Mark Barnwell

Mark Barnwell

Mark Barnwell is a guitarist who begins with classical playing, moves into rock in the 1980s, and turns to flamenco in 2000. He performs in solo, duo and trio settings, with work centred on flamenco guitar and a wider repertoire that also includes classical guitar pieces and interpretations of contemporary songs.

Background and performance history

He plays guitar from an early age and first appears in solo classical performances before joining a range of groups in the 1980s and 1990s. Those earlier bands cover several styles, including blues, country, funk, rock and disco. In his later work he concentrates on flamenco, both alone and with other musicians.

His performances take place in Australia, Germany, France, Greece and its islands, as well as across the UK. The venues he plays range from hotels to concert halls. Performance highlights include a charity concert at Cornwall Coliseum, an appearance at Ashton Court Festival in 2003, New Year’s Eve performances in Australia, busking in France, and a duo concert in Truro with Jon Salfield.

Recordings and style

Barnwell records and produces three solo CDs featuring a mix of classical, flamenco and original material. These recordings also draw on Latin, Egyptian, Indian and Australian influences, and include ambient pieces that use keyboards and percussion alongside guitar.

His live repertoire ranges from classical guitar standards such as Romance and Asturias to songs by the Beatles and lively flamenco standards. He often incorporates Arabic and Latin touches into his playing.