James Hickman

James Hickman grew up in Shropshire and began playing the guitar and singing at an early age. Showing an obvious talent for music it was no surprise when he gained a place at Kidderminster college to study the subject. During his time at the college, James was asked to audition for successful Irish rock band Canvas, and subsequently toured with the group all over Ireland, taking in gigs in Dublin, Cork and Limerick amongst others.

During his time in Ireland, James began to experiment with other styles, including jazz, blues and traditional folk music. He then formed a Celtic music trio which toured extensively in Ireland, performing at many festivals and folk clubs.
After his time in Ireland, James was approached by Dan Cassidy, fiddler extraordinaire and brother of the late Eva Cassidy, to join his jazz swing trio based in Iceland. Playing at some of the country's top venues, James rapidly made a name for himself amongst the jazz and swing communities, and under the expert tutelage of Dan, he became a much admired and in demand musician.

On his return to England, James hooked up with guitarist and singer Chris Quinn, and the two formed well-known Shrewsbury based duo The Badgers. The pair have performed their unique blend of gypsy jazz fused with blues, folk and bluegrass all over the UK, Europe and the US to great applause, and are currently recording their debut album. As part of The Badgers, James has supported Jools Holland on several gigs, and took part in the Marshall Roadshow, where the duo were asked to demonstrate acoustic amps to the public. They have also performed at several festivals, including Shrewsbury Folk Festival where they stormed the stage with an unforgettable gig in 2006.

His silky James Taylor-esque voice and versatile guitar playing make Mr. Hickman one attractive prospect for any band, and his dark gypsy looks certainly don't go unnoticed either! Now a full time member of Uiscedwr, James is looking forward to widening his profile within the UK folk scene, and is set to do just that as he hits the road with the award winning trio in 2008.

Booking enquiries:
Iconic Music
Tel: +44(0) 1926 632 946
Email: info@iconicmusic.com

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