Bob Barrick is an American folk singer-songwriter and poet whose raw, authentic voice and disarming wit have earned him a devoted following in the modern folk scene. His performances seamlessly blend earnest songwriting with sharp social commentary and between-song banter that turns strangers into conspirators, drawing comparisons to modern troubadours like John Craigie and Langhorne Slim. It’s this rare combination of insight and humor that has made him a distinctive voice in the modern folk scene.
Barrick’s musical journey began in Indianapolis’s college music scene, where his collaboration with Joshua Lee Turner led to his first viral moments, with songs like “The Ballad of Edward Snowden” and “How Not To Be Lonely” accumulating hundreds of thousands of views. This online success translated to the stage, as they toured the Midwest and appeared at WARMfest and the Fountain Square Music Festival.
After leaving home for Brooklyn, Barrick & Turner welcomed Carson McKee to form Kingdom Jasmine. With Barrick’s compelling frontman presence anchored by Turner and McKee’s masterful harmonies and instrumentation, the trio created a sound uniquely their own. Their cover of John Prine’s “Paradise” garnered over 3 million views, while their original album “Armed & Dangerous” – inspired by Barrick’s run-in with the NYPD – became a fan favorite. The group maintained a steady presence in New York’s folk scene, holding residencies at Pete’s Candy Store and performing at venues from The Bitter End to Rockwood Music Hall.
Relocating to Colorado marked Barrick’s emergence as a solo artist, where his reputation for commanding performances led to supporting slots for Brett Dennen, Josiah Johnson, and Grahame Lesh. His festival appearances at Mile of Music, Virginia Avenue Music Festival, Winter Folk, and the Underground Music Showcase culminated in a remarkable performance at the Bluebird Music Festival in Boulder’s historic Macky Auditorium, sharing the bill with Ben Harper.
In an unexpected turn, a series of Jimmy Buffett covers posted to Barrick’s YouTube channel caught the attention of the legend himself. This led to a unique partnership that saw Barrick’s interpretations regularly featured on Buffett’s social media, culminating in performances alongside Coral Reefer legends Keith Sykes and Roger Bartlett at Key West’s Gypsies in the Palace festival. This recognition from the folk establishment continued with a rare opening slot for Willis Alan Ramsey and an appearance at the inaugural Sing 4 Fing annual benefit concert in Nashville, TN alongside Coral Reefer Band members Peter Mayer, Josh Leo, Nadirah Shakour, Tina Gullickson, and Doyle Grisham.
As a songwriter and producer–he manages Broadway Music Studios in Boulder, CO–Barrick maintains creative control over his work. His YouTube channel, featuring both originals and carefully chosen songs from the folk canon, has amassed over 500,000 views, with his takes on Leonard Cohen’s “Bird on the Wire” and Bob Dylan’s “Buckets of Rain” demonstrating his deep appreciation for the tradition he carries forward.
Recent years have marked a particularly prolific period for Barrick. 2023 saw him reunite with Joshua Lee Turner to record the “Hoosier Sweet” EP at his studio in Boulder, while simultaneously undertaking an ambitious release schedule for his latest album “Little Cicero.” This monthly series, each release accompanied by a live performance filmed in a Longmont barn, reinforces what audiences have come to expect from Barrick: authentic storytelling delivered with equal parts heart and humor.
