Laura Marling described The James Riley Band as “Awesome… like The Allman Brothers meets the Seeger Sessions”…great words of praise indeed and his debut EP ‘Lay Me Down’ which is due for release on 28th April lives up to that image. You can watch the offical video for the title track below. There is a lovely joyfulness to their music which is really evident on ‘Lay Me Down’, it hooked us on first listen…from the harmonies to the guitar work there’s nothing to not like! They blend a whole fusion of sounds from folk to a classic soul that can be heard on the likes of ‘Even Love’.
There’s no denying that The James Riley Band are something very special, it comes as no surprise after hearing this EP that they won The Mayor of London: Gigs Competition 2012 after seeing off competition from 500+ other acts. They are going places for sure…one to watch for 2013!
The band formed in late 2011 after James returned to London from hitchhiking and busking his way to Istanbul, armed with a handful of new songs and stories. A mid-‐Atlantic by birth and a roadrunner by nature, James has also gigged extensively in America, supporting blues legend Buddy Guy in Chicago and gaining nationwide FM radio exposure on West Coast Live.
They have their EP Launch Party on 23rd April, 8pm at The Bedroom Bar in Shoreditch: Details.
