James Yorkston and The Athletes

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Biography

To call James Yorkston a folk singer is to miss the point by some distance and the fact that among his influences he lists Can, Jacques Brel and Linton Kwesi Johnson tells you something about the diverse and innovative approach he brings to the form. One review of his first album, with backing group the Athletes, Moving Up Country stated “James Yorkston is the real deal” and that simple judgment says a lot more than any attempt to classify or describe his work.

James Yorkston first appeared on record in 2001 under the pseudonym J Wright Presents, with the “Moving Up Country, Roaring the Gospel” single, a track that later appeared in a very different version on the first album, which was released on Domino in late 2002 and was mixed mostly by former Cocteau Twin Simon Raymonde, with some intervention from Kenny Anderson, aka King Creosote . By then, James had released a number of singles and a track on Anderson’s Fence Collective Sampler.

Shortly after the release of the album, James’ first Peel session was broadcast and there followed an EP of traditional folk songs (Someplace Simple) before the release of the second album, Just Beyond the River, in 2004. On this, songs like “Shipwreckers” revealed something of the dynamism that lurks within Yorkston’s best work, and that is unleashed to an often surprising degree in live performances.

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  • gui_x

    likes

    2 Nov 2012 Reply
  • uncle_sethy

    'just as scared' - song of october, 2012. achingly gorgeous duet. wow, can't stop listening.

    18 Oct 2012 Reply
  • tingod

    I listened to 4 or 5 of his songs. Then decided to play my Nick Drake albums.

    22 Aug 2012 Reply
  • ogreatbear

    Listen together with others to new indie folk and indie pop artists and tunes in the "New Indie Folk" Soundrop room on Spotify - http://open.soundrop.fm/s/W2Pf1ShxheWGD8th

    1 May 2012 Reply
  • mambamutu

    What a shitty description....En Castellano: Una mierdita la descripción, James...Un capo!

    10 Nov 2011 Reply
  • forablueguitar

    someone should write a description more in keeping with mr yorkston and his music. not me though. mine would be worse than the current one.

    4 Sep 2011 Reply
  • doqtor

    What a shitty description.

    28 Aug 2011 Reply
  • hawwie

    absolutely gutted i missed him at green man :'{ - loooove him

    24 Aug 2011 Reply
  • flookster

    Great stuff.

    10 Dec 2010 Reply
  • unismord

    Amazing artist!

    27 Nov 2010 Reply
  • dropacid

    They don't make 'em like this any more

    9 Oct 2010 Reply
  • lickthepavement

    woozy with cider is so good. i love the mellow, soft melancholy it shapes in the pit of my belly.

    29 Aug 2010 Reply
  • Milo101

    Woozy with Cider <3. [2]

    23 Mar 2010 Reply
  • Bom_

    Woozy with Cider <3.

    22 Mar 2010 Reply
  • nocturana

    :))))

    18 Mar 2010 Reply
  • witkacynazawsze

    where I can find lyrics to "surf song"? :(

    9 Jan 2010 Reply
  • eatyourownears

    Looking forward to Saturday! VENUE / THE TABERNACLE POWIS SQUARE, LONDON, W11 2AY Eat Your Own Ears presents JAMES YORKSTON AND THE BIG EYES FAMILY PLAYERS ALASDAIR ROBERTS MARRY WATERSON & OLIVER KNIGHT MARY HAMPTON DAVID A JAYCOCK Plus guests Saturday 7 November 2009

    6 Nov 2009 Reply
  • DitaVonTesse

    tender to the blues, the best ! :D

    8 Sep 2009 Reply
  • WyldOats

    The athletes all play on "When the Haar.." mind

    13 Aug 2009 Reply
  • John_K

    The Year of the Leopard, and Roaring the Gospel should also be James Yorkston, not James Yorkston & The Athletes...

    11 Aug 2009 Reply
  • All 56 shouts