Janice Burns & Jon Doran

Janice Burns & Jon Doran are an award-winning Anglo-Scottish duo who came together after discovering a shared love of traditional music. Their songs tell vivid stories about the nature of life and our place in the world.

Janice & Jon’s ‘clever and uncluttered musical storytelling’ (Songlines) comes alive through tight vocal harmonies and sensitive interplay between mandolin, bouzouki and guitar. Their arrangements have a spellbinding presence and an understated energy that transports songs from the pages of books and manuscripts into the imagination of the listener.

With their relaxed and personable approach to performance, Janice & Jon are renowned for the warmth of their connection with audiences. From opening Stage 2 at Cambridge Folk Festival, to playing at the likes of Edinburgh Tradfest, Cecil Sharp House and Sage Gateshead, the duo are highly sought after across the UK and beyond.

Following the success of their self-titled EP in 2020, Janice & Jon released their debut album, No More the Green Hills, in Autumn 2022. The album had overwhelmingly positive feedback, finding its place in the Official UK Folk Albums Chart, as well as gaining airplay on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio Scotland. 

Folk songs have always travelled, put down new roots, borrowed and evolved. Janice & Jon bring together songs that have survived through the ages, shapeshifting and adapting as they’ve been passed from singer to singer. Exploring humankind’s connection with nature, love and loss, these are songs with an enduring resonance.

REVIEWS FOR NO MORE THE GREEN HILLS

**** “Clever and uncluttered musical storytelling” – Songlines Magazine

**** "Great singing, fantastic harmonies, and very sympathetic backing. What a superb debut" – R&R

***** “Traditional songs sung in a new way with an evident respect for melody and the ancient art of the ballad maker. Five stars for this duo that have made an album destined for repeated listening.” – Irish Music Magazine

***** – Folk London

“Really nicely done” – Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2 Folk Show

“They’re a revelation – crystal clear voices, great musicianship and an obvious deep love of the tradition.” – Mike Harding

“Anyone who fancies themselves as a singer of traditional songs will likely want to sing these songs, but beware, few will have the voices, musicianship or imagination to pull it off at this level.” – Jon Wilks, Tradfolk

“Beautiful harmony singing, fretty mandolin and bouzouki instrument playing with loads of space for each. What a beautiful sound.” – Anna Massie, BBC Radio Scotland

QUOTES

“They play lovely strings, they have gorgeous harmony arrangements. Really well crafted, intimate, beautifully understated.” – Karine Polwart

“Janice and Jon are both delightful singers with wonderfully musical voices. Their performances of traditional folk songs have a pleasing authenticity and they make delicious harmonies. They are also both fine instrumentalists of great skill and talent. Any appearance of theirs in a folk club or on the concert platform will guarantee you an experience you’ll remember.” – Sandra Kerr

“Weaving effortless harmonies with ancient ballads and virtuosic accompaniment on mandolin and bouzouki, Janice Burns & Jon Doran paint stories through their music that you will find yourself completely lost in.” – Josie Duncan