“​Emily Barnes is more than just a musician; she’s a storyteller that sets the lives of her characters to music.” - Divide and Conquer

Emily Barnes

Progressive folk music for the open hearted

Biography 

Emily Barnes is a contemporary folk singer-songwriter whose music breathes life into the characters and stories of everyday people. With a voice that cuts to the bone and songs that tug on the heart strings, she crafts songs that feel both intimately personal and universally human.

Born and raised in Johnsonburg, New Jersey a town of under 100 people,  Barnes began writing songs on the stone steps of her 200 year old house. With a  guitar and dream bigger than her small town, she hit the road and began building a grassroots following of dedicated listeners fone story, one song, and one listener at a time. .  Throug her heartfelt performances, and honest story telling, she has carved out a space that is wholly her own in the modern folk landscape. 

With four albums under her belt and a growing reputation as a songwriter of uncommon depth, Barnes has been compared to the likes of modern day songwriters like Brandi Carlile, and old school folkies like Joan Baez. A recognized talent in the songwriting community, Barnes has been a finalist in several prestigious festivals including Kerrville Folk Festival, Red Lodge Songwriting Festival, The Acorn Songwriting Contest, as well as being named a winner of the 2026 COMBO music songwriting contest and winner of the 2025 Hey Nonny Songwriting Contest. 

Short Bio 

Emily Barnes is a contemporary folk singer-songwriter whose music breathes life into the characters and stories of everyday people. With a voice that cuts to the bone and songs that tug on the heart strings, she crafts songs that feel both intimately personal and universally human.

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