UK singer-songwriter Barns Courtney plays brash and unadulterated blues-rock that accentuates his raucous sonic flair. His 2017 debut LP, The Attractions of Youth, is the very testament to that. Courtney, who has opened for The Who, The Libertines, Ed Sheeran, Tom Odell and Fitz and The Tantrums, showcases his talents on an intrepid 14-track album with powerful vocals, pounding drums, and uninhibited songwriting.
With songs like “Kicks” and “Champion,” the folk-inspired musician is traveling down the road of bombastic-pop with a fervid spirit, wearing his vintage rock influences on his sleeve. With all his bravado and swagger to boot, the 27 year-old is at his best with single “Golden Dandelions,” a jam teeming with youthfulness that feels fresh and sounds unlike anything he’s ever produced. Courtney proves what he’s made of on The Attractions of Youth, by not being afraid of making grandiose arrangements or exposing his own vulnerability. At any rate, he’s taking risks and securing the rewards it has delivered upon.
We caught up with the young Brit earlier this year when he rolled through LA during his tour to chat about his favorite songs on the album, and his idea behind putting on a good show. When reminiscing about working with a football team, he recalled their coach who revolutionized his team and brought them up out of a losing streak. The coach never allowed the team members to celebrate a game, win or lose, unless he felt they played their best. In answering our question about what has to happen to feel like he nailed his performance, Courtney drew from his own experiences in relation to what he had witnessed with that coach.
“To feel like it was a good show, I just have to feel that I was genuinely connected to that nebulous, ethereal place where musicians go to draw inspiration. You know, you’re kind of plugged into something. It quiets your mind. It’s meditative, and all-consuming. As long as I’m plugged into that, then I feel like it’s a good show. The crowd doesn’t always come to listen to your music. Sometimes you’re at a festival, and they don’t know who you are and they’re waiting for the next act. Sometimes you’re playing to three guys and their dog in a pub in England somewhere. But as long as you can feel connected and put across a truthful performance, I think you’re doing a good job,” he explained.
"To feel like it was a good show, I just have to feel that I was genuinely connected to that nebulous, ethereal place where musicians go to draw inspiration. You know, you’re kind of plugged into something. It quiets your mind. It’s meditative and all-consuming."
In October, Barns Courtney was featured in Rolling Stone’s “10 Artists You Need To Know”. This past summer, the rocker did his first US headlining tour in support of his debut EP, The Dull Drums. He played Alabama’s Hangout Music Festival, California’s BottleRock Napa Valley, and New York City's Governor's Ball to name a few. He’s currently touring North America in support of The Attractions of Youth, where he will play tonight at Valley Bar in Phoenix. The tour will wrap up on December 14 in Bakersfield, California at the Fox Theater. After a pair of May shows in the UK next year, he will return to the states on May 21 at New York City’s Terminal 5 with a string of dates to follow leading into the summer.
To see Barns Courtney perform live, visit Live Nation.
