James G. Wilson

James began playing guitar at the age of thirteen, originally inspired by both his father’s love of Irish folk and rebel songs. At the age of twenty, James was contacted by an American producer named Emit Bloch after he saw him at a rave in the woods and “liked his style”. Bloch was putting together a music project called Monsta (2) with his wife, photographer and former Haysi Fantayzee member, Kate Garner. After astounding them both with his dextrous guitar playing, James decided to leave university to embark on his musical adventure. The next few years were spent primarily in London, writing, recording and gigging, with the band releasing a single through One-Little-Indian. After the eventual dissolution of Monsta (2), James moved back to the Northwest of England and continued to gig as a solo instrumental artist. It was during this time the group Victorian Dad was formed with fellow musicians David Rybka (Skinny Dog) and John Fairhurst (Debt Records/Humble-Soul). After several line up changes, the group are now gigging and recording almost none stop and have a much anticipated album in the pipeline to be released through Skinny-Dog-Records, the label set up by various members of Elbow and I Am Kloot. As a solo artist, James has played extensively throughout the United Kingdom, and through the help and support of writer, producer and organic agricultor Jon Bonfiglio, was also a regular fixture at Kuiperfest, an eco-arts festival set in the foothills of the Mattaraña, north Spain. James continues to gig as a solo instrumentalist, astounding people with his exciting fusion of blues, classical, folk and percussion.