James Summerfield

James Summerfield often sounds like he could be holed up in some moss hung Appalachian cabin, sitting on the porch, banjo on his lap and bottle of hooch at his side, swapping Southern gothic songs of misery and murder with preacher men and moonshiners, pausing occasionally to gaze wistfully at those faded pin up posters of Gillian Welch and Will Oldham. It could, of course, have been horribly different. Forced to play piano from the age of eight, music had become a bit of a chore for young James until his mate got a guitar. Naturally he wanted to play one too. Which was when he started listening to Def Leppard and Guns ‘n’ Roses. Fortunately for devotees of stripped down Americana, James also happened upon both Sparklehorse’s Vivadixie album and Neil Young’s Southern Man. The die was cast.

MOJO- Sutton Coldfield is not best known for its lonely prairies but they're beautifully evoked on these 10 songs.

UNCUT- Paced like Gillian Welch at her Bible-black best.

MAVERICK- High class and oozes a brooding authenticity. Music is about feel and emotion and he has those in spades.

AMERICANA UK- Lovely delicate dark brooding Americana.

THE SCOTTSMAN- One of the finest exponents of moss hung backwoods Americana you'll find in the UK.

SUBBA-CULTCHA.COM- My favourite song? Can you have an album made of favourites?

WISPERIN AND HOLLERIN.COM-His voice offers a style that is quite unique.


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