(PAST EVENT) Charlie Cunningham @ Salon IKSV

A singer-songwriter from Britain, drawn to the styles of artists like John Martyn, Nick Drake and Paul Simon.

Charlie cites The Beatles as a strong influence. At age 11, he saw a Beatles documentary, then asked for their Anthology box set for Christmas. A neighbour gave him his first guitar, aged 13. He spent two and a half years in Seville, Spain, and when he got back home to England, he played in bars and pubs, ‘making some kind of living through music.’ 2014’s debut EP ‘Outside Things’ was enough to immediately attract a Next Hype play on Zane Lowe’s Radio 1 show and a BBC Introducing slot at The Great Escape. Following a second EP, ‘Breather’ (2015), the Swedish label Dumont Dumont released Charlie’s third EP, ‘Heights’ (2016) and ‘Lines’ (2017). Then came the stunning ‘Permanent Way’, which laughed in the face of ‘difficult second album’ syndrome and ‘acoustic singer-songwriter’ imagery with boosted colours and dynamics, while retaining the essence of the man’s personable appeal. Alone or accompanied, accentuating the guitar, the songs and the arrangements, the only permanent way for Charlie seems to be forward. Making his own way in.