James Blackshaw is a British guitarist and pianist from London, born in 1981, and based in Hastings, Sussex. He works mainly with solo 12-string guitar, nylon-string classical guitar and piano, and is known for instrumental pieces built from fingerpicking, drones, overtones and repeating patterns.

Style and influences

Blackshaw’s music is strongly shaped by the 1960s Takoma school of guitarists, minimalist composition and European classical music. His work combines a clear emphasis on melody with extended instrumental structures, and appears across solo recordings, EPs, live releases and compilation appearances. He has issued recordings since 2003.

Recordings and releases

His solo discography includes a range of studio albums, EPs and live recordings. Important Records releases Love Is the Plan, The Plan Is Death, his ninth studio album, on CD and LP in 2012. He also releases music on the Young God label, which issues two albums in 2009 and 2010.

Collaborations and associated acts

Blackshaw performs and records with Current 93, and with Jozef van Wissem in Brethren of the Free Spirit. He has also toured and played shows with Swans, Grails, Meg Baird of Espers, Mountains, Glenn Jones, Sir Richard Bishop, José González, Peter Walker, Alex de Grassi, Lubomyr Melnyk and Hauschka. Michael Gira of Swans signs him to Young God.

Performances and recognition

He tours extensively in the United States, Europe and Japan, and performs at venues and institutions including the ICA, the Barbican and Merkin Hall in New York as part of the New York Guitar Festival. Matt Groening invites him to perform at All Tomorrow’s Parties 2010. His music features on National Public Radio in the United States, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 4, and is used on television and in the feature film Sebbe.

Critical reception

Blackshaw receives praise and appears on Best of Year lists from publications including Pitchfork, Billboard, The Wire, The Observer, The Times, Uncut, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, The Onion, Magnet and Acoustic Guitar Magazine.