FOR such a sometimes astounding and accomplished artist, Kiran Leonard is at pains not to talk about himself or his burgeoning musical career.

“I try not to admire myself too much,” he says modestly as he prepares for one of the headline slots at next weekend’s Cloudspotting Festival near Slaidburn.

“I don’t self-analyse. I don’t enjoy that at all.”

Described in one review as Saddleworth’s anti-Jake Bugg, Leonard is far keener to talk about his influences, or one influence in particular, the folk troubadour Richard Dawson.

“He will be recognised, eventually, as one of the greatest song writers ever to draw breath,” said Kiran.

“When I saw Richard Dawson play it changed my life, his music has this intangible, naked quality about it.

“He has a voice that can pulverise stone, and I like him because he plays a guitar like balls of flame rolling down a fretboard.

“He finds a way to speak about his entire life by recalling memories from his childhood and adolescence.

“Richard, I think, expresses his thoughts so lucidly that these personal anecdotes becomes songs about everyone and that’s his genius.”

Kiran added: “Also, his lyrics are devastatingly funny and equally tragic; he understands the sensitive balance between the two and that is a rare art.”

In 2014 Kiran was commissioned by Manchester friends Everything Everything to write and perform an original piece of music to celebrate the reopening of Manchester’s Central Library.

A year earlier, his first album, a double LP, Bowler Hat Soup, won him wide acclaim and three singles from the record were play listed by BBC 6Music, who also featured it as an album of the week.

The 20-year-old’s latest offering, Grapefruit, was recorded during his second year at Oxford University’s Wadham College, where he’s studying Spanish and Portuguese.

While his heavy duty frame of reference encompasses playwright Samuel Beckett and philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, the sprawling pop sound has plenty of enjoyable twists and turns.

“I’m glad people are enjoying it (Grapefruit) but I don’t think it is for me to talk about it,” he said.

“It is up to other people how they perceive it and I suppose that’s the beauty of music.”

Playing with a four-piece band Kiran says he is relishing a return to the summer festival circuit and his second appearance at the popular Cloudspotting Festival.

“When I played there it rained and rained, but just before we came on stage the sun broke through the forest and it was just the most beautiful, joyful setting.

“It is an amazing location with a lovely family vibe and certainly one of my favourite places in England.”

Cloudspotting Festival, July 29-31 at Stephen Park, Forest of Bowland, Slaidburn. Kiran Leonard will be playing the main stage on Friday.

Other acts at Cloudspotting include Honeyfeet, Henge, Good Foxy, Michael Chapman, Emma Pollock and Gideon Conn.

There are still weekend and day tickets available from the box office 01200 421599 or via the website www.cloudspotting-festival.co.uk