Thankfully, Josh Lamkin narrowly escaped the musical influence of his seventh grade heavy metal phase and bands like Ratt and Iron Maiden. Okay yes, you might notice the influence just a little when Josh smashes his guitar on stage and eats live bats, but other than that he's as docile as John Denver. Comedian, poet, boy-next-door. Irrepressible, quirky, magnetic. With his graceful, infectious songs, wide-open tenor voice, and irresistible wit, Josh Lamkin explodes off the stage. Josh is quickly earning a reputation as a shining light among an already brilliant cast of singer/songwriters on the scene today. One recent review of Josh's live performance said: "It's not often that a solo act can enrapture my senses for two hours. Catch this one if possible."

Josh doesn't think you care about what awards he's won or what famous people he rode with in an elevator in Cleveland. Though if you must know, here are a few highlights:

  • Winner 2001 Wildflower Festival Performing Songwriter Competition
     One of only three winners chosen from hundreds of the best
    artists from the USA and Canada

  • Official Showcase Artist BMI Acoustic Roundup
    Music powerhouse BMI's prestigious New York City showcase
    of the nation's best new music

  • Performing Songwriter Magazine Top 12 Indy Albums
    (July/Aug 2001) "There are few who could out-write him."

  • Official Showcase Artist 2001 Southwest Regional Folk Alliance
    One of the nation's top music industry conferences

  • Good Again chosen Top 12 Albums of 2001 WMUA Acoustic Cafe
    Other artists include Lucinda Williams and Pierce Pettis

  • Rode in elevator with Neil Diamond, Cleveland, Feb. 2000

 

As a kid Josh used to secretly stay up every Sunday night to listen to Rick Dee's Weekly Top 40 radio show, his little gray Panasonic radio on his pillow with the sound down low. Josh never imagined he might actually one day be a musician, but early on he learned other ways to get people's attention. "I was always getting in trouble for doing something completely stupid, always trying to make someone laugh, always in and out of detention. Drove my parents crazy," he recalls.

Complete strangers taught Josh his first guitar chords when his friends left him at the beach by himself hundreds of miles from home (Josh still insists it was an innocent mistake). In college, Josh spent most of his waking hours consumed by his passion for music and writing. During that time Josh had poems published in national literary magazines, wrote a humor column for his school newspaper, and helped open his college's first coffeehouse, where he was a mainstay, hosting the open mic, booking and promoting concerts, and sometimes even sleeping there. After graduating Josh wandered Europe, Africa, and the States for a couple of years, often playing music on the streets for rent money. He now pays rent (usually on time) in Atlanta.

Josh's debut CD, Good Again (produced by Chris Rosser), was released in February 2001 to rave media reviews. His previously unrecorded song "Love At The Healthfood Store" appears on the stellar compilation Carolina Folk, which includes songs from Beth Wood, Claire Holley, Jack Williams, Billy Jonas, Chuck Brodsky, David LaMotte, and more. His song "Kerouac's Advice" appears on the UNCA Music Biz compilation, which sold out at its release show. He has appeared with such luminaries as Dan Bern, Pierce Pettis, The Kennedys, Tom Prasada-Rao, Christine Kane, Richard Shindell, Lori McKenna, and Ellis Paul. Josh's much anticipated sophomore effort, Boy Genius, was released in July, 2003.

These days, you can find Josh in the amazing acoustic pop duo The Brilliant Inventions.