James Yorkston
Encyclopedia
Music career
A native of FifeFife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
, James Yorkston was an integral early member of the Fence Collective whose reach across contemporary music continues to lengthen: King Creosote
King Creosote
Kenny Anderson, known primarily by his stage name King Creosote, is an independent singer-songwriter from Fife, Scotland. To date, Anderson has released over forty albums, with his latest, Thrawn, released in 2011. Anderson is also a member of Scottish-Canadian band, The Burns Unit...
, The Aliens
The Aliens
The Aliens are a Scottish band consisting of former Beta Band members Gordon Anderson , John Maclean and Robin Jones...
, KT Tunstall
KT Tunstall
Kate Victoria "KT" Tunstall is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist from St Andrews, Scotland. She broke into the public eye with a 2004 live solo performance of her song "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" on Later... with Jools Holland...
, The Beta Band
The Beta Band
The Beta Band were a British musical group who received much critical acclaim and achieved cult status amongst avid followers of the underground and experimental music scene...
. Yorkston is primarily a singer-songwriter, although he also tackles a variety of traditional songs, learned from singers such as Anne Briggs
Anne Briggs
Anne Briggs is an English folk singer. Although she traveled widely in the 1960s and early 1970s, appearing at folk clubs and venues in England and Ireland, she never aspired to commercial success or to achieve widespread public acknowledgment of her music...
, Dick Gaughan
Dick Gaughan
Richard Peter Gaughan usually known as Dick Gaughan is a Scottish musician, singer, and songwriter, particularly of folk and social protest songs.-Early years:...
, Nic Jones
Nic Jones
Nicolas Paul "Nic" Jones is an English folk singer, fingerstyle guitarist and fiddle player whose professional career spanned the years 1964-1982. He recorded five solo albums, and was a frequent guest performer.-Biography:...
, Martin Carthy
Martin Carthy
Martin Carthy MBE is an English folk singer and guitarist who has remained one of the most influential figures in British traditional music, inspiring contemporaries such as Bob Dylan and Paul Simon and later artists such as Richard Thompson since he emerged as a young musician in the early days...
, Lal Waterson
Lal Waterson
Lal Waterson was an English folksinger and songwriter. She sang with, among others, The Watersons, The Waterdaughters and Blue Murder. She was born in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire and died suddenly in Robin Hood's Bay, of cancer diagnosed only ten days before...
, John Strachan
John Strachan (singer)
John Strachan was a Scottish farmer and singer of Bothy Ballads.John Strachan was born on a farm, Crichie, near St. Katherines in Aberdeenshire. His father had made his fortune by trading in horses, and had rented the farm. From 1886 John attended Robert Gordon's College as a boarder in Aberdeen....
, and Adrian Crowley
Adrian Crowley
Adrian Crowley is a singer–songwriter from Galway but based in Dublin. Despite being born in Sliema, Malta, much of his success has come in Ireland....
. His quoted main influences are Anne Briggs, Linton Kwesi Johnson
Linton Kwesi Johnson
Linton Kwesi Johnson is a UK-based dub poet. He became the second living poet, and the only black poet, to be published in the Penguin Classics series. His poetry involves the recitation of his own verse in Jamaican Patois over dub-reggae, usually written in collaboration with renowned British...
, Michael Hurley, Can
Can (band)
Can was an experimental rock band formed in Cologne, West Germany in 1968. Later labeled as one of the first "krautrock" groups, they transcended mainstream influences and incorporated strong minimalist and world music elements into their often psychedelic music.Can constructed their music largely...
, and the Malagasy
Malagasy people
The Malagasy ethnic group forms nearly the entire population of Madagascar. They are divided into two subgroups: the "Highlander" Merina, Sihanaka and Betsileo of the central plateau around Antananarivo, Alaotra and Fianarantsoa, and the côtiers elsewhere in the country. This division has its...
D'Gary
D'Gary
D'Gary is a Madagascan musician of Bara ethnicity. His primary instrument is the acoustic guitar.-Musical style:D'Gary's elaborate playing style is characterised by his use of alternative tunings...
. Yorkston started out as bassist for punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band Miraclehead, which morphed into the band Huckleberry who recorded a number of independently released records.
Yorkston's solo career began when John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
played a demo of his "Moving Up Country, Roaring the Gospel", proclaiming it had the "song title of the year, no doubt". This led to Bad Jazz Records scrambling for Yorkston's details and releasing that track as Yorkston's debut 7" under the name "J. Wright Presents".
At this time Yorkston had started to play solo gigs in Edinburgh—his debut supporting Bert Jansch
Bert Jansch
Herbert "Bert" Jansch was a Scottish folk musician and founding member of the band Pentangle. He was born in Glasgow and came to prominence in London in the 1960s, as an acoustic guitarist, as well as a singer-songwriter...
in the Café Royal
Café Royal
The Café Royal was a restaurant and meeting place on 68 Regent Street in London's Piccadilly.-History:The establishment was originally conceived and set up in 1865 by Daniel Nicholas Thévenon, who was a French wine merchant. He had to flee France due to bankruptcy, arriving in Britain in 1863 with...
. Seeking more shows, Yorkston sent a copy of the single to John Martyn, asking Martyn for a support slot on his forthcoming Edinburgh date, and John Martyn responded by offering Yorkston all 27 dates on his UK and Ireland tour. While on this tour, Yorkston was seen by Laurence Bell of Domino Records, who was so impressed he had a recording contract sent to Yorkston's lawyer the following week. Subsequently he signed to Domino Records, recording music with a number of friends and associates credited as "The Athletes" on his records. Yorkston recorded and produced his debut album for Domino (Moving Up Country
Moving Up Country
Moving Up Country is an album by James Yorkston and the Athletes.Released in June 2002, Moving Up Country is the debut studio album by James Yorkston and the Athletes. The album was released on 12" vinyl and on CD. The album was produced by James Yorkston. Among the musicians are Fence Collective...
), which became Rough Trade Record Shops Album of the Year for 2002.
Yorkston also played at the inaugural Green Man Festival
Green Man Festival
The Green Man Festival is an independent music festival held annually in the Brecon Beacons, Wales. It has evolved from a one-day, 300 capacity event in 2003, to a three-day festival with live music including psych, folk, indie, dance and Americana across five stages, as well as DJs playing...
.
For Yorkston's second album, he asked Kieran Hebden (Four Tet) onboard as producer, and they made Just Beyond the River
Just Beyond the River
Just Beyond the River is an album by James Yorkston and the Athletes.Released in October 2004, Just Beyond the River is the second studio album by James Yorkston and the Athletes. The album was released on 12" vinyl and on CD, initial copies of the CD came with a 3-track CD of folk standards and...
. This album was extremely well received all round. Pete Paphides of The Times wrote, "Yorkston has reached a state of grace that writers can spend for ever trying to attain: songs that sound not so much written as carefully retrieved from your own subconscious, played with an intuition bordering on telepathy. What more could you ask for?" Yorkston's fan base continued to grow and he was offered tours with Beth Orton
Beth Orton
Beth Orton is a BRIT Award–winning English singer-songwriter, known for her 'folktronica' sound, which mixes elements of folk and electronica. She was initially recognised for her collaborations with William Orbit and the Chemical Brothers in the mid 1990s. However, these were not Orton's first...
, David Gray
David Gray (musician)
David Gray is an English singer-songwriter. He released his first studio album in 1993 and received worldwide attention after the release of White Ladder six years later...
, Tindersticks
Tindersticks
Tindersticks are an Indie rock band from Nottingham, England formed in 1991. They released six albums before singer Stuart A. Staples took on a solo career. The band reunited briefly in 2006, but more permanently the following year...
, Turin Brakes
Turin Brakes
Turin Brakes are a modern folk duo, comprising Olly Knights and Gale Paridjanian, hailing from Balham, London. They had a UK top 5 hit with their song "Painkiller ".-1999–2003:...
, Lambchop
Lambchop (band)
Lambchop, originally Posterchild, is a band from Nashville, Tennessee. Lambchop is loosely associated with the alternative country genre...
, Kathryn Williams
Kathryn Williams
Kathryn Williams is an English singer-songwriter.-Background:Williams was born in Liverpool, and now lives in Newcastle upon Tyne after earning an art degree in the city. Williams released her first album, Dog Leap Stairs on her own Caw Records label in 1999 with a budget of £80...
, as well as a slot on the prestigious Accelerator tour of Sweden.
The follow-up, The Year of the Leopard
The Year of the Leopard
The Year of the Leopard is an album by James Yorkston.Released on September 25, 2006 in the UK, The Year of the Leopard is the third studio album by Yorkston, though the first to be credited without his band The Athletes. The album was released on double 10" vinyl and on CD, initial copies of the...
was produced by Rustin Man, who had recently worked with Beth Gibbons
Beth Gibbons
Beth Gibbons is an English singer and songwriter best known as the vocalist and lyricist for the iconic British band Portishead.-Early life:...
(lead singer with the band Portishead) on their Out of Season record. While promoting this, Yorkston was given the chance to play with Bert Jansch once more, this time in Paris. Yorkston also invited Martin Carthy
Martin Carthy
Martin Carthy MBE is an English folk singer and guitarist who has remained one of the most influential figures in British traditional music, inspiring contemporaries such as Bob Dylan and Paul Simon and later artists such as Richard Thompson since he emerged as a young musician in the early days...
to play and share a stage with him at London's Union Chapel on 24 May 2007. In 2007, Domino Records released Roaring the Gospel, a collection of unreleased songs, which led NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
to say "Yorkston has talent as deep as a mine shaft".
Yorkston was invited to work as Musical Director with Oliver Knight and the Waterson Carthy clan for the BBC Electric Proms
BBC Electric Proms
The BBC Radio 2 Electric Proms was an October music festival in London run by the BBC for five years, 2006-2010...
tribute to Lal Waterson
Lal Waterson
Lal Waterson was an English folksinger and songwriter. She sang with, among others, The Watersons, The Waterdaughters and Blue Murder. She was born in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire and died suddenly in Robin Hood's Bay, of cancer diagnosed only ten days before...
. This was broadcast by the Mike Harding
Mike Harding
Mike Harding is an English singer, songwriter, comedian, author, poet and broadcaster. He is known as 'The Rochdale Cowboy' after one of his hit records...
show, as well as by BBC Three
BBC Three
BBC Three is a television network from the BBC broadcasting via digital cable, terrestrial, IPTV and satellite platforms. The channel's target audience includes those in the 16-34 year old age group, and has the purpose of providing "innovative" content to younger audiences, focusing on new talent...
. Alongside Waterson Carthy, the acts involved included Alasdair Roberts, Kathryn Williams
Kathryn Williams
Kathryn Williams is an English singer-songwriter.-Background:Williams was born in Liverpool, and now lives in Newcastle upon Tyne after earning an art degree in the city. Williams released her first album, Dog Leap Stairs on her own Caw Records label in 1999 with a budget of £80...
, and Lisa Knapp. Yorkston's involvement with the Fence Collective is also very much alive: he has toured extensively with King Creosote and contributes every year to the Fence Collective's legendary Homegames—mini-festivals featuring guest performances by artists such as The Concretes
The Concretes
The Concretes are a popular Swedish indie pop band from Stockholm, currently composed of eight members.-History:The Concretes began with Victoria Bergsman, Maria Eriksson, and Lisa Milberg. Since their formation in 1995, they have gradually acquired new members, growing into an eight piece band...
and Hot Chip
Hot Chip
Hot Chip are an English electronic indie band. They have released four studio albums—Coming on Strong, The Warning, Made in the Dark and One Life Stand.-Formation:...
. Yorkston also plays in the Fence Collective bands The 3 Craws, Pictish Trail, and U.N.P.O.C.
U.N.P.O.C. (musician)
U.N.P.O.C. is the name under which Tom Bauchop of the Fence Collective records. He has released two albums on Domino Records, Fifth Column and the limited edition Live at King Tut's....
.
His fifth album, When the Haar Rolls In
When the Haar Rolls in
When the Haar Rolls In is an album by James Yorkston.Due to be released on September 1, 2008 in the UK, When the Haar Rolls In is the fourth studio album by Yorkston...
, was released through Domino Records on 1 September 2008. Guests include Nancy Elizabeth Cunliffe, Norma Waterson
Norma Waterson
Norma Christine Waterson is an English musician, best known as one of the original members of The Watersons, a premier English traditional group. Other members of the group included her brother Mike Waterson and sister Lal Waterson, and in later incarnations of the group her husband Martin...
, and Mike Waterson
Mike Waterson
Michael Waterson was an English writer, songwriter and folk singer.Waterson was born in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. He is best known as a member of The Watersons, with his sisters Lal Waterson and Norma Waterson and his brother-in-law Martin Carthy...
. A special edition was released featuring an album of remixes and an album of James Yorkston covers by artists such as King Creosote, U.N.P.O.C., and Cathal Coughlan.
In August 2009, James released his sixth album on Domino Records, entitled Folk Songs. This is an album of traditional songs, arranged and performed by James Yorkston and The Big Eyes Family Players.
In March 2011 The Domino Press published James' debut book - It's Lovely to be Here: The Touring Diaries of a Scottish Gent.
Albums
- Moving Up CountryMoving Up CountryMoving Up Country is an album by James Yorkston and the Athletes.Released in June 2002, Moving Up Country is the debut studio album by James Yorkston and the Athletes. The album was released on 12" vinyl and on CD. The album was produced by James Yorkston. Among the musicians are Fence Collective...
- 20022002 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2002.-Events:*February 3 – U2 perform during the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXVI...
, Domino Records - Just Beyond the RiverJust Beyond the RiverJust Beyond the River is an album by James Yorkston and the Athletes.Released in October 2004, Just Beyond the River is the second studio album by James Yorkston and the Athletes. The album was released on 12" vinyl and on CD, initial copies of the CD came with a 3-track CD of folk standards and...
- 20042004 in musicSee also:* 2004 in music Record labels established in 2004-January:*January 1**The Vienna New Year's Concert is conducted by Riccardo Muti.**Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol....
, Domino Records – UKUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
#155 - The Year of the LeopardThe Year of the LeopardThe Year of the Leopard is an album by James Yorkston.Released on September 25, 2006 in the UK, The Year of the Leopard is the third studio album by Yorkston, though the first to be credited without his band The Athletes. The album was released on double 10" vinyl and on CD, initial copies of the...
- 20062006 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2006.-January:*January 10 – Eric Burdon releases his album Soul of a Man and begins touring with a new band....
, Domino Records - Live at Le Poisson Mouillé - 20062006 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2006.-January:*January 10 – Eric Burdon releases his album Soul of a Man and begins touring with a new band....
, Self released, concert only release. - Roaring the Gospel - 20072007 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2007.-January:*January 1 - George Shearing is knighted for services to music in the Queen's New Year Honours List. Evelyn Glennie becomes a Dame...
, Domino Records compilation of B-sides, etc. - Lang Cat, Crooked Cat, Spider Cat - 20072005 in music-Events:*During the year 2005, 12 rock music albums scored number 1 in the USA. This was the first time even ten albums have scored number 1 since 1996.-January:...
, Instrumental release for Fence Records. - 30 - 20042004 in musicSee also:* 2004 in music Record labels established in 2004-January:*January 1**The Vienna New Year's Concert is conducted by Riccardo Muti.**Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol....
, Fence Records release - one 30 minute track - When the Haar Rolls InWhen the Haar Rolls inWhen the Haar Rolls In is an album by James Yorkston.Due to be released on September 1, 2008 in the UK, When the Haar Rolls In is the fourth studio album by Yorkston...
- 20082008 in music2008 was a huge year in music history with the emergence of pop superstars Lady Gaga and Katy Perry into the mainstream. Also, this is the year that is widely agreed upon by critics as the start of the fall of hip hop from the mainstream and the rise of Synthpop into the mainstream due to acts such...
, Domino Records – UKUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
#178 - Folk Songs - 20092009 in musicThe following is a list of notable events and releases in 2009 in music. Susan Boyle's album I Dreamed a Dream became the biggest selling album in the world for 2009, selling 8.3 million copies in five weeks; more than any other artist's in the whole year...
, Domino Records, Traditionals.
Singles
- "Shipwreckers" (Domino) 14 February 2005 - UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#88 - "Surf Song" (Domino) 5 June 2005: UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
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