John Bramwell of I am Kloot: Ramsbottom Civic Hall

John Bramwell – Ramsbottom Civic Hall “There’s a line in the E.E. Cummings poem ‘Somewhere I Have Never Travelled, Gladly Beyond’ which goes ‘No one, not even the rain, has such small hands’ which I paraphrased to ‘Nothing can wash this away, not even the rain’ – I’ve always loved that imagery and intrigue… I’ve never been a realist, the magic and mystery is where my heart lies and where my mind wonders…” John Bramwell 2026 As the singer in I Am Kloot from 1999 to 2014, John Bramwell achieved a Mercury Prize nomination for 2010’s The Sky At Night, a Top 10 chart position for 2013’s Let It All In, numerous UK and European tours and a triumphant farewell at the Queen Elizabeth Hall with an orchestra in 2014. Now, as a solo artist, Bramwell travels a very different path, a path that criss-crosses the length and breadth of the UK with a humble agenda of taking his heartwarming songs to the stage and enjoying another moment in time with his devoted fans. The stunning 2023 sophomore solo album, The Light Fantastic was an almost complete u-turn from the I Am Kloot outlook they were known for. Darker clouds banished and in replacement strings, four-part harmonies (a warming development, since Kloot never had any backing vocals) and a dozen gloriously exhilarating, beautifully crafted and observed songs about life, humanity, the universe and everything. As John put it, “It’s been great to find the joy of making music once again. These are the most uplifting songs of my career.” The album received unanimous praise from the UK press but it is the all-encapsulating live show where Bramwell conjures up his true magic as songwriter and performer. Bramwell has been on a never-ending rolling adventure since his workings away from Kloot and in the last three years has visited almost every parish in England, Scotland and Wales to be met with halls, theatres, arts centres, churches, festival tents and folk clubs full with his eager fans waiting to see which direction Bramwell will take the mood of the night – the enriched, wildly playful inter-song banter is so good, a stand up comedy tour has been contemplated. Bramwell’s razor sharp wit, on the line and refreshingly true (and often hilarious) observations and instantly recognisable haunting vocal channelled through some of the most honest and direct songwriting of our times has seen Bramwell championed in rave reviews, time after time. Most recently, God Is In The TV celebrated John’s 2025 Beautiful Days performance as the highlight of the weekend. As Bramwell looks on to another year the 2026 road extends further and wider than before – a much anticipated tour of Ireland awaits as too many of the UK’s finest venues where John’s cultivated audiences will be treated to an unforgettable evening and experience.