Joshua Burnell is a York-based musician blending folk, glam rock, and retro pop into a theatrical, story-rich sound.

 

His latest album Glass Knight (2023) channels Bowie-era swagger with lush synths and poetic lyrics.

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Burnell’s music is often described as “trad-folk futurism”—he reimagines traditional folk with Hammond organ swells, glam-rock textures, and cinematic storytelling.

Critics have compare his sound to Peter Gabriel-era Genesis, Spiders-from-Mars Bowie, and The War on Drugs, with “hooky melodies drenched in warm, retro-synth textures”.

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For 2026, accompanied by his band, Joshua invites you to join him on his 'Misty Mountain Tour,' named as a loving nod to the Tolkien-influenced songs on his new album, Lend An Ear [Revisited].

 

Having toured internationally and headlined festivals, Joshua is unearthing how these songs led him down the path he is on and how those songs can serve others. The music is eclectic and constantly keeps you guessing but is consistently grounded in emotive storytelling and genuine human connection. 

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“extravagantly inventive” (The Guardian)

"vignettes that look to other stories, myths and fairytales” (Financial Times)