James Walbourne

James Walbourne is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter from Muswell Hill in north London, born in 1980. His work draws on American roots music and he builds a career both as a solo artist and as a session and touring musician with a wide range of acts.

Early work and collaborations

By 1999, Walbourne is playing with former Long Ryders leader Sid Griffin in Griffin’s UK-based group the Coal Porters. His recording debut follows in 2000 with the British alt-country act the Peter Bruntnell Combination on the album Normal for Bridgwater, and he continues to record and tour with that group through 2003. As his reputation grows, he becomes an in-demand sideman and records with Dust, Death in Vegas and the Arlenes.

Walbourne meets Joe Pernice in 1998 while both are on a troubled multi-artist tour of Holland, and the two later become friends. In 2003, Walbourne joins the Pernice Brothers in time to tour in support of Yours, Mine & Ours. That same year he is also recruited by Jay Farrar, the former Uncle Tupelo and Son Volt founder, to play guitar on a series of solo shows.

Son Volt, the Pretenders and session work

When Farrar relaunches Son Volt in 2005, Walbourne sits in for live dates and then temporarily replaces Brad Rice in 2007 before becoming a full member of the band in 2009. Away from Son Volt and the Pernice Brothers, he keeps a busy schedule, touring with the Pogues and Bap Kennedy and doing session work with Jerry Lee Lewis, Linda Thompson and Edwyn Collins.

He also joins the Pretenders as lead guitarist, appearing on their 2008 album Break Up the Concrete and on the following concert tour. Biographical descriptions of his playing compare his guitar style to James Burton, Peter Green and Richard Thompson.

Solo work and Royal Gun

In 2005, Walbourne forms Royal Gun with his brother, multi-instrumentalist Ron Walbourne. The group is short-lived and breaks up after brief tours in the United States and England. Walbourne then begins work on his first solo album in 2010. The Hill, named for Muswell Hill, is released on Heavenly Records in 2011 and features drummer Jim Keltner and Ivan Neville on keyboards.