James Yorkston

Few artists work from as broad and eclectic a platform as James Yorkston, a singer-songwriter and author from the East Neuk of Fife, Scotland.
Growing up in the village of Kingsbarns, James has been releasing a series of much acclaimed albums on Domino Records since 2001, touring them worldwide – His debut album ‘Moving Up Country’ was ‘Rough Trade Album of the Year’.

His 2025 album Songs for Nina and Johanna is a collection of duets with Nina Persson of The Cardigans and Johanna Söderberg of First Aid Kit and earned James and Nina a slot on Later… With Jools Holland (September 2025) as well as BBC6 sessions for Huw Stephens, Marc Riley and Gideon Coe.

With the trio Yorkston/Thorne/Khan, James explores folk and Indian classical music — ‘Navarasa’ was The Guardian’s 2020 Folk Album of the Year.

James has also had four books published, including 2025’s novel Tommy The Bruce, which The Sunday Mail called “An outstandingly well written, emotionally complex slice of Scottish noir”.
2026 promises new works in both music and books.