James Birt is a session drummer from the South of England.
His career launched fully in 2006. This was a very exciting year for James as he won the UK National Young Drummer of the Year award, sponsored by MikeDolbear.com. This came to him as a complete shock and opened up many doors for him to explore.
During the year (2006), he was lucky enough to open Europe’s biggest drum show, Drummer Live at the Excel Centre, UK National Drum Fair, tour with Billy Ward and his hero Gregg Bissonette, as well as doing one off clinics with Steve White, Thomas Lang, Craig Blundell, Jerry Brown, Carl Palmer, Steve Timms, Cherisse Osei. He was featured on X-Change for the BBC, countless interviews on TV, radio, press and magazines, including the front cover of DRUMMER magazine which also was a complete honour for him.
From 2006 onwards James has been working his backside off trying to get gigs, sessions and lots of different recording and live work. He has worked with people such as Cheseney Hawkes, Steve Rushton (Son of Dork), Ray Dorset (Mungo Jerry), Steve Hampton (The Vapours), and Adam Norsworthy (The Mustangs).
James has recorded on songs for Steve Rushton, Phantom of the Opera on Ice, Portsmouth FC Offical FA Cup Anthem, Wave 105 official World Cup anthem, Potential Maltese Eurovision Song Contest entry and recently recording on brand new Country Pop artist, Natalie Hall’s single, ‘Say’ with talks about doing her album too! James performed at Clive Aid, Oldham, (drum show in remembrance of Clive Burr), featured in a video for Jobecky Electric Drums, and played at the grand opening of the shop and the Fill your Head with Rock International, Wolverhampton (ft. Pete Boot).
As well as all that, James teaches at a local college and secondary school.
James is endorsed by Mapex Drums, Paiste Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks, Remo Heads, Protection Racket Soft Cases, Hardcase, Bigfoot, DfD, Quick Stick, Baskey all of which, he says, look after him very well and he’s very grateful!
Here is a list of artists James has been lucky enough to work with:
Steve Rushton
Brad Kavanagh
Marli Harwood
Chesney Hawkes
Modern Romance
Blaze
Greg Pritchard
Natalie Hall
The Vision
Steve Hampton
Mungo Jerry
Ray Dorset
Manhattan Ghost Stories
Burr Shaw
The Bizets
Richard Dyer
Matt Blackwell
Haunted Stereo
Mucky Fingers
Andy Muscat
The Jellyroll Men
The Alan Titchmarsh Project
The Mustangs
Pinstripe Legacy
The Hype
Mozydare
Trinity
Forever Blue
Left Hand Band
The Magic Tones
Saturday Night Beaver
Skool Daze
Simply 80’s
The Playlist
The Modern Fix
Groove-alution
Natural Blondie
The Live Karaoke Band
Rockeoke Me!
The 68 Special
See You Next Wednesday
One Weird Fish
James has played drums for the following list of musicals:
HONK!
Little Shop of Horrors
Fame
Grease
Return to the Forbidden Planet
Bugsy Malone
Blood Brothers
Roverang
The Likes of Us
The Blues Brothers
Les Miserables
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For any more information or to contact me please send an email to:
james.birt1@ntlworld.com
