Download FULL BIOG - John McCusker

John McCusker - Biog
“One of the UK’s most gifted and versatile musicians in any
genre, John McCusker is equally in demand as a multiinstrumentalist, producer and composer”. The Guardian
Born in Bellshill, near Glasgow, John began playing whistle & fiddle
as a child, and joined the legendary folk outfit Battlefield Band aged
17. During his 11 years with the band, John also released his first
two solo recordings, 1995’s self-titled debut and 2000’s Yella Hoose.
John went on to win Radio 2 Musician of the Year in 2003 and also
The Sprit of Scotland Award for music in 1999 and again in 2009.
While emerging via the folk scene, John has long been renowned for
his skill at transcending musical boundaries. As a live and studio
guest he has shared stages with Bonnie Raitt, Patti Smith, Steve
Earle, Roseanne Cash, Paolo Nutini and Jools Holland, and featured
on recordings by Mark Knopfler, Paul Weller, Ocean Colour Scene,
Teenage Fanclub & Idlewild. Film and TV work includes
soundtracks for the movie Heartlands (2002) & 16 Years of Alcohol
(2003), Billy Connolly’s World Tour of New Zealand (2004), Jennifer
Saunders BBC sitcom Jam and Jerusalem (2008) & Starlings (2012)
sitcom for Sky TV. His most recent albums include Under One Sky &
the reissues of Yella Hoose & Goodnight Ginger re-mastered deluxe
edition.
Other recent activities include a traditional touring project with Celtic
music stars Michael McGoldrick and John Doyle, a songwriting trio
with Kris Drever & Roddy Woomble. In 2007 John was jointly
commissioned by the Celtic Connections festival and Cambridge
Folk Festival to compose Under One Sky, uniting Scottish and
English musicians of different genres, from Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis
to Blur guitarist Graham Coxon. John has been a member of Mark
Knopfler's band since 2008, playing arenas around the world
including a double bill with Bob Dylan at The Hollywood Bowl & 20
nights at The Royal Albert Hall.
John’s expanding portfolio as a producer includes debut albums by
Kris Drever and Idlewild’s Roddy Woomble. He’s also manned the
controls for top folk chanteuses Eddi Reader, Heidi Talbot, Eliza
Carthy & Linda Thompson . In 2013 John performed as a soloist with
the Royal Scottish National Orchestra at Proms in the Park, playing
his own compositions live on BBC TV.
2016 will see John Celebrate 25 years as a professional musician,
publishing a book of his compositions, releasing a new solo record &
embarking on an extensive UK & European tour. The John McCusker
band features some of the finest traditional musicians and singers in
the UK : Andy Cutting, Adam Holmes, Innes White & Toby Shaer.