Press Reviews

"The Reckoning"
• "Thoughtful and cultured, The Reckoning is a formidable achievement. Tams, singing strongly and with heart, has come up with another few treasures. Perhaps the outstanding track is his spellbinding intepretation of Bitter Withy. Each of these songs seems a richer experience on closer acquaintance, until the album becomes a friend." Daily Telegraph
• "There’s a fine sense of narrative in his thoughtful, sensitive singing. The Reckoning, his third solo album, is his boldest yet, mixing traditional themes with new lyrics and subtle backings. There are some fine songs here, from the sturdy Amelia to the unexpected and gently hypnotic story of Bitter Withy." The Guardian
• "Heart-piercing original songs and re-workings of traditional classics [Bitter Withy is worth the price of the album alone] make yet another landmark album from one of Britain’s finest songwriters." BBC Radio2. Folk & Acoustic website
• "Modernity, sensitivity and serene passion – political yet refreshingly tender" Uncut
• "John Tams remains one of this country’s finest multi-talents. Slow fuse passions." Record Collector
• "A masterly CD" Netrhythms
• "(John Tams) is somebody who knows what to do with his voice and he is a magnificent vocalist. Tam’s intelligence, wit, performance skills and singularity shine." English Dance and Song
• "The songs he’s written for this album are his sharpest yet, and his performance of traditional material melds alongside seamlessly. To cut to the chase, he’s come up with a winner here, possibly the best album of his career." Sing Out


"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. Yet, "Unity", released by Topic Records on 25th April 2000, was his first solo album. "Unity" was the culmination of many years of writing, during which time the social and political landscape of Britain had 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.