BIOGRAPHY

Johnny Campbell emerged onto the UK folk scene writing self-penned material and delving deep into Northern English folk song and story. 

''A Modern-Day Billy Bragg'' - Tradfolk

The album From Hull & Halifax & Hell (2020) took him to The Faroe Islands where he recorded a live album on the island of Nolsoy.  Since musical instruments hadn't arrived on the islands until the 19th century,  this is perhaps the first time Northern English traditional song has been recorded on these islands. 

 ''Nobody else seems to be doing what Campbell is doing right now, and his passion and determination deserve recognition'' - Jon Wilks 

This album earned him album of the week with Blues and Roots radio 

and reviews with British folk press: 

• ''The spirit of the folk clubs in their heyday runs in his veins'' Folking.com 
• ''I defy anyone not to be galvanised by the total integrity of his exceptional rendition of (Ewan MacColl's) Moving On Song'' The Living Tradition
• ''A truly entertaining work. Lose yourself in the true folk experience'' Fatea Magazine

Since March 2020, Campbell hasn't relented, releasing three singles, 

Hard Times of Old England, Winter Hill Trespass & A Right to Roam.

The former receiving play on Ian Lynch's (Lankum) Fire Draw Near podcast, Winter Hill Trespass (2021) gained national press in 

Country Walking Magazine & The Guardian. 

A Right to Roam (2022) is a collaboration with Commoners Choir & Skelmanthorpe Brass Band which received the accolade of 'One of the Best Folk Songs of 2022' alongside contemporaries such as Eliza Carthy, Jon Boden, Angeline Morrison & more, chosen by Tradfolk.

In this time, Campbell was personally asked by Boff Whalley (Chumbawamba / Commoners Choir) to perform on WOVEN, an English Arts Council funded project that promotes the textile heritage of West Yorkshire. 

2024 sees Campbell releasing True North, an album of Northern English traditional songs recorded on their respective county summits, garnering press from Country Walking Magazine, Folk on Foot & BBC Radio 4 Open Country.

Through extensive touring in UK and Europe, Campbell finds time to write reviews for the well-respected Folk magazine Fatea as well as performing established festivals such as Belladrum Festival & Tradfest Edinburgh and being billed with BBC Folk award nominees & winners in recent years such as Stick In the Wheel, Martin Carthy, Ye Vagabonds, Lankum, Daoiri Farrell, Ewan McLennan, The Men They Couldn't Hang and many more.