Joshua Burnell, a virtuosic prodigy with a genre-defying talent for mellifluous storytelling, celebrated the end of the ‘The Glass Knight’ tour at the start of the month. Returning to the electric atmosphere of The Cumberland Arms after four years, Joshua Burnell was eager to demonstrate his fairytale-esque narratives to an adoring crowd.
Taking inspiration from an eclectic medley of artists, Joshua Burnell’s signature style stems from a love of theatrics and early 70s music.
From Bob Dylan to Bowie, Burnell has transformed his love for alternative rock into one piece of a fantastical sonic fabric that set the Cumberland Arms ablaze.
So, without further ado, let’s travel back to the 1st of December and immerse ourselves in the magical talent of Joshua Burnell.
The Gig
Immediately walking into the Cumberland Arms, I felt an undeniably galvanic atmosphere. The pub was full of excited fans and close friends, and even before the performance started, I knew this cosy establishment was about to transform into a miniature festival!
When the time came for Joshua Burnell and his immeasurably talented band to enter the stage, the crowd’s spirits were sky-high. Engaging with the crowd in a delightfully affable way, it was immediately obvious that this tour was imbued with love and passion from beginning to end.
The venue is homely, the atmosphere is practically tangible, and now it’s time for the music.
SETLIST
Where Planets Collide.
Last Rain.
Le Fay.
Looking Glass.
Plane Tree.
Glass Knight.
Smuggler’s Tale.
Some Things Aren’t Eroded
Condor Keep.
Labels.
Out of These Worlds.
Puppet Man.
Don’t Lose Your Faith.
Why The Raven Cries.
Lucy.
Port of Amsterdam.
Tam Lin.
Sing For The Island & Musical Priest.
Moonlighter’s Child.
What you see above is 19 mellifluous narratives, all of which were crafted with a honey-sweet timelessness that will transport any listener to the vibrant ventures of their childhood. Listening to Burnell’s lyrics felt like I was watching the ink hit the paper – I witnessed an epic storyteller at work with every dulcet note of his melodies serving as his gentle cursive.
Amidst every song, Burnell’s sonic vellichor meandered through the instrumental harmonies, imbuing their composition with a gentle imprint of graceful purity and emotive power. His vocal delivery consistently conveyed audible streaks of sprightly, adventurous vim that only bolstered the sense of fantasy that he creates within his music.
You could imagine it was even more of a delight to hear the incredibly talented Nathan Greaves (electric guitar) and Kat Hurley (violin) lend their voices to Burnell’s already dulcet patchwork. Both Greaves and Hurley complemented Burnell in spectacular ways. Greaves’s vocals injected an ardent flair of verve that seamlessly accompanied Burnell’s vocal power. Where Greaves delivered ardour, Hurley delivered angelic, vulnerable purity that strengthened the incandescent heart of Burnell’s compositions.
Speaking of Greaves and Hurley, their talent with both guitar and violin, respectively, was breathtaking. Whenever Greaves took centre stage to drop rill after rill of white-hot guitar solos, the whole building felt as if it had a heartbeat. It was incredible to witness such effortless changes in tonality, rhythm and dynamics during one gig! As for Hurley, of course, the violin is synonymous with an elusive elegance, but when she put her bow to the strings, you felt as if you were balletically gliding through her soul-stirring melodies.
Her romantic ingenuity was often unified with the rich croon of Oliver Whitehouse’s bass and the vivacious pulses of Ed Simpson’s drumbeats.
Drum and bass are known for going hand-in-hand, and Simpson and Whitehouse are no exceptions. Where Simpson added some powerful, punchy accents to the darksome lull of the bass, Whitehouse enriched the drumbeats with an enthralling depth.
Together, Burnell and the band masterfully created an experience that had attendees swaying in their seats one minute and uncontrollably jigging in the next. However, there was a sixth bandmate that night that I wasn’t expecting – the audience.
Encouraged to stomp our feet, click our fingers and clap our hands, it was exhilarating to become truly enveloped in the soundscapes of Burnell’s music. In getting the crowd involved, it was visible that Joshua Burnell and his band truly cherish the support of their fans, and what’s more, they created a sense of unity that had me smiling from ear to ear.
For me, this gig reminded me why I love music – it paints narratives with uncontainable energy and emotion that brings people together. What I experienced overall was an iridescent medley of fairytale-esque delight that found a home in the undeniable talents of five brilliant musicians.
I’m already eagerly awaiting Burnell’s return to Newcastle!
After The Gig
Having asked someone who hadn’t previously experienced Joshua’s music, I realised the true extent of the raw magnetism of his music:
‘I had goosebumps throughout his entire performance. The way he and his band constructed the melodies inspired me to return to my poetry.’
As a poetic writer myself, I knew precisely what Burnell’s latest fan was referring to. This is the power of Joshua Burnell’s music – it inspires art.
Joshua Burnell
Joshua Burnell discovered his passion for music at an extremely young age. After his elder brother received his first electric guitar at the age of 10, it was instantly established that Burnell would be the John Bunham to his brother’s Jimmy Page.
This, and, of course, a childhood obsession with Queen, would serve as the impetus for Burnell’s incredible musical journey.
A playful performance between brothers transformed into an exhilarating explosion of artistic talent during Fairport’s Cropredy Convention. With 20,000 people singing his own lyrics back to him, Joshua Burnell’s ambition shows no signs of slowing down. Striving to perform a headline show at the Royal Albert Hall, Joshua Burnell is one of the most innovative, refreshing artists I’ve ever come across.
With that being said, such an artist should be seen by as many people as possible.
So lend your support to Joshua Burnell’s Road To The Royal Albert Hall and immerse yourself in Burnell’s delightful discography!