Gill Burns
Gill Burns
Early
beginnings
Gill Burns is an English folk singer, guitarist, songwriter, instrumentalist and artist whose lifelong passion for traditional music has taken her from the folk clubs of Merseyside to Ireland, Europe and the United States.
Born and raised in Wallasey on the Wirral, Gill discovered music almost by accident while studying at college. After buying her first guitar, she quickly taught herself to play entirely by ear, developing a natural ability to hear harmonies and pick up tunes without reading music. Those early years immersed her in the vibrant folk revival of the 1970s, singing in local folk clubs and learning from fellow musicians before becoming part of the flourishing Liverpool folk scene.
Early
beginnings
Gill Burns is an English folk singer, guitarist, songwriter, instrumentalist and artist whose lifelong passion for traditional music has taken her from the folk clubs of Merseyside to Ireland, Europe and the United States.
Born and raised in Wallasey on the Wirral, Gill discovered music almost by accident while studying at college. After buying her first guitar, she quickly taught herself to play entirely by ear, developing a natural ability to hear harmonies and pick up tunes without reading music. Those early years immersed her in the vibrant folk revival of the 1970s, singing in local folk clubs and learning from fellow musicians before becoming part of the flourishing Liverpool folk scene.
Following the music to Ireland
Her growing fascination with Irish traditional music led her across the Irish Sea, where she spent many years travelling, attending sessions, festivals and concerts, and building lifelong friendships within Ireland’s musical community. Although best known as a singer and guitarist during this period, Gill also developed a deep appreciation for traditional dance tunes, particularly hornpipes and reels, which continue to influence her playing today.
Travels Across Europe and America
From Ireland, Gill’s music carried her further afield. She toured and performed throughout Europe, including Austria, Brittany and the Netherlands, and travelled extensively across the United States, appearing in folk clubs, festivals, folklore societies and community venues. Through New York’s Hospital Audiences programme, she also performed in hospitals, care homes and rehabilitation centres, bringing traditional music to audiences from all walks of life.
Songwriting and Recordings
Although she never pursued commercial success, Gill became known for her thoughtful songwriting. Her original songs often emerged unexpectedly, with words and melodies arriving together in moments of inspiration. Among her best-known pieces are songs reflecting on Liverpool, childhood memories and the cultural impact of The Beatles, alongside instrumental compositions such as The Wallasey Hornpipe, celebrating her hometown.
Gill’s recordings include her own independently produced albums, as well as instrumental performances on the highly regarded 1978 Women’s Guitar Workshop album released by Kicking Mule Records, a landmark recording that showcased innovative acoustic guitar playing.
In this episode of Keep Folk Talking, Brian Jones is reunited with old friend Gill Burns for the first time in more than forty years. Their conversation looks back on the vibrant folk scene of the 1970s before following Gill’s remarkable musical journey from the Wirral to Ireland, Europe and the United States. Along the way, they explore the people she met, the songs she wrote, the music that shaped her life, and why traditional folk music has remained at the heart of everything she does. The episode opens with Gill’s lively Wallasey Hornpipe, celebrating the place she now calls home once again, and closes with her beautiful original song, “Crazy” – a fitting end to a heartfelt reunion..
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