James Yorkston: Biography

• Overview
• Discography
• Biography
• Related Artists

• Elvis Perkins
• Alasdair Roberts
• Damien Rice
• Wooden Wand
• Vetiver
• King Creosote
• Lone Pigeon

• Fairport Convention
• Anne Briggs
• Nick Drake
• D'Gary
• Michael Hurley
• The Kinks
• Lal Waterson

Genres:

Folk & Roots Music, Rock Music

Decades Active:

2000's

James Yorkston was born in Kingsbarns, a small village in Fife, Scotland. At the age of eight, Yorkston started playing music and fell in love with the craft. At the age of 17, he moved from Fife to the larger city of Edinburgh with his girlfriend. It was also at the same time that he became involved with a garage rock and punk band called Huckleberry, with Yorkston being the group's bass player. In 1996, he performed his first acoustic show after a friend working in a record shop named Yorkston as an opening act for Bert Jansch in Edinburgh. The acoustic and punk rock genres were something the musician loved equally, but chose the acoustic folk route. In 2000, under the name J. Wright Presents, Yorkston recorded a demo tape at home, sending it to John Peel. Peel, who is a famous radio show host in Britain, played the song on his program immediately. Yorkston also sent a tape to John Martyn requesting an opening slot on Martyn's Edinburgh show. Martyn invited Yorkston to be his opening act on his entire 30-date tour. The single Moving Up Country, was released as a single in October, 2000 on Bad Jazz Records. In January 2001, the song was released as a 7" single. Exactly a year later, Yorkston released a split single with Lone Pigeon. In May 2002, Yorkston and his supporting cast The Athletes released an EP called St. Patrick. In June 2002, Yorkston released his debut album Moving Up Country. Yorkston cites Anna Briggs and Nick Drake as musical influences. He also has opened for Lambchop, Turin Brakes, The Divine Comedy and Gemma Hayes.

- Jason MacNeil, All Music Guide