James Michael Thompson

JAMES MICHAEL THOMPSON
(formerly Tompo)
http://www.jamesmichaelthompson.com
http://www.myspace.com/jamesmichaelthompson
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=Bluesplayer789

Blending the sounds of Delta slide greats such as Blind Willie Johnson and Son House with his own experience and training in guitar, James Michael Thompson is a 26 year old Australian blues musician with a big voice and a quietly endearing stage presence, using his guitars, blues harp, stomp-box and shakers to convey his heartfelt songs of ‘good news blues.’
Beginning to gig in earnest in late 2004, James Michael’s credits include debuting at the acclaimed Bridgetown Blues Festival in 2005; supports for ‘The Bondi Cigars and Lloyd Spiegel, Dallas Frasca and Loren, hosting the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society’s (MBAS) blues night and launching his very own uniquely designed 8 string baritone resonator. James has also performed alongside the likes of Collard, Greens and Gravy; The Black Sorrows and Guy Davis at the Mordialloc Music Festival; as well as performing on the same bill as Michael Franti and Jamie Cullum at the West Coast Blues and Roots Festival. More recently James has successfully returned to the Bridgetown Blues Festival to further his craft amongst other Australian and International Blues acts such as Dave Hole and Ash Grunwald.
James Michael recorded his first E.P ‘Light Your Way’ in 2005, which has found its way into homes across Australia and has received airplay on local, national and international radio. The track ‘Broken Bone Blues’ was a finalist in the Western Australian Music Industry (WAM) Song of the Year contest for 2005. He has also finished work on his first Album ‘The Good News Blues’ which has received airplay and interest Australia-wide. Touring for the album has also seen James take on material as a duo with various drummers as well as his acclaimed solo shows.
James Michael Thompson has also been accepted into the prestigious lineup for the 2007 Australian Blues Festival and is fast winning fans and praise country-wide. He has been described by Sonia Meggs, the President of the MBAS as a ‘true bluesman’:

“At a very young age Thompson has captured the blues and made it his own. You will be enthralled by his presentation and style of his music, his vocals are deep and soulful reminding me of the past struggles of men working on a chain-gang, or in the cotton fields in the deep south in the days of slavery. Thompson is a true bluesman!”
Sonia Meggs - President Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society