Joshua Burnell & Frances Sladen
The Harrison, Kings Cross
Saturday 4th April
Doors 7:30pm, Live Music 8:15pm
Advance tickets £12
“We think this is great” – Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2
Join Joshua & Frances for a rare and intimate show in which they will share anecdotes and showcase some brand new songs. The pair are fast forging a reputation for their warm harmonies, colourful storytelling and ability to build a strong rapport with audiences. Having debuted this format with a sold-out show in York, followed by a concert with Julie Felix in London earlier this year, the duo are returning to London in response to the excellent feedback the concerts have received.
Singer-songwriter, storyteller and folksy pianist, Joshua Burnell grew up in various locations between France and Scotland. He now resides in York, but everyone assumes he’s from Rivendell. At some point, English folk, contemporary piano, and vintage pop-rock all got mixed up and everyone had a great time so he decided to make a career of it. Joshua sparked the interest of the folk world with his ambitious Seasons Project which saw him release one of his quirky arrangements of a traditional song or tune every week for a year. Fourteen favourites formed Joshua’s release, Songs From The Seasons, released on the 4th May 2018. RnR Magazine gave the album a solid 5/5 rating and commented, “this isn’t about academic research, it’s about playing the music, which is what Joshua does exceptionally well.”
Frances Sladen grew up in rural Essex. Traditional folk sessions were part of her musical upbringing along with a passion for musical theatre thrown into the mix. The result is a refreshingly natural, yet emotive singing style and a natural gift for interpreting lyrics. Her crystalline voice has been praised by press and radio as a standout feature of and perfect companion to Joshua’s work in all his releases to date.
Much of the set is brand new material, as Josh is currently stranded in the midst of a songwriting flurry. The new material is primarily inspired by real-life experiences and meanders between foresty story songs, modern folk ballads and Lou Reed-esque sing-alongs. Expect acoustic warmth, ethereal piano-playing and plenty of laughs.