Lisburn native Joshua Burnside has revealed the beautiful new single 'Late Afternoon in the Meadow (1887)', taken from his upcoming EP of the same name.

With the essence of Bon Iver, John Martyn and Nick Drake; the alt-folk singer-songwriter is slated to perform his biggest headline show to date at The Ulster Hall in Belfast on December 23rd with support from Lemoncello.

The title track from his latest EP features Burnside's trademark penchant for looping found sounds, ancient recordings and experimental production together with the traditions of Irish folk and alternative music. The track captures the beauty and turmoil of the songwriter's home.

‘Late Afternoon…’ is the story of a life without opportunity, following a character lost in the labyrinth cul-de-sacs of working-class Belfast, caught between mountain and motorway. The motorway in question is the Westlink, a river of concrete that is as much a barrier to progress and movement for the citizens of Belfast as the peace walls.

A solid, grey, sheer monument to the division found in the city, it plays the main stage as Burnside narrates an unfortunately familiar story of declining mental health amidst economic strife. The raw single paints a bleak picture of the city, but also presents a warmer semblance of hope for the future.

"Belfast was redesigned for military, social and economic reasons during the late end of the century," Burnside explains. "It was rebuilt to suit a car-driving suburban middle class, which is why the centre is mostly encircled by car parks, empty buildings, empty land and motorways twisting and rising above or below you. It is sadly apt then, that people wishing to take their own life, often choose the Westlink as the place to do it, jumping from the bridges that cross it. This song is about someone at the end of their tether. And if you are feeling this way, then I dedicate this song to you."

Joshua penned the track after returning from the south of France.

"I’m normally glad to be home, but it was a particularly grey and blustery day," he offers. "On days like this, the city can feel like a very bleak place, and so I wrote a very bleak song. But there is hope in it too, hope for a kinder society, a life that is softer on the soul. Belfast seldom resembles a French impressionist painting, but it is my home and it has its own beauty."

Burnside's releases to date have been streamed 65 million times on Spotify, following debut album EPHRATA in 2017, 2019's Wear Bluebells in Your Hat If You're Goin' That Way, 2020's Into the Depths of Hell and 2021's Higher Places.

Watch the video for 'Late Afternoon in the Meadow (1887)' below.

Revisit Hot Press' October 2020 interview with Joshua Burnside here.