James Summerfield
After much success with John Peel favourites Buick 6 (later, The Toques), at 21, James self-recorded his debut album, ‘Hailah, Hailah’, and followed this with the bluegrass-tinged ‘Paint the Road’ in 2006, gaining great reviews from Mojo, Maverick and Uncut. Since then, the acrimony of divorce and all the chaos this brings had dogged him, yet his 3rd solo album ‘Count to 10 and Start Again’ is undeniably frank, and deals with this dark period through beautiful melodies and arrangements that followers of James’ work will fondly remember.
James is currently recording his forth solo album with a new band, already likened to Vetiver and The Jayhawks, and new members include fellow Peel veteran Simon Fox (Grover/World of Fox), Tom Haworth, Suzy Owen and Sam Fox (drummer for Scott Matthews).
Recently touring with Scott Matthews has certainly aided James’s UK popularity, although confusing spectator Robert Plant with Noddy Holder on the opening night may yet come back to haunt him.
“I know that feeling sad brings out the best in songs, but I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone”.
‘Paper bag’ from the album Count to Ten and Start Again.
All 3 of James’ solo LPs are currently available through Commercially Inviable.
Hailah, Hailah (2004)
Paint The Road (2006)
Count To Ten And Start Again (2008)
