
Indie-folk singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer Josienne Clarke is often said to draw on traditional British folk inspirations, but is a thoroughly modern, multi-faceted artist who follows her own compass.
Blessed with a voice of crystalline beauty and clarity that has often been compared to Sandy Denny, her myriad talents translate effortlessly to the live space in performances that are all her own.
She has extensive touring experience having been a Rough Trade-signed, Radio 2 Folk Award-winning artist – two opposing poles that neatly sum up her inability to be pigeonholed – and has also been hand-picked as main tour support for folk legend Richard Thompson. She’s shared a stage with Robert Plant and has written songs for an adaptation of The Snow Queen for the National Theatre.
Her varied background and seemingly effortless musicality mean a cover of Radiohead is just as likely to appear on the setlist as Nick Drake, as on her recent “Now & Then” EP live – hence she’s been able to slot seamlessly into the bill of the Shrewsbury Folk Festival as easily as that of End of the Road.
Tonight, we can expect to hear Sandy Denny classics, ranging from ‘An Old-Fashioned Waltz’, ‘Reynardine’, ‘Fotheringay’ and ‘The Sea’. And it wouldn’t be a bona fide Denny evening without the legendary ‘Who Knows Where the Time Goes’.
Josienne is often associated with her magical, haunting voice accompanied by just a simple, uncomplicated guitar tone. You can experience a gentle folk-rock set-up of guitar, piano, bass and drums. An ensemble to eke out every rich texture and tone from the songs of Sandy Denny; each one with a precious gold seam running through it.
“Sings like a haunted angel” The Financial Times
“Indie-folk queen asserts her independence” Uncut
“Shimmering, warm, intimate and at times, profoundly heart-wrenching” Rough Trade