James Price: The Grit and Soul of Modern Blues-Rock

James Price is a British blues-rock guitarist and singer-songwriter known for his fiery guitar work and raw, soul-infused vocals. Hailing from Manchester, England, he achieved mainstream recognition with his second studio album, Crossroad Heart, which debuted in the UK Albums Chart Top 20 and earned a silver certification for over 60,000 copies sold.

Early career

Born in 1985, Price began playing guitar at age 14, deeply influenced by the blues records in his father's collection. He cut his teeth performing in pubs and clubs across Northern England before self-releasing his debut EP, The Backstreet Sessions, in 2008, which caught the attention of independent label Riverside Records.

Breakthrough

Price's major breakthrough arrived in 2014 with the release of his sophomore album, Crossroad Heart, on Riverside Records. The album's lead single, Midnight Oil, became a staple on rock radio, propelling the album to number 18 on the UK chart and securing its silver status.

Key tracks

Midnight Oil — This driving rock anthem served as the breakthrough single that introduced Price's sound to a national audience.

Whiskey and Rain — A slow-burning blues ballad that showcases Price's emotive vocal delivery and nuanced guitar phrasing.

Steel River — A high-energy track featuring a memorable guest slide guitar solo from veteran bluesman Walter "Big Train" Jefferson.

Crossroad Heart — The album's title track is a fan-favorite epic that builds from an acoustic intro to a soaring guitar solo finale.

Following this success, Price toured extensively throughout Europe and released his third album, Iron North, in 2018. This period saw him collaborate with producer Sylvia Crane and contribute guitar to tracks for fellow UK artist Anya Valdez. His most recent work, 2022's The Distance Between, marked a slight shift towards a more atmospheric, roots-oriented sound while maintaining his core blues-rock identity.

For fans of James Price's brand of passionate blues-rock, similar artists featured on our site include Joanne Shaw Taylor, another formidable British guitarist blending blues with rock intensity. King King shares Price's commitment to soulful vocals and extended, melodic guitar work within a modern blues context. The rock-solid grooves and guitar focus of The Bad Flowers also resonate with Price's harder-edged material.

James Price's music maintains a strong presence on radio, particularly on classic rock FM stations and dedicated blues-rock programs. His tracks are regularly featured on independent music radio stations and online rock radio streams that champion guitar-driven music with authentic roots.

Listeners can discover the powerful blues-rock of James Price by tuning into the radio stations featured on onairium.com, where his hits and deep cuts are played regularly for a global audience of rock and blues enthusiasts.