About

Aged whiskey and tobacco stained with knocks and scratches that tell you they’ve seen a lot of life on the road ...

James Slater is a singer/songwriter living in the west country, his influences however are the other west! over the water in the US. James likes to sing Americana, the musical ethos of the United States, blending folk, country, blues, rhythm and blues, rock and roll, gospel, and other external influences. It is in these American musical roots that James is at home, singing and writing in this style. James was a member of the popular band Appalachia, who toured and recorded in the UK, offering up their own take on American roots music, combining blues, bluegrass, jazz and unique originals. James went on to form the Anglo American band Iron & Oak with Sarana VerLin & Heather Bristow from America. Their style is a fusion of Contemporary Folk, Alt-Country, Swampy Blues and Red Dirt music, blending roots influences from both sides of the ocean. Iron & Oak continue to record and tour in the UK and regularly perform all over the country. James also regularly performs as a solo artist as well as collaborating with other musicians. 2018 saw the long waited release of his album ‘Bitter Truths’ a collection of crafted songs which reflect his love of Americana. One could describe James much like his favourite guitar… aged whiskey and tobacco stained with knocks and scratches that tell you they’ve seen a lot of life on the road. Recently featured in Acoustic Guitar magazine, James has performed in clubs and venues across the UK, Europe and USA. His songwriting blends folk, blues, & Americana while conveying his own unique take on life using his trademark fingerpicking style and utilizing alternate tunings.