A rock & roll lifer, James Maddock has been carving his unique path since the 1980s, when the New York City based, British-born singer/songwriter kicked off his career with a raw, soulful voice; a storyteller's sense of narrative; and the ability to blur the lines between folk, classic pop, and rock.

Since his early days in London, he's ridden the wave of a music industry that's ebbed, flowed, peaked, and crashed. Maddock has stayed afloat throughout the entire ride, enjoying a brush with commercial success during the late 1990s - including a major-label record deal and a Top 5 AAA radio hit. He fronted the Columbia Records band Wood, whose debut album Songs From Stamford Hill  featured the hit single ‘Stay You’ which was recognised as BBC Radio 2’s Record of the Week. It also attracted the attention of Bruce Springsteen who expressed his appreciation for the music in a personal letter to James

Maddock relocated from England to New York City in 2003. His album "Sunrise On Avenue C" received the New York Music Award for Best Americana Album in 2009, and over the next twelve years he produced eight more albums spanning styles from live band recordings and energetic rock 'n' roll to introspective singer-songwriter work. In 2025, he recorded a solo acoustic album, "Live at Masterdisk," with Scott Hull at Masterdisk studios. These albums not only earned widespread critical acclaim and significant radio airplay but also ranked among WFUV NYC listeners' top picks. James’s newest album ‘Forever June’ is due for release early in 2026 with the first single ‘Wish You Were Here‘ released in November 2025 and the second ‘Take My Side’ in December 2025.

James has performed regularly with Willie Nile, Aaron Comess (Spin Doctors), David Immergluck (Counting Crows), Brian Mitchell (Levon Helm Band) and SNL drummer Shawn Pelton and has shared the stage with many well-known artists such as Bruce Springsteen, The Waterboys, Pete Seeger, Levon Helm and many others.

As a songwriter, James had three songs co-written with Mike Scott on the Waterboys album Modern Blues (which appeared in the Top 50 on the UK Albums Chart) and a co-write with Gary Barlow (“Actress”) on Barlow’s album (2X Platinum). Many of Jame’s songs have been featured on TV series such as Dawsons Creek, NBC’s Parenthood, ABC Family’s Switched at Birth and FX’s Louie amongst others.

After opening for Counting Crows in the US in 2024, Maddock was invited to join them again on an exhilarating 25 show, six-week European tour, joined on stage by David Immergluck (Counting Crows) as the duo ‘Jimmy and Immy’. Enthusiastically received by audiences throughout the tour, this has further cemented Maddock’s reputation as a dynamic and highly regarded live performer.

Maddock continues to be a constant live presence in the U.S. and Europe.

Reviews & Quotes

“James has the ability to stun a crowded room into awe with just himself and a guitar -all his songs share a haunting guitar backdrop, and his voice is a marvel, torn and battered by life but infinitely resilient.” -LouderThanWar.com 

“James’s remarkable talent for capturing the kaleidoscope of life in superbly crafted, heartfelt songs - ranging in mood from poignant heartbreak to upbeat joy, with the promise to nourish your spirit’.  James Maddock continues to demonstrate why many consider him to be one of the best singer/songwriters working today.”  - Dan French-Point Blank 

“Maddock's heartbreakingly beautiful and exquisitely crafted music touches the soul." – Radio Legend Vin Scelsa,

“James Maddock possesses the kind of lived-in craggy voice that would sound authoritative if he were singing the sports pages. Fortunately, he doesn't need to do that because his compositional skills are a match for his delivery."   - Stuart McLachlan Relix Magazine