About

Johnny Campbell‘s work delves deep into folk song and story. His 2020 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 was perhaps the first time English traditional songs had been recorded on the islands. The album earned him album of the week with blues and roots radio and reviews with British folk press.

Since March 2020, Campbell hasn’t relented, releasing three singles, “Hard Times Of Old England”, “Winter Hill Trespass” and “A Right to Roam”. The former receiving play on Ian Lynch’s (Lankum) Fire Draw Near podcast, while “Winter Hill Trespass” gained national press in Country Walking Magazine and The Guardian. “A Right to Roam” (2022) is a collaboration with Commoners Choir and Skelmanthorpe Brass Band and received the accolade of One of the Best Folk Songs of 2022 chosen by Tradfolk.

2024 saw Campbell release True North, an album of Northern English traditional songs recorded on their respective county summits, garnering press from Country Walking Magazine, Folk on Foot and BBC Radio 4 Open Country. Richard Thompson declared True North one of his top five albums of the year in UNCUT Magazine.