James Grant

With one of the most soulful voices you are ever likely to hear, James Grant is simply magnificent to listen to. Introducing himself onto the music scene in 1982, he has been singing his heart out and producing exquisite acoustic melodies for well over thirty years.
I've seen James perform many times since discovering his music, mainly at The Mill in Banbury, and each time he seems to offer something different. Whether that be performing his own covers of pop songs that are shouted out from the crowd or being accompanied by the well renowned harmonica artist Fraser Spiers, he always offers incredible entertainment to a small but dedicated audience who hang on his every note. The intricate finger plucking patterns, his vast vocal range and some truly inspiring lyrics make him a must-listen to, which is obvious in songs like 'Lips Like Ether', 'My Father's Coat' and 'Winter'.
James is not only just your average singer-songwriter but also a performer and to some extent, a comedian. In the small interval between each track, the Scotsman always breaks into little anecdotes explaining his various songs and the influence behind them, often with humour throughout and the word 'pish' being said in every other sentence. If you were to hear him speak, you probably wouldn't be able to guess that he would have such an amazing voice.
Although he doesn't produce songs with the most upbeat of tempos, James Grant churns out classic after classic throughout sets and is a thoroughly nice guy; a real pleasure to listen to.