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About The Event
At one time picked by People Magazine as one of their 50 most beautiful people Roland Gift
came dramatically to attention with the release of the first Fine Young Cannibals album. His high,
soaring voice was immediately recognisable, his style being based both in classic soul singers and
in modern techniques that provided him an edge. It was with the second FYC album four years
later, however, that the band began to break internationally, with “She Drives Me Crazy” being
heard everywhere, in movies, on television, on the radio.
Gift spent the earlier part of his life in Birmingham then Hull. He entered music first as a
saxophonist with punk band Blue Kitchen, moving on from there to the Acrylic Victims, eventually
joining Andy Cox and David Steel after the disintegration of The Beat sent them in search of a
vocalist.
Recently Gift has written 2 plays and a monologue for the BBC’s radio 4. The monologue,
Sparkhill, recalls the area of Birmingham Roland was born and grew up in. The plays Return to
Vegas and A Punks Progress are inspired by his coming of age in Hull.
Gift’s professional career has taken him from stage to screen and back again, as his fans around
the world await the release of next project.