Rich Burnett

Born in Hemel Hempstead, England, raised in Belfountain, Ontario, Rich Burnett's musical journey is guided by a love and respect for those artists who have sculpted the songwriters' landscape. Reared on troubadours such as Hank Williams & Johnny Cash, Burnett continues to explore the art of song through original songs of lost love and recklessness, hope and eternal anticipation.Early travels to the Chicago area exposed Burnett to the country blues guitar styles of the 1920's and 30's- including Big Bill Broonzy, Mississippi John Hurt, and Lonnie Johnson- and Rich's sound belies these rich and varied influences. On the guitar, he switches deftly between finger picking and flat picking, and his voice balances the bark of bluesman with the sensitivity of a country crooner. Ever the craftsman, Burnett's original music continues to explore the common threads of folk, roots, blues, jazz, and country.Says Burnett, "Ive always admired those artists who defied categorisation- people like Lonnie Johnson, Townes Van Zandt and Nina Simone. They werent just blues or country or jazz, they were simply themselves."Currently, Rich can be heard performing as part of the trio Red Barn. Red Barn mixes Chet Atkins style guitar work with songs of the old west. Jumping from 3 part harmonies to eerie instrumentals, Red Barn searches out those forgotten songs with rich melodies be it Country, Gospel or Traditional songs from across the globe.