Marcus James

I’ve been into singing as long as i can remember. I got my first break backing Clem Curtis (of Foundations fame) on a weekly basis at a winebar I worked at as a teenager, and even got to sing with Clem with his full band. I was asked by a punter to join a rock band, ‘Blunderherd’, and from then on went to form a couple of cover bands, ‘Alabama’, and the ‘Purple Hearts’.

In 1996 I went to Australia, taking a guitar to learn, and by the time i came back i had written about 10-15 songs and got used to playing with allsorts of musicians. I picked up the piano when I got back, formed a new band writing original material called ‘Moon Street’.

After a while I got into music college at Huddersfield, and formed the most eclectic and experimental band I’d been in, Wyle E. Peyote. This was a really creative period for me, and a came just before the dullest, most creatively stiffling atmosphere I’ve faced to date, which was my music degree course at U.C.Lan.

I did however get more into the electronica side of music here, forming the nucleus of ‘Rainbow Culture’. This has changed shape somewhat now and is more of a promotional tool than an act (see www.rainbowculture.com), hosting events showcasing the best in new talent.

I’ve been playing at the open mic surgery for a couple of years now, which has been an enriching experience, largley due to the copious amount of raw talent willing to collaborate. I recently began to catalogue my songs and have so far clocked about sixty-five. I’m trying to play these with different outfits, depending on the style.

I’m currently playing in what could be called a supergroup, ‘The Tropes’, with Josh Phillips, Mick West and John Grimshaw. I’m also collaborating with a couple of other acoustic outfits, one with Rob Armstong and Dan Baldry, and another with Andy Weatherhead, and his pals Steve and Rod. Visit my website to keep up to date with all my news, download some of my tunes, and more.

Links

Rainbow Culture
My page on Rainbow Culture
The Tropes website