Hire James McKay | Guitarist in Bathgate

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From£187.50

1 hour

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James McKay Showcase

James McKay - Showcase Video

About James

From ABBA to ACDC, James's energetic and eclectic set has wowed crowds all over the UK and beyond. Covers from the 50's to the present.

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Guitarist

Bathgate

James has been performing music since the age of 14, starting out as a drummer, and eventually making his way onto guitar in his 20's. He has performed for thousands of people across the world, including a run of gigs in the USA, covering New York, New Jersey, Maine, Nashville & San Francisco. James is a vocalist accompanied by acoustic guitar with no backing tracks. He has a varied setlist of over 200 popular covers from the 50's to the present day, and can perform to suit any occasion, whether it be a laid back set suited to weddings or restaurants, to uptempo numbers for bars & parties. Full Bose PA system is provided for every booking. Both speakers are battery operated and can be repositioned easily. A separate wireless mic can be provided for speeches etc. Filler music can be provided for breaks, and maximum set time is 3x45 minutes.

James

5 out of 5

2 verified reviews

James' Reviews

5 out of 5

Absolute amazing! I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend James to anyone who wants someone who can not only sing and play fantastically, but engage a room and get a few laughs too. Really made the night and his never ending list of iconic songs across the decades meant we were all up singing and dancing along. Everyone at the party asked me for his booking details as he was so good! Thanks so much :)

5 out of 5

Our friends and family are still talking about James! He is so talented. His set at our wedding was the perfect mix of songs that kept our guests entertained during dinner and the dance floor filled the rest of the night. Thank you for everything!

James' Song list

50’s & 60’s

Don’t Be Cruel – Elvis Presley

Folsom Prison Blues – Johnny Cash

Oh Boy - Buddy Holly

Johnny Be Goode – Chuck Berry

Eight Days a Week – The Beatles

Daydream Believer – The Monkees

I Wanna Be Like You – The Jungle Book

I’ve Just Seen a Face - The Beatles

To Love Somebody - The Bee Gees

Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond

Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison

You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away - The Beatles

Dock of the Bay – Otis Redding

Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater Revival

Stand By Me – Ben E King

House of the Rising Sun – The Animals

People Are Strange – The Doors

Little Old Wine Drinker Me - Dean Martin

Can’t Buy Me Love - The Beatles

All I Have to Do is Dream - The Everly Brothers

I Started a Joke - The Bee Gees

Proud Mary - Ike & Tina Turner

Revolution - The Beatles

Living Doll - Cliff Richard

Blowing in the Wind - Bob Dylan

I only Wanna be with You - Dusty Springfield

Strawberry Fields - The Beatles

Walkin After Midnight - Patsy Cline

Honky Tonk Woman - The Rolling Stones

Suspicious Minds - Elvis Presley

I Love You Because - Jim Reeves

Ring of Fire - Johnny Cash

Delilah - Tom Jones

A Hard Days Night - The Beatles

Always on My Mind - Elvis Presley

Hey Jude - The Beatles

70’S

Take it Easy - The Eagles

Honky Tonk Woman – The Rolling Stones

Maggie May – Rod Stewart • Take It Easy – The Eagles

You’re The One That I Want – Grease

Super Trouper – Abba

The Joker – Steve Miller Band

Stuck In the Middle with You – Steelers Wheel

Teenage Kicks – The Undertones

Hotel California - The Eagles

The Gambler – Kenny Rogers

Ziggy Stardust - David Bowie

Big Yellow Taxi – Joni Mitchell

Always On My Mind - Elvis Presley

Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton

Heart of Gold – Neil Young

Take Me Home Country Roads – John Denver

I Don’t Like Mondays – Boomtown Rats

I Don’t Wanna Talk About It - Rod Stewart

Grease - Franki Valli

Your Song - Elton John

Heart of Glass - Blondie

Jolene - Dolly Parton

Love Really Hurts Without You - Billy Ocean

Waterloo - Abba

Top of the World - The Carpenters

Wild World - Cat Stevens

The Coward of the County - Kenny Rogers

Mercedes Benz - Janis Joplin

Burning Love - Elvis Presley

Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad - Meatloaf

Living Next Door to Alice - Smokie

80’S

I Want To Break Free – Queen

Karma Chameleon – Culture Club

Stop – Erasure

One - U2

Dancing In the Dark – Bruce Springsteen

You Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC

Beat It – Michael Jackson

Kiss – Prince

Islands in the Stream – Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton

Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking for – U2

Dignity – Deacon Blue

Free Falling – Tom Petty

Mary’s Prayer – Danny Wilson

You Give Love a Bad Name – Bon Jovi

I’m On My Way - The Proclaimers

Hello - Lionel Richie

Redemption Song - Bob Marley

Live it Up - Mental as Anything

Cap in Hand - The Proclaimers

Gimme hope Jo’anna - Eddie Grant

Holding out for a Hero - Bonny Tyler

Sally Cinnamon - The Stone Roses

Purple Rain - Prince

Summer of 69 - Bryan Adams

Where the Streets Have No Name - U2

Sunshine on Leith - The Proclaimers

Happy Hour - The Housemartins

Every Breathe You Take - The Police

Walk of Life - Dire Straits

When Tomorrow Comes - Eurythmics

Made of Stone - The Stone Roses

What Do You Do - The Proclaimers

Don’t dream it’s over - Crowded House

Like a Virgin - Madonna

This Ole House - Shakin Stevens

Take On Me - Ah-Ha

True Faith - New Order

90’S

Breakfast at Tiffany’s – Deep Blue Something

Losing my religion - REM

Sit Down – James

Half the World Away – Oasis

Save Tonight – Eagle Eye Cherry

The Sign – Ace of Base

Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) – Greenday

All the Small Things – Blink 182

Hand In My Pocket – Alanis Morissette

Why Does It Always Rain On Me – Travis

You Can Talk to Me - Seahorses

Chasing Rainbows – Shed 7

Torn – Natalie Imbruglia

My Hero – Foo Fighters

Broken Stones - Paul Weller

Handbags and Gladrags - Stereophonics

I Drove All Night - Roy Orbison

Nothing Ever Happens - Del Amitri

Jessie - Joshua Kaddison

Zombie - The Cranberries

Don’t Look Back In Anger - Oasis

The Cirlce - Ocean Colour Scene

Baby One More Time - Britney Spears

Digsys Dinner - Oasis

Say You’ll be there - Spice Girls

So Low - OCS

Drops of Jupiter - Train

Lucky Man - The Verve

Blinded by the Sun - Seahorses

Local Boy in the Photograph - Stereophonics

Slide Away - Oasis

Friday I’m in Love - The Cure

Weak - Skunk Annansi

Let Me Entertain You - Robbie Williams

Wonderwall - Oasis

Hazard - Richard Marx

Basket Case - Greenday

Traffic - Stereophonics

Cast - Walkaway

Believe - Cher

This is How it Feels - Inspiral Carpets

Don’t Marry Her - Beautiful South

Common People - Pulp

Back for Good - Take That

North Country Boy - The Charlatans

Rotterdam - The Beautiful South

2000 – PRESENT

Drunk – Ed Sheeran

Candy – Paolo Nutini

Teenage Dirtbag – Wheetus

Use Somebody – Kings of Leon

Mr Brightside – The Killers

Hey Ho – The Lumineers

I Miss You - Blink 182

Let Her Go – Passenger

Indian Summer – Stereophonics

Dear Darlin - Olly Mars

Pricetag – Jessie J

Took a Pill in Ibiza – Mike Posner

Mardy Bum – Arctic Monkeys

Yellow – Coldplay

Blame it on Me - George Ezra

Home - Michael Buble

Love Yourself – Justin Bieber

The Man Who Can’t Be Moved - The Script

Sex on Fire - Kings of Leon

Slow Hands - Niall Horan

Songbird - Oasis

Make You Feel My Love - Adele

Thinking Out Loud - Ed Sheehan

Let It Go - James Bay

All of Me - John Legend

The One - Kodaline

Shotgun - George Ezra

Say You Won’t Let Go - James Arthur

The Captain - Biffy Clyro

Gravity - Embrace

Castle On The Hill - Ed Sheeran

Next To Me - Emily Sande

Dakota - Stereophonics

Hey There Delilah - Plain White T’s

It’s all About You - McFly

Bonfire Heart - James Blunt

Wake Me Up - Avicci

Rewind - Paolo Nutini

Radioactive - The Imagine Dragons

Wagon Wheel - Darius Rucker

I Wasn’t Expecting That - Jamie Lawson

All I Want - Kodaline

Valerie - The Zutons

Only You Know Me - Robbie Williams

Titanium - David Guetta

Cannonball - Damian Rice

Candy - Robbie Williams

Human - The Killers

Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol

Zephyr Song - Red Hot Chilli Peppers

Edge of Glory - Lady Gaga

Someone You Loved - Lewis Capaldi

Belter - Gerry Cinnamon

Canter - Gerry Cinnamon

Flowers Miley Cyrus

Bad Habits - Ed Sheeran

TRADITIONAL

Loch Lomond

Auld Lang Syne

Wild Mountain Thyme

Donald Where’s Yer Troosers

Bonnie Wee Jeanie McColl

Caledonia

CHRISTMAS

Merry Christmas Everyone - Shakin Stevens

White Christmas - Bing Crosby

Lonely This Christmas - Mud

Step Into Christmas - Elton John.

Merry Christmas Everybody

James' Prices

Last updated: 2024

Note: prices may vary based on travel distance. For an exact quote, click “Check availability”.

Performance duration	Price
Short performance (up to 15 min)	£75
Up to 1 hour	£187.50
Up to 2 hours	£275
Up to 3 hours	£400

Customer questions

What do your clients love most about your performances?

People always compliment me on the varied range of songs I do. Having played in hundreds of venues, from holiday parks, weddings, bars, and restaurants, to care homes and nurseries, I've had to learn a vast array of songs to keep up. Everything from ABBA to ACDC. Patsy Cline to Ed Sheeran. Johnny Cash to Jessie J.

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

GLASGOW Royal Concert Hall Kelvin Hall O2 ABC Oran Mor Classic Grand Hilton King Tuts EDINBURGH Dalmahoy Village Hotel Raddison Ibis George St Scotsman Lounge Greyfriars Mitre Bar OTHERS Oban Inn The Golden Fleece, Chelmsford Wiltons Music Hall, London Egan & Sons, Montclair, NJ Cafe International, San Francisco O'Breins, NYC Cafe Coco, Nashville

Which artists have you been most influenced by?

Where do I start. First memories of music are of dad playing Billy Joel's "Innocent Man" album. Then mum bought Queens "Innuendo' which kinda lit the fire. When I heard The Beatles my life changed forever. Now I'm a regular listener of the classics, Fleetwood Mac, Springsteen, Elton, Elvis to newer artists like Coldplay, Paolo Nutini, Taylor Swift, Oasis.

What is the most high profile gig you've performed?

My band Sianar fought off competition from over 1000 bands and won a slot on the main stage at Scotfest, held at the Royal Highland Showground in Edinburgh. We were chosen by Jermaine Jackson (The Jacksons) and Adele Lynch (Bewitched) and played to over 3000 people, sharing the stage with Boyzone, The Jacksons, 5ive, Bewitched and Les McKeown.

What if my timings change after I've booked you?

Just let me know as soon as possible. If I have no other work related commitments on the day I will try to be as flexible as possible.

Can you provide an iPod/DJ service before and between your sets?

Yes. If required I can stream a playlist from my phone to my PA system, which is bluetooth enabled.

How much time do you need to set up?

My setup time is normally fairly quick. Around 20 minutes providing I have clear access to the area I will be performing in.

Can I pick the pieces you play from the set list?

Of course. If you can let me know in advance I will arrange a tailored setlist for the occasion.

Do you bring all the equipment you need to perform?

Yes. I have a Bose twin speaker PA system which operates on battery power. I use a Taylor acoustic guitar, and bring a Shure microphone, mic stand and all necessary cables. I do not use or provide lighting.

Can you learn specific pieces before the event?

I can do this with enough notice. The version I do will be as close to the original as possible, but may differ slightly depending on vocal range or key changes etc. This only won't be possible when the song requested is a melodic instrumental request.

Musicianship

Genres:

Acoustic, Christmas, 1990s era music, 1980s era music, 1970s era music, 1960s era music, 1950s era music, Folk, Country, Traditional Scottish folk, Pop, Covers, Top 40, Scottish music

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Instruments:

Guitar, Singer

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Event types:

Wedding, Bar / Club / Venue event, Virtual event, Funeral / Memorial service, Wedding proposal, Hotel / Restaurant event, Private event, Corporate event, Recording session, Concert, Birthday party, New Year's Eve, Christmas party

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Other skills:

Producer, Composer, Songwriter, Lyricist, Arranger, Audio engineer

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