Introducing Joshua Burnell
Joshua Burnell is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and storyteller whose roots are grounded in folk, yet who is not afraid to push back boundaries to create a sound that is somehow both retro and artfully contemporary. His latest album, Glass Knight, has been described by The Guardian as like ‘The War On Drugs meets Genesis with lashings of Peter Gabriel stylings.’
Folk, Prog, and Everything In Between
At some point, English folk, prog, contemporary classical, and vintage pop-rock all got mixed up in Joshua’s world, and everyone had a great time — so he decided to make a career of it. With influences spanning Steeleye Span, Martin Carthy, Yes, and Led Zeppelin, his music ranges from traditional folk arrangements to rousing high-energy tracks that get audiences on their feet.
A Live Act Like No Other
Through intricately crafted lyrics, Joshua creates a multiverse of settings — from apocalyptic love songs to reimagined fairy tales — introducing otherworldly characters drawn from old English folk tales reimagined for the modern world. Joshua and his band love what they do and it is infectious; they left the stage at Fairport’s Cropredy Convention to a standing ovation.
Why You’ll Enjoy Him
Having won the Rising Star Award in the Folking Awards and received multiple plays on Mark Radcliffe’s BBC Radio 2 Folk Show, Joshua Burnell is an artist firmly on the rise. If you like music that rewards close listening but also knows how to rock, this is an evening not to miss.