SONG-POET OF OUR TIMES
“Fans of Campbell’s work can expect a mix of poetic lyrics, melodic guitar playing, and soulful singing.” – Record World International
ABOUT
IN A FEW WORDS...
Brian Campbell is a Montreal song-poet, dexterous fingerstylist, and impassioned, heartfelt singer. He has released three full-length albums and two EPs of original music. His sets are dynamic contrasts of serious and light, sorrowful and joyful, plainspoken and lyrical. The beauty of words holds prominent place in Campbell's songs, but he also maintains a common touch. A widely published poet, Campbell has several critically acclaimed collections to his name. On stage he is relaxed and natural, an entertaining storyteller who spellbinds with his songs.
Watercolour: Sophie Jama
“Campbell’s craftsmanship focuses on a return to traditional songwriting values. He has an innocent belief that good lyrics with simple melodies can move mountains. After listening, so will you.” – Eric Alper, music blogger and publicist, host of @ThatEricAlper on SiriusXM
IN MORE WORDS...
Montreal poet and songwriter Brian Campbell discovered his passion for making music while doing a Spanish immersion course in Antigua, Guatemala. There, a fellow student taught him a fingerstyle piece on classical guitar, which he practiced for hours after classes. Back home he perfected his guitar playing through private lessons and audio courses by such acoustic stylists as John Renbourn and Dave Van Ronk. He also befriended a Guatemalan woman, an aficionado of the Latin American nueva canción (new song) movement of the ’70s and ’80s, which included such singer-songwriters as Victor Jara, Violeta Parra, and Pablo Milanés. Transcribing and translating their poetic songs, Brian absorbed essentials of songwriting craft. Poems put to music are especially significant in the Latin American folk tradition; it is not surprising that Campbell’s first songs were adaptations of poems he translated from Spanish into English.
“His performances are known for captivating audiences with his storytelling and beautifully crafted songs.”— Jenna Melanson, Canadian Beats
Shortly after moving to Montreal from his native Toronto in 1990, Campbell found his true songwriting voice. Over one summer, on a high, wrought-iron balcony with a view of the belfries of one of the large churches in his Plateau neighborhood, he composed 27 songs — songs lyrical and plainspoken, moody and satirical, of love, breakup, and angst, as well as Sufi poems put to music. The Imaginary Album came out on cassette in 1996; The Courtier’s Manuscript was released on CD a few years later. One song from that second album, “To My Whimsical Love,” earned a certificate of achievement in the International Unisong Competition. Brian would support himself teaching English as a second language, while continuing to write songs and becoming a widely published poet with several critically acclaimed collections to his name.
In the mid-2010s Campbell came upon the Mariposa Café, a cozy, one-of-a-kind musical haven in Montreal. There he has been a featured performer at numerous Saturday evening concerts. Accompanied by other musicians, he has packed the house with enthusiastic audiences. On stage he is relaxed and natural, an entertaining storyteller who spellbinds with his songs. Campbell has played at many other Quebec folk venues, including Side Door Coffee House, the NDG and Hudson Porchfests, and Acoustic Village. Encouraged by fans, Campbell recorded a fresh EP, On This Shore, whose launch was postponed due to COVID-19, but whose reception has been enthusiastic. Songs from On This Shore have gotten airplay not only on local campus and community radio, but such renowned Canadian folk programs as Just Us Folk hosted by Jan Vanderhorst, Freewheeling Folk Show hosted by Jim Marino, and Folk Roots Radio hosted by Jan Hall.
"Brian Campbell’s singing and guitar playing flow like a summer river. Riveting, enchanting and always on the move … original content, original sound. A great hit with SunTaroTeaRoom audiences." – Jason Bernard, SunTaroTeaRoom, Montreal
During the pandemic Campbell busied himself with writing, doing videos and online shows. He was also in studio, recording about 25 singles. Out of these, he compiled a full-length album of a dozen songs called By The River's Blue, launched in September, 2022, to a sold-out Mariposa Café. The show was videotaped and selections have been posted on YouTube and on this site. Songs from the album got airplay on CKUT's New Spins Library, Mike Regenstreif's Stranger Songs and Saturday Morning, Hugh Ambrose's Folk Everything as well as the aforementioned Freewheelin' Folk Show and Just Us Folk.
A five-song EP, A Crystal Rim, released in 2024, is on Bandcamp and all major streaming services. Featuring poems by the Sufi masters Hafiz and Rumi put to music, it has been glowingly reviewed on such online magazines as Tinnitist, Record World International, and Find Your Sounds, and selections were played on on Just Us Folk, CKUT, University of Windsor and Western Ontario radio stations among others.
This past June, Brian released his third full-length album called Let's Talk, featuring songs exploring the theme of communication — both tender and fraught — in love, politics, and the world at large. Two feature singles, I Saw You Going out Today and Planet on Fire, have been released on video and again have gotten extensive positive reviews and airplay on such programs as Just Us Folk and Saturday Morning (Ottawa).
Brian Campbell lives in the Mile End area of Montreal with his wife, the writer and artist Jocelyne Dubois.
For more about Brian's writing, please visit www.briancampbell.ca
For some of Brian's photography, please check out his 500px site.