James Sidebottom

"Songs with infectious melodies matched with intelligent, romantic lyrics” and “A voice suggesting Jeff Buckley, Pete Murray, Dave Matthews and Eddie Vedder"
"the prodigiously talented singer/guitarist, James Sidebottom”
- Billy Pinnell (Music Australia Guide)

"Some serious blue eyed soul. So different. Fantastic."
-Marcia Hines (Australian Music Icon, Australian Idol Judge)

"Like finding an extra piece of chocolate in the fridge."
-Kyle Sandilands (Austereo Radio DJ, Australian Idol Judge)

"Great voice and he knows how to perform very very very well"
-Ian "Dicko" Dickson (Australian Idol Judge)

"Could be the biggest thing to come out of Ballarat since Plugger. His Voice Strikes you"
-Jeff Jenkins RRR / Impress.

James Sidebottom is a Melbourne based singer songwriter originally from Ballarat. Having taught himself the guitar in high school, he set about honing his craft playing some of Melbourne’s most intimate and not so intimate stages.
Fronting the band “Last Five Days” for a few years, he then set himself the challenge to play solo in 2007. Having quickly realised the perils of solo adventure, James’ live act became more focussed and sure footed.
In 2008 James was headhunted to appear on the television show Australian Idol. After impressing the judges with his "blue eyed soul" he was banished from the competition in an expletive-ridden tirade by Ian Dickson for suggesting that winning the show "wasn't the be all and end all." Having enjoyed and learned much from his extremely brief "reality" television experience, James decided it was time to try something new.
So in early 2009 James joined an out of control musical explosion of a funk band called The Skylines.
James Sidebottom continues to enjoy his musical evolution. He plays regularly around Melbourne with his band The Skylines and as a solo acoustic performer.
He has played gigs alongside the likes of Mark Seymour, Whitley, Jack Jones and Ryan Meeking at iconic venues including The Corner, The Espy and The Northcote Social Club.
Incorporating well honed personal lyrics, strong melodic vocal performance, interesting guitar manipulation and additional guitar and vocal looping, James Sidebottom’s mix of acoustic folk pop is quickly gaining notoriety... In a good way.