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 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 5 more albums over the following 7 years, two of them created over the coronavirus pandemic - No time to Cry (2020) and Little Bird in the Neighbourhood (2021) - Maddock garnered critical acclaim and extensive radio play. Songs from Another Life have been featured on NBC’s “Parenthood” and ABC Family’s “Switched at Birth.”
His latest release is 2023’s Night Work, a beautiful collection of songs reminiscent of The Eagles and Creedence Clearwater Revival - no imitation, simply landing effortlessly in the space between. Night Work was 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, Jack Daley, Heather Hardy and Olivier Durand. The album was mixed by the great Dave O’Donnell (Keith Richards, James Taylor, John Mayer). Amongst the first reviews, Dan French from Point Blank wrote – “James’ 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.
Maddock is a constant live presence in the U.S. and Europe. 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.”
Tickets are $35 in advance, $40 day of show
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