Ursula Burns

Description

Ursula Burns is an experienced performer who has created her own wild style of harp playing. For her live show this diverse artist focuses on self-penned musical comedy to entertain and inspire. Ursula has 25 years of experience and has played everywhere from the Albert Hall to the Tardis Imaginarium ( the smallest theatre in the world in the back of her van). She can provide atmosphere in a more traditional or classical setting for functions and then launch into her comedy to surprise and entertain the guests. Her Solo comedy show is one hour long and she will work with the client to assure t ... hey get the balance right in delivering what is required for each booking. Read More

Biography

Comedy Biog 2019
Ursula Burns is The Dangerous Harpist. The unusual songstress ran away from the circus to become a harp-playing comedienne. This diverse maverick muso has 5 solo albums in her back catalogue and a wealth shows composed for theatre.
Ursula accidentally fell into comedy when she won the Irish Musical Comedy Award in Dublin in 2012. Her 2013 show “I do it for the money” got nominated for the Malcolm Hardee Award for comic originality on its first trip to Edinburgh festival 2013. Her experience in the comedy circuit includes - The Stand Edinburgh: The bloomsbury theatr ... e, London: Electric Picnic: Kilkenny Comedy Festival: CQAF: Belly Laughs: Spike Milligan Festival-Sligo: Perth Fringe. Three nights sold out at the Lyric Theatre Belfast and a host of venues and radio along the way including Radio 4 State of the Nation with Ellis James.
Ursula is a seasoned performer who has toured the world with her music, comedy and theatre shows, playing festivals and venues everywhere from the Albert Hall to the the boot of her Tardis Imaginarium. 2019 BGT Semi-finalist!
She is enchanting and funny in equal measure with a lovely lilting voice that makes the falls road sound like Brigadoon, Ursula Burns is a fabulous woman with whom to spend an hour. Kate Copstick Wow 27
Ursula Burns comes across as one of those original artists who defies musical barriers. She is completely unlike anybody else, especially other female singer/songwriters. – Irish News
Burns is a professional eccentric, the Fringe’s own Kate Bush: Paul Fleckney
The wide eyed maverick musician turned out to be the funniest act of the festival so far!… Andrew Johnston Belly Laughs festival, Belfast Telegraph Read More

Reviews     (1 Review)

Experience

URSULA BURNS – CURRICULUM VITAE
ALBUM RELEASES
1987 An Appointment with WB Yeats - 2 tracks (Bluestack)
Nov 1997 "Sinister Nips" EP (Freerange Records)
March 1999 "According to Ursula Burns" (Freerange records)
Feb 2001   "Spell"  (Independent release)
Nov 2003   "Rollercoaster Castaways"  (Independent release)
june 2010 "Deep in the Dreaming" (Independent release)
2013 "Unfit the picture with Victoria Geelan
2016 The Dangerous Harpist
2017 The Assistants Revenge Album
ARTISTS
The Blue Nile - The Albert Hall, London
Beth Orton - The Empire, Belfast
Jackson Brown - ... Killyleagh Castle Festival, Northern Ireland
Richard Thompson - The Waterfront Hall, Belfast
Loudan Wainwright - The Ulster Hall, Belfast
Jack L - Vicar Street, Dublin
Billy Bragg - The Errigle Bar, Belfast - many more........
TOURS
Spring 1998 - Jimmy Nail, 50 dates, on the boards tour support
Autumn 1988 Scandinavian Tours, Finland and Sweden
Autumn 1988 Denmark/ Copenhagen
Summer 1999 America, NYC, Boston & Long Island
Winter 1999 UK Watercress Christmas Tour
Jimmy Nail 50 dates On the Boards Tour 1998
Spring 2000 Pitsburg and Boston Belfast Trade Mission
Cahoots NI 2005 - 2010 Various Shows
Emmer Quinn Christmas tour 2007
Tumble Circus Damn the Circus 2013 - 2015 inc OZ, UK IRELAND
MUSICAL DIRECTOR FOR THEATRE
Award winning childrens theatre with Cahoots Ni
2006-2011 Composing, Performing and touring with:
The Great Carmo
Leon and the place between
The family Hoffman
The Snail and the Whale
The flee pit
2011 Kabosh Commission" Unicorn Music" with Hang Drum Grand Opera House
2013 Kabosh Commission "Inventors" and album to follow
2015 Little Red Riding Hood Lyric Theatre Christmas show Compose /MD
2018 The Assistants Revenge Cahoots NI
MUSICAL DIRECTOR FOR CIRCUS
Bone Idol circus company German / Irish Tour
Award winning Tumble Circus
2012 Death or Circus @ The Mac, UK Tour
2013 Dublin Fringe, Belfast Queens Festival, La Breche France
Sea Change Arts Festival
FESTIVALS
Summer 1998 Glastonbury Acoustic Stage
Autumn  1998 Scandinavian Tour, Gothenburg Festival
Christmas 1997 & 1999 Lissard Foundation, Co Cork, Eire
Summer 1998 & 1999 Edinburgh Festival, The Famous Grouse House
Summer 1999 Dranuter Festival, Belgium
Spring 2000 Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival, Belfast
Spring 2007 Sticky Fingers Festival, Newry & Belfast Children’s Festival – Cahoots NI
Autumn 2007 and 2009 Belfast Festival at Queen’s
Summer 2011 Sunflower Festival
Winter 2012 Belly laughs Belfast Comedy festival
Summer 2012 Kerry Comedy Festival
Summer 2012 Electric Picnic - Comedy Tent
Winter 2013 Out to lunch festival
Winter 2013 Belfast Nashville festival
summer 2013- 24 shows Edinburgh free fringe
autumn 2013 - Dublin Fringe festival
2014 PERTH fringe Festival
2014 Lunar Cricus
2015 Spike Milliagan Festival Sligo
Summer 2016 Edinburgh Fringe Festival
Summer 2017/2018 Stendhal and Sunflowerfest Eastside Arts Festival
AWARDS
March 1998 Hot Press Heineken Awards Nomination Best Solo Female
2012/13 Winner Irish Musical Comedy Awards
2013 Nomination Edinburgh Festival -Malcolm Hardee Award
ODDS AND ENDS
October 1997 Beyond the Line, Mike Edgar, BBC
Other TV includes, Pebble Mill, Echo Island RTE, Kelly Show UTV,
The opening of Digital Choice and Eleventh Hour BBC.
Ned Sherridan Loose Ends, Woman’s Hour, Celtic Connections and lots of Radio.
2017/2018 Member Vault Artist Studios and Belfast Bankers
2019 Britains got Talent Semi-Finalist
Read More

Previous Clients

Played for Royalty, Presidents and Peasant's (and everyone in between)
Ursula has played music for so many people and events in all the top venues including Stormont, Castles, Hotels, Concert Halls, Theatres, Yurts, Big Tops, Bars and Music Venues.
With her Music The Albert Hall / Palladium/ Apollo London
All the top theatres in Ireland/ England.
Too many clients to mention.

Suitable for

Anniversary Party Awards Ceremony Birthday Party (Adult) Birthday Party (Child) Casinos Christening Christmas Party Cocktail Party / Drinks Reception Concerts / Tours Conference / Meeting Corporate Event Dinner Party Engagement Party Festival / Outdoor Event Funeral/Memorial Service Hotel Event Private Party Product Launch / Promotion Restaurant / Bar / Pub Event Retirement Party Theaters / Stage Trade Show / Exhibitions Wedding Ceremony Wedding Cocktail/Drinks Reception

Acting Experience

MD/ Composer and touring experience for 5 years with Cahoots NI Award Winning Children's Theatre
Composer "Inventors" Kabosh
Michael McNulty 2 films (acting)
3 years touring with Tumble Circus as MD and Actor

Additional Information

Insured for Public Liability
CRB checked