James has been interested in music from an early age. At the age of six he learnt the violin at school, playing in the school orchestra. As a teenager, James took up the mandolin, which naturally led to the banjo; the instrument he now considers to be his main focus. He is entirely self taught on both.

In 2006, at the age of sixteen, James was a semi finalist in the BBC Young Folk Awards as a soloist, and has also played in duos with Jack Rutter and Steve Lacey.

Although not officially studying it, he continues to work hard at his music, but is also a skilled woodworker, having undergone a course at the Chippendale School of Furniture, Edinburgh.


Nicola Lyons - Jim Molyneux - Daniel Day