** PLEASE NOTE: This show will take place at our alternative home for the evening: THE WATER RATS, 328 Grays Inn Road, Kings Cross, WC1X 8BZ. Doors open 7.30pm. Music starts 8.15pm. **
A rock & roll lifer, JAMES MADDOCK has been carving his unique path since the 1980s, when the New York City based, British-born singer/songwriter kicked off his career with a raw, soulful voice; a storyteller’s sense of narrative; and the ability to blur the lines between folk, classic pop, and rock.
Since his early days in London, he’s ridden the wave of a music industry that’s ebbed, flowed, peaked, and crashed. Maddock has stayed afloat throughout the entire ride, enjoying a brush with commercial success during the late 1990s – including a major-label record deal, a Top 5 AAA radio hit, and a song placements on major TV Series – before transforming himself into an independent solo artist during the decades that followed.
After fronting the Columbia Records band Wood, whose debut Songs From Stamford Hill was featured prominently on TV shows such as “Dawson’s Creek,” Maddock moved from England to New York City in 2003. His 2009 album Sunrise On Avenue C won a New York Music Award for Best Americana Album, while the follow-up Wake Up And Dream ranked among the top albums of 2011 in WFUV’s (NYC) Listener Poll. With the release of Another Life (2013) and a 5 further albums over the following 7 years, two of them created over the Corona Virus pandemic – No time to Cry (2020) and Little Bird in the Neighbourhood (2021) – which garnered critical acclaim and extensive radio play.
His latest release in 2023 ‘Night Work’ is a beautiful collection of songs reminiscent of The Eagles and Credence Clearwater Revival – no imitation, simply landing effortlessly in the space between. Recorded with close musical friends including Steve Jackson (drums) and James O’Malley (bass) from his days in the band Wood. As well as Aaron Comess, Drew Mortali, Ben Stivers, Brian Mitchell, James Hallawell and Jack Daley. Mixed by the great Dave O’Donnell (Keith Richards, James Taylor, John Mayer). Amongst the first reviews, Dan French from ‘Point Blank’ wrote – ‘James’s remarkable talent for capturing the kaleidoscope of life in superbly crafted, heartfelt songs – ranging in mood from poignant heartbreak to upbeat joy, with the promise to nourish your spirit’. James Maddock continues to demonstrate why many consider him to be one of the best singer/songwriters working today.
He has performed regularly with Willie Nile, Aaron Comess (Spin Doctors), David Immergluck (Counting Crows), Brian Mitchell (Levon Helm Band) and SNL drummer Shawn Pelton and has shared the stage with many well known artists such as Bruce Springsteen, The Waterboys, Pete Seeger, Levon Helm and many others. According to radio legend Vin Scelsa, Maddock’s “heartbreakingly beautiful and exquisitely crafted” music “touches the soul.” Relix Magazine put it this way: “James Maddock possesses the kind of lived-in craggy voice that would sound authoritative if he were singing the sports pages. Fortunately, he doesn’t need to do that because his compositional skills are a match for his delivery.” Stuart McLachlan from LouderThanWar.com wrote that James has ‘the ability to stun a crowded room into awe with just himself and a guitar’ and that ‘all his songs share a haunting guitar backdrop, and his voice is a marvel, torn and battered by life but infinitely resilient.’
As a songwriter, James had three songs co-written with Mike Scott on the Waterboys album Modern Blues (which appeared in the Top 50 on the UK Albums Chart) and a co-write with Gary Barlow (“Actress”) on Barlow’s album (2X Platinum). Songs from Another Life have been featured on NBC’s Parenthood and ABC Family’s Switched at Birth. Maddock is a constant live presence in the U.S. and Europe.
Maddock’s “heartbreakingly beautiful and exquisitely crafted music touches the soul.” US Radio legend Vin Scelsa.
James Maddock has “the ability to stun a crowded room into awe with just himself and a guitar”, “all his songs share a haunting guitar backdrop, and his voice is a marvel, torn and battered by life but infinitely resilient” – Stuart McLachlan from LouderThanWar
