Gavin James

On 10 November 2026 Gavin James will perform with his band at SPOT/De Oosterpoort in Groningen. The Dublin-born singer-songwriter (1991) moves between acoustic pop and folk. His songs revolve around voice and guitar, with melodies carried by spare arrangements that, with a band, develop into a fuller pop sound. After his early EPs and the live album Live at Whelan’s (2014), the studio albums Bitter Pill (2015), Only Ticket Home (2018) and The Sweetest Part (2022) followed, highlighting his songwriting and sense of timing.

James started out in small clubs and bars in Dublin, found an audience online and was booked as a supporting act for artists such as Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith. That trajectory is audible in a set that alternates between intimate ballads and more driving numbers. Occasional collaborations, like “Tired” (2017) with Norwegian producer Alan Walker, introduced electronic touches to his work without detracting from the focus on songwriting. In Groningen he will play with a band a programme that leans on melody, dynamics and the direct quality of his voice, leaving space for acoustic moments and choruses that can sound bigger live.