English folk-pop singer-songwriter Barton Hartshorn, will be bringing his distinct Americana sound to the United States in June 2019 with dates in New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Chicago.

Whether working on an album with legendary producer Ken Scott or sharing stages all over the world with celebrated artists – such as Angus Stone & Gossling – Barton has always maintained a distinctive voice and a sound that can be heard evolving over his solo career.

Steeped in an English pop-folk universe from an early age, the songs on Barton’s latest album have a 70s west coast flavour; it’s this blend of scenes and sounds that add a distinctly personal and original touch. Imagine Lloyd Cole fronting Steely Dan or Paul McCartney sitting in with the Eagles. As for how the album came about, here’s the tale in his own words…

It was when I was furthest away from home, in Australia, that the idea came to me: Barton Hartshorn. The English village I grew up in. It was so obvious I’d never thought of it. Being far away does that; tells you things you should already know.

I was in need of a home and so were the songs I’d written over my time in Melbourne. I’d spent some of the year drumming for Australian artists (Angus Stone, Gossling) and the rest working as a sous- chef in noisy Melbourne catering joints, scribbling lyrics when the Head chefs were busy screaming at someone else.

One morning at 5 a.m. I got on a bus to a music festival out in the Australian middle-of-nowhere. I didn’t see any bands that day. I heard them though, from my place in the kitchen where I was cooking lamb souvlaki for 10 hours. What am I doing here I thought? On the wrong side of this wall.

Later that night the bus left me in the city and I found somewhere quiet to sit and write; a late night noodle bar and then a tiny café in a covered passageway… good places to stop and put down an idea. Nothing grows without root and although I couldn’t yet see the shape, I could see where it was pointing. Some of the song titles said it plainly: “Everything is better than before”, “Looking back for the best”. And even when I was telling stories (One-time Donny, Wreckinghouse) I realized I was really writing about a new beginning, another way of being me.

TOUR DATES

June 18th – New York City, NY @The Rockwood Music Hall (INDIE WEEK)

June 20th – New York City, NY @Lincoln Center Atrium

June 21st – Philadelphia, PA @Sprout Music Collective

June 22nd – Washington, DC @Ebenezer’s Coffeehouse

June 22nd – Washington, DC @DIVE Bar

June 23rd – Baltimore, MD @Hotel RL

June 29th – Chicago, IL @Uncommon Ground