LAUNCESTON’S Town Hall is set to welcome gravel voiced country, pop, rock singer song writer and Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Josh Curnow later this month — at a concert raising funds for the mayor’s charity Launceston Town Band.

Josh, who lives in Indian Queens with his partner Jen, has been busy gigging in this part of the world since playing in front of a live audience of 18.4-million people when on the talent show last May. He has played gigs recently at Crooklets Inn, Bude, and The Countryman Inn, near Launceston.

He told the Post: “Things have been sort of naturally busier after getting that sort of exposure and platform really. I’ve just been focusing on gigging and making sure we have come home — playing at new venues and venues that have supported me through the years.”

Josh has been a full-time musician for about four years.

He already has two UK tours under his belt, and has played alongside names including Matt Cardle, Atomic Kitten, Blue and Sam Bailey. He has supported Scouting For Girls in Cornwall, and most recently supported Adam Ant.

He has released two EPs, and is now working on his next exciting project, adding: “I’m now really excited to say I’m in the studio recording my first album, which is fantastic.”

Josh was thrilled to be able to work with the producer he wanted to in Cornwall, who he said has eight or nine Number Ones ‘under his sleeve’. Josh has also recently been to London to work with Ed Sheeran’s and Rudimental’s writers.

He said he is ‘putting everything into’ the album, which will come out later this year.

With a lot of days spent in the studio, Josh is having to look after his voice and cut back a bit on the gigging, so Friday, March 24, at Launceston Town Hall will be a chance to see Josh perform before the nationwide release of his album, after which he will travel to gig in the South of France and then embark on a UK tour.

Josh said of his upcoming gig in Launceston: “I’m very much looking forward to going up there and rocking out with you guys!”

Josh will be supported on the night by Launceston-based harmony vocal and guitar band The Countrymen.

In the deep, dark and stormy winter of 2014, Paul Callow, long time musician and the landlord of The Countryman Inn on the Launceston — Bude road, wanted to start an open mic night.

He asked his good friends — talented all round musician, Steve Cooksey and vocalist Stephen Gilbert — to join him to create a band that could feature as resident anchor band on Wednesday evenings for the open mic night.

Over time other visiting musicians to the Wednesday nights, in the form of Simon Wrench (bass), Ijaz Bhatti (guitar and vocals) and Alan ‘Brin’ Brinicombe (lead guitar) joined the band.

Now in the form of a six piece band with a strong emphasis on vocal, four part harmony with the addition of Brin’s magical lead guitar and solid bass from Simon, the material ranges widely from traditional Cornish and new Cornish songs through country favourites to classic pop and even the occasional blues.

Last year the band cut the apron strings and ventured out from the Countryman being very well received at other pubs, gigs and festivals in Cornwall and Devon.

The band is, above all, Cornish in its outlook and aims to deliver moving vocal arrangements of tradition and new Cornish favourites interspersed with classic pop favourites and can still be seen most Wednesdays at The Countryman open mic nights.

Like latter day cousin Jacks they are now touring and spreading the Cornish spirit.

The evening will kick off at 7pm on Friday, March 24, at Launceston Town Hall. Tickets are £5 in advance from crbo.co.uk/joshcurnow or by calling 01726 879500, or from the Tourist Information Centre in Launceston, Liskeard, Bodmin or Looe. £6 on the door.

Tickets are also available in advance by calling 01566 773479.

Tables are also available to be booked for up to eight people at £40.