Lewis Pugh

"Tragically Beautiful Left of Centre Insurgent Folk From the Wild West of the People’s Republic of Yorkshire." Rocking Magpie 

"You might even call him the cowpunk Billy Bragg!" At The Barrier 

"Pugh is a very canny and provocative songwriter" Rocking Magpie

"You can feel the anger of generations through his words" London Celtic Punks 

"Pugh makes a very persuasive case for being mentioned in the same sentence as Merry Hell, The Dropkick Murphys, Fiddlers Green and Grace Petrie." FATEA Magazine

“Lewis Pugh & The Burner Band are instinctive country music and rock & roll naturals. Authentic & effortless, these boys can really play” Andy Kershaw
 
Lewis Pugh is a prolific songwriter with influences ranging from bluegrass, country, folk through to skiffle and punk. 

Spring 2026 sees the release of Pugh’s 4th solo effort, entitled ‘Heretics & Heritage’. Spanning influences from bluegrass, country through to English and Irish folk, FATEA magazine has said:

“Consistently turning out music that is at once catchily infectious with nagging hooks and choruses, strong vocals, solid playing and engaging lyrics, Pugh should be a far more recognised and bigger name than he is, both on the folk circuit and more widely ”

Brought up going to bluegrass and folk festivals with his family who were often performing, such as Cambridge Folk Festival and Edale Bluegrass Festival, Lewis' appreciation of roots music came at a young age. After playing in countless punk and metal bands from age of 12 until 26, Lewis gradually shifted back to the music of his upbringing. Self-releasing his first solo album in 2017, he has since released 'Dark Wheels turn Above Our Heads' in 2020 and 'Bullets for Bread' in 2024, finding a sound between country, folk and bluegrass with a distinct political slant. In between albums there have been countless singles & EP's, often raising money for homeless outreaches or food banks. 

Pugh has supported the likes of Ferocious Dog, The Mary Wallopers, Bob Log III & The Legendary Shack Shakers. He has performed at the legendary Topic Folk Club in Bradford and Otley Folk Club. He has appeared at Maverick Festival, Orwell Bluegrass Festival, Hexham Bluegrass Festival and Strummer Camp. Previous albums have received rave reviews Saving Country Music, FATEA Magazine, Celtic Punks and the Rocking Magpie. 

Recently in 2025, Lewis played to packed houses at Leeds Folk Club, Cafe9 in Sheffield & The Live Room in Saltaire. 

Lewis's third solo album 'Bullets for Bread' was released on vinyl in March 2024 on Leeds based indie label 'Shed Load Records'. 

Lewis has also recorded with Jason and the Scorchers frontman Jason Ringenberg and Victoria Liedtke on the Grammy Nominated Dolly Parton and Porter Wagnor tribute album 'More than Words', released in 2023, contributing guitar & banjo to the album. 

An unaccompanied version of 'Featherstone Massacre', Lewis' song about a tragedy which happened in Yorkshire in 1893, recorded with Serious Sam Barrett, has recently appeared on a documentary film about the events by author and TV presenter Ian Clayton

He also plays with The Burner Band, a five piece country and rock 'n roll band, featuring pedal steel and electric guitar, who have released two full length records on Shed Load Records.