His contribution to the idiom is unique. John Tams' ongoing projects do much to illuminate an increasingly vibrant tradition. Without his endeavours, the light of political song would not burn nearly so bright.

JOHN TAMS THE RECKONING TSCD551
John Tams is one of our finest musicians and singers and one of our greatest songwriters. He can sing traditional material wonderfully and, at the same time, has written some of our best songs ever. Harry Stone, otherwise known as Hearts of Coal, and the beautiful Hugh Stenson and Molly Green are just two of his songs that have entered the canon in the last few years.

On this album, John deals the tradition – reworking several classic songs - and then adds his own unmistakable originals to produce a landmark new album.

• “The new album, The Reckoning, is absolutely superb – one of the main folk happenings of the year." Mike Harding BBC Radio 2

• “An absolutely fantastic album - I love Amelia, love Safe House, love it all and the Bitter Withy is out of this world." Linda Thompson

• “The Reckoning is a beautifully composed CD - masculine yet tender, full of integrity -so beautifully expressing things that should be said and felt. As for the Bitter Withy - it's just wonderful - hypnotic and moving forward in a quite extraordinary way so steady - so compelling." Shirley Collins

John Tams vocals, acoustic guitar, button accordion, bass guitar, 5 string banjo
Barry Coope vocals, keyboards, harmonium, percussion, drums
Graeme Taylor electric guitar, acoustic guitar, 5 string banjo, dobro, ukelele
Keith Angel drums, percussion
Andy Seward string bass, bouzouki, 5 string banjo
Steve Dawson trumpet, cornet, flugel horn
Roger Wilson acoustic guitar, fiddles

JOHN TAMS HOME TSCD533
"Home", the follow up to the award winning "Unity", reasserts the claim that there is no greater writer of English songs on the current folk scene. John Tams' writing and performance grow with each new project and he and the band assembled for the previous album are now a fully integrated unit producing a new contender for "album of the year".

John Tams acoustic & electric guitar, keyboard, melodeon, vocal
Graeme Taylor acoustic & electric guitar, mandolin, lap steel
Barry Coope keyboards, string synth, crematorium organ, harmonium, vocal
Andy Seward electric bass
Alan Dunn hammond organ, piano accordion, keyboards, whistle, anglo concertina
Keith Angel drums, marimba, mbira, surdo, congas, djembi, tambourine, percussion
Rosie Tams backing vocals

JOHN TAMS UNITY TSCD508
The John Tams Band evolved through the recording of his latest album, Unity. Collaboration has always been central to his work and although a solo record, this release is no exception. Keith Angel, Andy Seward and Barry Coope,(of Coope, Boyes and Simpson) were joined by former Albion Band comrade Graeme Taylor and Alan Dunn from the Bob Geldof Band.
The legendary Linda Thompson also makes a rare appearance, on an album that may yet prove to be the pinnacle of this anthemic and commanding style of folk music.

"(Unity is) one of the very finest records of the last century. A timeless expression of stories, people and deep emotion...songs of rare quality performed exquisitely." fROOTS

John Tams electric guitar, vocal
Graeme Taylor lead guitar
Barry Coope keyboards, vocal
Andy Seward electric bass
Alan Dunn accordion, keyboards, whistle
Keith Angel drums
Linda Thompson vocal

Awarded the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Best Album & Best Song ("Harry Stone")

Press Reviews

"Home"
• " already being tipped as the folk album of the year ……. A cohesive collection of great songs beautifully crafted and performed, "Home" cuts across the musical divides to appeal to anyone with an ear for good music. Tams is a lyricist of the highest order – songs that stand shoulder to shoulder with those of contemporaries Ray Davies and Richard Thompson" Derbyshire Times
• "Understated drama...... sensitive arrangements - quality stuff" fROOTS
• "the arresting follow up to UNITY, one of the best UK folk albums of the last decade" MOJO
• "It's a natural progression and a more than worthy follow-up to 'Unity' and it's stating the obvious to say that anyone who enjoyed Tams' first album will love this." NetRhythms
• "John Tams may be the best songwriter you have never heard of." The Times
• "Tams’ writing remains his greatest strength" Q Magazine
• "Full of thoughtful, beautifully constructed songs, 'Home' is lovely listening and John’s distinctive voice is sounding great." Evening Mail
"Tams knows how to arrange and deliver a song like few others – a very rich and engaging album" HMV Choice
"Top 10 best Folk album of the year" Mojo
"Home consolidates Tams’ reputation as one of our greatest living songwriters" Living Tradition

"Unity"
• "(Unity is) one of the very finest records of the last century. A timeless expression of stories, people and deep emotion...songs of rare quality performed exquisitely." fROOTS
• "Unity resonates with wondrous melodies, luminous lyricism and fine ensemble playing that recalls The Band circa The Last Waltz. Unity is a remarkable achievement, one that confirms Tams' place in the pantheon of great English singer-songwriters." Rock'n'Reel
• "Few albums this year, in any genre, will carry such emotional resonance as this" Mojo
• "…almost every track could be a contender for Song of the Year, performed and arranged with unfailing taste and integrity. That in itself is so refreshing it nearly takes your head off" fROOTS
• "Roots album if the Year" What’s On In London
• "A stunning follow-up album to his award winning 'Unity'" BBC Radio 3 Late Junction

'One of the unsung gods of folk' - Mojo
John Tams is one of the quiet heroes of the British Folk Music revolution. He has become a leading figure in traditional and original music after a career spanning four decades. And yet, UNITY, released by Topic Records on 25th April 2000, is his first solo album. UNITY is the culmination of many years of writing, during which time the social and political landscape of Britain has changed, not least in the North where he grew up.

John Tams was born in a pub in the North of England where music was part of everyday life. His Yorkshire grandfather was a brass band conductor and his Derbyshire grandfather played the concertina. With a childhood so immersed in popular culture his future was perhaps inevitable.

By the late seventies John Tams was working with Ashley Hutching's Albion Band. "Rise Up Like The Sun" (Harvest LP)(1978) was co-produced by Joe Boyd, the man who discovered Nick Drake. On its release it was greeted as a fiery and crucial piece of British folk-laced rock that entirely captured the essence of the times.

Almost ten years later, with a change of personnel and his own band Home Service, John did it all again. He produced "Alright Jack" (Fledg'ling), another key album in the canon of essential British folk music, which consists of a seamless blend of rhythms and a powerful brass section along with social and political lyrics - all qualities which marked it out from the crowd.

Borne out of John's commitment to political song was the record label No Masters Co-operative, which was formed in the early nineties with Jim Boyes. Along with the unique song-writing talents of artists like Lal Waterson, the co-op aimed to provide support and protection to song-makers from the North. No Masters released a consistent number of widely acclaimed albums during its first decade.

In addition to musical projects, John has worked extensively in theatre, film and television. He played Daniel Hagman in ITV's Sharpe series with Sean Bean. He also co-wrote the music and produced the album that accompanied the series. He was associate director of The Crucible Theatre in Sheffield and is a regular producer for Radio 4's drama output. John was most recently reunited with the Royal National Theatre for the award-winning Mysteries.