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Joshua Burnell’s unique, original songwriting explores themes from traditional music fused with his own dynamic brand of retro pop-infused folk. With music ranging from stomping, acoustic singalongs, Bowie-esque music hall epics, and alt-pop singles - whilst keeping a sharp focus on the traditional themes - Joshua is fast carving out his own unique corner of the genre.
He makes retro folk rock for the modern world. His latest album, Glass Knight, which according to the Financial Times, "plays like a lost out-take from Spiders From Mars-era Bowie", has won over a host of new fans since its release in the autumn. Expect folky melodies drenched in warm, retro-synth textures, reverbing guitars, lush harmonies and words that make you think. Through his intricately crafted lyrics, Joshua creates a multiverse of settings, from apocalyptic love songs to reimagined fairy tales, and introduces otherworldly characters - the Glass Knight being resurrected from an old English folk tale to reflect the foibles of the modern-day 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, and similarly won the hearts of audiences at Towersey, Folkeast, Wickham and Moonbeams festivals this summer. Whatever your take on this genre-hopping songwriter’s music, he has proven he can connect with an audience and keep them hanging on for more. In Joshua’s own words, “It is about telling a compelling story while discovering what it means to be human.”
"A creatively fearless artist... 5/5" - RnR Magazine
“His music takes on chameleon dimensions with alt-folk, glam rock, & classical influences – musics of the past which he skilfully brings to the present." - Irish Music Magazine
“Joshua Burnell's music has always thrived on the blurring of boundaries. However, with Glass Knight, his most daring and deeply rewarding album to date, he's written music that simply refuses to recognise their existence." - Folk Radio UK
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What fans are saying
Jarek
November 2nd 2023
Fantastic concert - Joshua and his band are incredibly talented, with an amazing range of songs encompassing prog-rock, folk-rock, and heartfelt melodic ballads.
I’ve been to many London pub music venues and this was definitely one of the better ones, and suited the band well - quite small but intimate. The only negative I can think of is that the venue felt quite empty when it should have been packed - JB and his band deserve to fill pubs this size!
London, United Kingdom@Water Rats
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Joshua Burnell Biography
Joshua Burnell makes baroque pop for the modern world. Expect hooky melodies drenched in warm, retro-synth textures, reverbing guitars, lush harmonies and words that make you think. Imagine The War On Drugs meets Genesis with “lashings of Peter Gabriel stylings,” - The Guardian.
Joshua’s upcoming album - Glass Knight - is released 11.08.23, the same day as his full-band appearance at Fairport’s Cropredy Convention. The Glass Knight Tour also encompasses appearances at Folkeast, Towersey, Wickham, Wimborne, Knockengorroch and Moonbeams festivals in addition to headline performances in London, Sheffield, Middlesbrough, Lincoln, Manchester, Saltaire, Salisbury, Beverley and Newcastle.
Glass Knight promises to be Joshua’s redefining album, taking on a heady concoction of influences from glam, psychedelia to mid-70s Dylan, while keeping a sharp focus on a modern audience. Through his intricately crafted lyrics, Joshua creates a multiverse of settings, from apocalyptic love songs to reimagined fairy tales, and introduces otherworldly characters - the Glass Knight being resurrected from an old English folk tale to reflect the foibles of the modern-day world.
This one’s for fans of Stranger Things, 70s art rock and everything in between.
Having made waves on the folk scene - pledging his dedication to the genre through his Seasons Project, which saw him release a trad arrangement every week for a year - Joshua’s albums have received consistent Radio 2 and 6 play, garnering praise from presenters (“Love this” - Mark Radcliffe) as well as press: “Outstanding” - Folk Radio UK.
It is Joshua’s original songwriting, however, that has won the hearts of listeners and industry professionals alike. His previous album, Flowers Where The Horses Sleep (2020) earned him the Folking Magazine Rising Star Award and - following a brief hiatus for a global pandemic - was toured in the UK, including dates at Cambridge Folk Festival, Manchester Folk Festival, Costa Del Folk Festival as well as headline shows in Sheffield, Glasgow, York, Bridlington, London, Brighton, Milton Keynes and Bristol.
Things are moving quickly for this ambitious and hard-working artist whose sound has shapeshifted ever since his debut was hailed as, “worthy of a mention in any progressive rock hall of fame,” by Fatea Magazine. Whatever your take on this genre-hopping songwriter’s music, he has proven he can connect with an audience and keep them hanging on for more. In Joshua’s own words, “it is about telling a compelling story while discovering what it means to be human.”
“Definitely a young artist worth watching.” (Morning Star)
Read MoreJoshua’s upcoming album - Glass Knight - is released 11.08.23, the same day as his full-band appearance at Fairport’s Cropredy Convention. The Glass Knight Tour also encompasses appearances at Folkeast, Towersey, Wickham, Wimborne, Knockengorroch and Moonbeams festivals in addition to headline performances in London, Sheffield, Middlesbrough, Lincoln, Manchester, Saltaire, Salisbury, Beverley and Newcastle.
Glass Knight promises to be Joshua’s redefining album, taking on a heady concoction of influences from glam, psychedelia to mid-70s Dylan, while keeping a sharp focus on a modern audience. Through his intricately crafted lyrics, Joshua creates a multiverse of settings, from apocalyptic love songs to reimagined fairy tales, and introduces otherworldly characters - the Glass Knight being resurrected from an old English folk tale to reflect the foibles of the modern-day world.
This one’s for fans of Stranger Things, 70s art rock and everything in between.
Having made waves on the folk scene - pledging his dedication to the genre through his Seasons Project, which saw him release a trad arrangement every week for a year - Joshua’s albums have received consistent Radio 2 and 6 play, garnering praise from presenters (“Love this” - Mark Radcliffe) as well as press: “Outstanding” - Folk Radio UK.
It is Joshua’s original songwriting, however, that has won the hearts of listeners and industry professionals alike. His previous album, Flowers Where The Horses Sleep (2020) earned him the Folking Magazine Rising Star Award and - following a brief hiatus for a global pandemic - was toured in the UK, including dates at Cambridge Folk Festival, Manchester Folk Festival, Costa Del Folk Festival as well as headline shows in Sheffield, Glasgow, York, Bridlington, London, Brighton, Milton Keynes and Bristol.
Things are moving quickly for this ambitious and hard-working artist whose sound has shapeshifted ever since his debut was hailed as, “worthy of a mention in any progressive rock hall of fame,” by Fatea Magazine. Whatever your take on this genre-hopping songwriter’s music, he has proven he can connect with an audience and keep them hanging on for more. In Joshua’s own words, “it is about telling a compelling story while discovering what it means to be human.”
“Definitely a young artist worth watching.” (Morning Star)
Folk
Prog-rock
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Pop
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