Some songwriters write melodies. Others write poetry. John Bramwell somehow manages to write both.
When John Bramwell, the extraordinary singer, guitarist and songwriter behind the Mercury Prize-nominated I Am Kloot, returns to Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre later this year for an exclusive two-night residency, it promises to be far more than a concert. It will be an intimate encounter with one of Britain's most treasured musical storytellers—a songwriter whose words seem to find a place deep inside every listener.
There are very few artists capable of holding an audience completely spellbound with nothing more than an acoustic guitar, an unmistakable voice and songs that feel like they've lived a lifetime before they're even sung.
John Bramwell is one of those rare artists.
For over three decades, Bramwell has quietly become one of the most revered songwriters this country has ever produced. Never one to chase trends or commercial fashions, he has built a catalogue founded on honesty, vulnerability, wit and breathtaking lyrical beauty.
The accolades have followed naturally.
The New York Times famously described him as "The UK's finest export."
The Guardian simply declared, "Bramwell's new songs are spellbinding."
Lauren Laverne called him "a unique voice both literally and metaphorically," while Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett went even further, describing Bramwell as "my favourite songwriter of all time."
Long before I Am Kloot became one of Britain's most beloved alternative bands, Bramwell had already become something of a Manchester legend.
As Johnny Dangerously, he released the now mythical You, Me and the Alarm Clock, an album later recognised by The Guardian as one of "The Greatest Albums You've Never Heard." He fronted bands, presented Granada Television's Express! and became one of the city's most colourful musical characters before forming I Am Kloot in 1999 alongside bassist Peter Jobson and drummer Andy Hargreaves.
What followed was one of the great British success stories.
Albums such as Natural History, Hope Is Important, Gods and Monsters, Play Moolah Rouge, I Am Kloot, The Sky At Night and Let It All In established the trio as one of Britain's most respected bands.
Produced by Guy Garvey and Craig Potter of Elbow, The Sky At Night earned a prestigious Mercury Prize nomination, while the band's final studio album, Let It All In, became their first UK Top Ten album. Yet despite the acclaim, Bramwell's songwriting never lost its humanity. Every lyric still felt deeply personal, painfully honest and beautifully understated.
Since embarking on his solo career, many critics believe Bramwell has reached an entirely new creative peak.
His acclaimed 2024 album The Light Fantastic has been celebrated as one of the finest records of his career. Written following the loss of both his parents, the songs somehow transform grief into hope, warmth and astonishing beauty. Bramwell has explained that many of the lyrics emerged from dreams during that difficult period, creating an album filled with imagination, optimism and emotional honesty.
The critical response has been exceptional.
MOJO awarded the album 5 stars, praising it as:
"Wonderfully grown-up pop music delivered by an adept songwriter."
UNCUT described it as:
"A splendid solo set of sumptuous vocal harmonies."
The Times also awarded 4 stars, calling it:
"Hazy music, with purpose, and very pretty with it."
While Clash Magazine admired the album's:
"Beautiful harmonising with his cast of supporting musicians."
Commercially, the record proved equally successful, reaching No.1 on Apple's UK Singer-Songwriter Chart, No.3 in the Official Folk Albums Chart, and breaking into the UK Top 40 Albums Chart—a remarkable achievement for such a deeply personal record.
But ask anyone who has seen John Bramwell live, and they'll all tell you the same thing.
The records are magnificent. The concerts are unforgettable.
Recent reviews have been unanimous in their praise.
One reviewer described his performances as "therapy sessions, stand-up comedy and breathtaking songs all rolled into one," while another called him "one of the UK's finest songwriters for the best part of four decades." His sold-out 2025 performances were praised for combining "riotous between-song banter" with "wondrous readings" of both I Am Kloot classics and solo material.
His appearance at Celtic Connections 2026 drew glowing reviews, with critics praising the effortless blend of humour, warmth and deeply moving songwriting. One reviewer concluded that Bramwell left audiences "desperate for more," describing him as "sharp, understated and self-assured... a man completely in his element."
That is precisely why these evenings at Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre promise to be so special.
In a venue where every lyric can be heard, every smile shared and every silence appreciated, John's songs take on an even greater emotional power. His wonderfully dry Manchester humour, extraordinary fingerpicked guitar playing and deeply affecting voice create an atmosphere unlike almost any other live performer.
Whether revisiting timeless I Am Kloot classics such as Proof, 86TVs, Northern Skies, Twist and Over My Shoulder, or introducing songs from the magnificent The Light Fantastic, these performances promise to be intimate, emotional and utterly unforgettable.
There are artists who become famous. There are artists who become influential.
Then there are artists like John Bramwell—the musicians other musicians admire, the songwriter's songwriter, whose work quietly changes people's lives one song at a time.
For two unforgettable nights, Barnoldswick will become the perfect setting to experience one of Britain's greatest living songwriters at the very height of his powers.
These won't simply be concerts.
They'll be two evenings you'll remember for the rest of your life.
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