern Barnet

Finchley Methodist Church Group - Sydney Carter Session
Monday 6th February 2006

Maidenhead Folk Club - 'Singing Sydney'
Thursday 26th January 2006 at 8.15 pm
The Seven Stars Public House, Bath Road, Knowl Hill, Nr Maidenhead, Berks, RG10 9UR (map)

Bedworth Folk Festival - Sydney Carter Session
Sunday 27th November 2005
White Swan, Mill Street, Bedworth, Warwickshire (map)

Harrow Heritage Centre - Lunchtime Show
Sunday 20th November 2005
Harrow Museum, Headstone Manor, Pinner View, Harrow, HA2 6PX (map)

Brentwood Methodist Church - 'Singing Sydney'
Saturday 19th November 2005 at 7.30 pm
Brentwood Methodist Church, Warley Hill, Brentwood, Essex, CM14 5HA (map)

Shanty Singing for Trafalgar Night
with Graeme Knights
Friday 21st October 2005
Private event in central London

Live Music at E.F.M. - 'Folk songs of Work and Trade'
Traditional and contemporary songs with Mike Sparks, Christine Connolly & Steve Last
Sunday 9th October 2005 at 8.00 pm
East Finchley Methodist Church, 197 High Road, East Finchley, London, N2 8AJ (map)

Herga Folk Club - 'Feature Artist'
Monday 25th July 2004 at 8.00 pm
Harrow Arts Centre, Uxbridge Road, Hatch End, Harrow, HA5 4EA (map)

Waltham Abbey Folk Club
Monday 20th June 2005 at 8.30 pm
The Royal British Legion, Brooker Road, Waltham Abbey, Essex, EN9 1HY (map)

Windward Folk Song Club
Friday 13th May 2005 at 8.15 pm
Royal British Legion, 85 Verulam Road, St Albans, Herts, AL3 4DJ (map)

Maidenhead Folk Club - Biennial Folk Song Competition
Thursday 31st March 2005 at 8.15 pm
The Seven Stars Public House, Bath Road, Knowl Hill, Nr Maidenhead, Berks, RG10 9UR (map)

'Singing Sydney' CD Launch
Saturday 5th March 2005 at 8.00 pm
Finchley Methodist Church Hall, Ballards Lane, Finchley, N3 1NB (map)

Folk Concert in aid of 'Weston Spirit'
Saturday 26th Feb 2005 at 8.00 pm
Foresters Hall, Turners Hill, Cheshunt, Herts, EN8 9DD (map)

Tsunami Benefit Event
Saturday 5th Feb 2005 - all day folk event
The Bull, 77 Bedford Road, Barton-le Clay, Bedfordshire, MK45 4LL (map)

'Singing Sydney'
Wednesday 26th Jan 2005
Wesley Guild, Brookside Methodist Church, Cat Hill, East Barnet, Barnet, EN4 8JB (map)

'Singing Sydney'
Sunday 20th Jun 2004 at 6.30 pm
Camden Road Baptist Church, Hilldrop Road, Holloway, London, N7 0JE (map)

Charity Concert in aid of 'The Jubilee Sailing Trust'
Monday 7th June 2004 at 8.30 pm
The Royal Oak, 60 Peel Road, Wealdstone, Harrow, HA3 7QU (map)

Sunday Spotlight Club
Sunday 23rd May 2004 at 8.00 pm
Royal British Legion Hall, 85 Verulam Road, St Albans, Herts, AL3 4DJ (map)

Live Music at E.F.M. - 'Singing Sydney'
Sunday 9th May 2004 at 8.00 pm
East Finchley Methodist Church, 197 High Road, East Finchley, London, N2 8AJ (map)
Featured in the Hendon & Finchley Times (published 6/5/04)

Windward Folk Song Club
Friday 5th March 2004 at 8.15 pm
Duke of Marlborough Public House, 110 Holywell Hill, St Albans, Herts, AL1 1DH (map)