Charlie Cunningham is one of the most distinctive contemporary British songwriters, combining acoustic intimacy with modern songwriting.

Charlie Cunningham’s music moves between acoustic intimacy and contemporary songwriting. The British artist builds his compositions around the sound of nylon-string guitar, creating songs that combine rhythmic precision with a reflective, melancholic tone.

A formative influence on his musical language was the several years he spent in Seville, where he immersed himself in the tradition of flamenco and refined his guitar technique. This experience continues to resonate in his work – in the fluid movement of melodies, the subtle rhythmic structures, and the distinctive warmth of his guitar sound.

Cunningham’s songs unfold at an unhurried pace, relying on restrained arrangements and the close relationship between voice and instrument. As a result, his performances often carry a quiet, focused intensity, where the most meaningful moments emerge in the delicate balance between sound and silence. His concert at Malta Festival will mark his first live performance in Poland.

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Charlie Cunningham has emerged as a truly under-the-radar success story. Splitting his time between piano and nylon string guitar, Charlie’s melancholic yet rhythmically driven songs have seen him become a regular fixture in Europe’s most prestigious concert halls. 

Despite his dyslexia making it near impossible for him to read music, Charlie earned a music degree and by his mid-20s worked a variety of odd jobs and wrote songs in his free time. Eventually, he moved to Seville, immersed himself in Flamenco music and focussed intensely on his guitar playing. Planning to stay for 3 months, he stayed for 3 years. Once home, Charlie found work playing in bars across London and Oxford ­—eventually returning to songwriting. Charlie has subsequently released 3 albums and 4 eps which have garnered over half a billion streams.

His new album In Light offers a luminous blend of gently pulsating organic production, soaring melodies, and Cunningham’s signature masterful guitar work. The arrangements, understated yet dynamic, respond instinctively to his voice, weaving in unexpected key changes, moments of distortion, and atmospheric flourishes. Collaborators include Leo Abrahams (Brian Eno), who provided additional electric guitar parts, and drummer Liam Hutton, production and mix by Luke Smith (Keaton Henson, Foals, Everything Everything), and visual design by Gary Barber.

The Malta Festival concert programme will run for four days, with three concerts on stage each day.

25.06 – MARO, Devendra Banhart, Benjamin Clementine
26.06 – HAAi, Worakls, The Blaze (DJ-set)
27.06 – Efterklang, Charlie Cunningham, Beirut
28.06 – King No-One, Kacperczyk, Two Door Cinema Club

Tickets available at eBilet.pl