Singing guitarist

Rory James

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About Rory

Solo Singer/ Guitarist, based in Glasgow and the East Midlands. Specialising in rock, pop, indie, country, folk and traditional.
Singing guitarist
Glasgow
Public liability insurance of £10 million

I have been performing live since I learned to play guitar 14 years ago and have never stopped. While I wrote music when I was younger, I always enjoyed learning popular songs and learning what goes into making great music. I've carried that passion to my career as a whole and find great enjoyment in reading a room and providing the type of music that fits the environment, whether it's laid-back tunes on a quiet afternoon or sing-alongs in a busy bar and plenty more in between. My favourites include indie rock, folk, singer-songwriter, 80s, 90s, 00s and modern pop. In addition to being a performer, I work as a live event technician, primarily as FOH audio for events and tours across the UK. I utilise the skills I have developed over the past five years of my career to inform my technical setup and sound when performing. I carry a full PA, including a micro digital mixing desk, PA speakers, monitors, microphones, a DI box, stands, cables, and power. I am happy to provide the full setup or chain my digital desk into your in-house system, if you would prefer. I believe that the skills I have as a professional event technician allow me to sculpt a sound which suits any environment, making me a perfect choice for rooms of any size.

Rory
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5 out of 5
2 verified reviews

Rory's Reviews

From customers:

AB
Aaron B
6 months ago, for a Bar / Club / Venue event in Hill Top
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5 out of 5

Rory played at our pub and was brilliant. He was very friendly and easy to work with, arriving early to set up. He has a great voice and played some great tunes. Highly recommend!

LS
Lucy S
8 months ago, for a Private event in 38 Bellflower Grove
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5 out of 5

We booked Rory for our dad's 60th birthday party. He was extremely professional, arriving half an hour before he was due to play to set up his equipment. He played a great range of music that catered to everyone, from the kids to the oldies and even played a few requests. would love to book Rory again.

Rory's Song list

The Tide is high - blondie
Wonderwall - Oasis
Songbird - Oasis
Dont look back in anger - Oasis
Live Forever - Oasis
Little by little - Oasis
Half the world away - Oasis
Whatever - Oasis
Champagne supernova - Oasis
Slide Away - Oasis
She’s Electric - Oasis
Supersonic - Oasis
If I had a gun - Noel Gallagher
Dead in the Water - Noel Gallagher
Ooh la la - the faces
Ob-la-di ob-la-da - The Beatles
I wanna Hold Your Hand - The Beatles
All You Need is Love - The Beatles
Yesterday -The Beatles
Here Comes the sun - the Beatles
Blackbird - The Beatles
Twist and Shout - The Beatles
Love Me Do - The Beatles
Something - The Beatles
Imagine - John Lennon
Changes - Ozzy Ozbourne
Yellow - Coldplay
Viva la vida - Coldplay
The scientist - Coldplay
Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol
Run - snow patrol
Dakota - Stereophonics
Maybe Tomorrow - Stereophonics
Mr. Writer - Stereophonics
Have a Nice Day - Stereophonics
How to Save a Life - The Fray
Budapest - George Ezra
Common People - Pulp
Lucky Man - the Verve
The Drugs Don’t Work - The Verve
Somewhere only we know - Keane
There She Goes - The La’s
Karma Police - Radiohead
High and Dry - Radiohead
Fake Plastic Trees - Radiohead
Creep - Radiohead
Mr. Brightside - The Killers
When We Were Young - Killers
Geraldine - Glassvegas
Valerie - The Zutons / Amy Winehouse
Watermelon Sugar - Harry Styles
As it Was - Harry Styles
Wild Horses - Rolling Stones
Ruby Tuesday - rolling stones
Angie - Rolling Stone
The Passenger - Iggy Pop
Wonderful tonight - Eric Clapton
Cannonball - Damien Rice
Lonely Soldier - Damien Rice
The Blowers Daughter - Damien Rice
Ship to wreck - Florence and the Machine
Keep your head up - Ben Howard
In Dreams - Ben Howard
Trouble town - Jake Bugg
Seen it all - Jake Bugg
Lightning bolt - Jake Bugg
Broken - Jake Bugg
Country Song - Jake Bugg
Me and you - Jake Bugg
A Team - Ed Sheeran
Lego House - Ed Sheeran
I see fire - Ed Sheeran
Photograph- Ed Sheeran
Castle on the Hill - Ed Sheeran
Through the echos - Paulo Nutini
Candy - Paulo Nutini
Coming up easy - Paulo Nutini
Last Request - Paulo Nutini
Jenny don’t be Hasty - Paulo Nutini
I’m gonna be (500 miles) - The Proclaimers
Letter from America - the proclaimers
I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor - Arctic Monkeys
Why’d you only call me when you’re high - Arctic Monkeys
505 - Arctic Monkeys
Mardy Bum - Arctic Monkeys
Dont wanna Know - John Martyn
Solid Air - John Martyn
Northern Sky - Nick Drake
Pink Moon - Nick Drake
Babylon - David Grey
One - U2
Black Chandelier - Biffy Clyro
Many of Horror - Biffy Clyro
Machines - Biffy Clyro
There’s a Light and it Never Goes Out - The Smiths
Zombie - The Cranberries
You’re Beautiful - James Blunt
Up the Junction - Squeeze
Ziggy Stardust - David Bowie
Heroes - David Bowies
Fields of Gold - Sting
Auld Lang Syne - Traditional
Wild Mountain Thyme - traditional
Green Grow the Rashes - Rabbie Burns
Bonny banks of Loch Lomand - traditional
Leave her Johnny - Traditional
Danny boy - Traditional
Caledonia - Dougie MacLean
Teenage daughter - Dog is Dead
Mad world - Gary Jules
Can’t Get you out of my head - Kylie Minogue
Spooky - dusty Springfield
Down Under - Men at work
A Horse With No Name - America
Girls just wanna have fun - Cyndi Lauper
Hit me baby - Britney Spears
Take on me - Aha
Wagon wheel - Darius Rucker
Ain’t No Sunshine - Bill Withers
Take it Easy - Eagles
Easy - Lionel Ritchie
Hotel California - Eagles
Breaking free - High School Musical
Touch the Sky - Brave
Learn me right - Mumford and Sons ft. Birdy (Brave)
I really like you - Carly Rae Jepson
Pink Pony Club - Chapel Roan
Dont stop believing - Journey
Teenage Dirtbag - Wheatus
Anti-hero - Taylor Swift
Ghost - Justin Beiber
Drivers licence - Olivia rodrigo
Everlong - Foo Fighters
My Hero - Foo Fighters
Times Like These - Foo Fighters
Best of You - Foo Fighters
Every me and every you - Placebo
Somebody to Love - Jefferson Airplane
Save Tonight - Eagle Eye Cherry
Free falling Tom - Petty
I wont back down - Tom Petty
Hound Dog - Elvis Presley
Always on My Mind - Elvis Presley
Cant Help Falling in Love - Elvis Presley
Blowing in the wind - Bob Dylan
Knocking on Heavens Door - Bob Dylan
Mr. Tamborine Man - Bob Dylan
It Ain’t Me Babe - Bob Dylan
Lay Lady, Lay - Bob Dylan
Times they are a Changing - Bob Dylan
Dont think twice - Bob Dylan
Summer of 69 - Bryan Adams
These days - Jackson Browne
On the Road Again - Willy Nelson
Wake me up _ Aviici
Let Her Go - Passenger
On call - Kings of Leon
Steady as She Goes - The Raconteurs
We Are Gonna Be Friends - White Stripes
Im on fire - Bruce Springsteen
Born in the USA - Bruce Springsteen
Dancing in the Dark - Bruce Springsteen
Old man - Neil Young
Hey Hey, My My - Neil Young
Heart of gold - Neil Young
Harvest moon - Neil Young
Keep on Rocking in the Free World - Neil Young
The needle and the damage done - Neil Young
River - Leon Bridges
Skinny Love - Bon Iver
Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix
Hey Joe - Jimi Hendrix
Flowers - Miley Cyrus
River - Joni Mitchell
Crazy - Gnarls Barkley
Cigarette daydream - Cage the Elephant
Heartbeats - Jose Gonzalez
Africa - Toto
Kids - MGMT
Homeward Bound - Paul Simon
No Woman, No Cry - Bob Marley
Three Little Birds - Bob Marley
Stir it up - bob Marley
Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
Dani California - Red Hot chilli peppers
Say it ain’t so - Weezer
I wanna Dance With Somebody - Whitney Houston
Jolene - Dolly Parton
Strangers Again - Gillian Welch
The Way it Will Be - Gillian welch
Motel Blues - Louden Wainwright III
Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond
Hi ho silver lining - Jeff beck
The joker - Steve miller band
Fortunate Son - Creedence Clearwater Revival
Bad Moon Rising - Creedence Clearwater Revival
Sweet Home Chicago - Robert Johnson
Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash
I walk the Line - Johnny Cash
Ring of Fire - Johnny Cash
Leaving on a jet plane - John Denver
Take me home country roads - John Denver
Wild World - Cat Stevens
The First Cut is the Deepest - Cat Stevens
Dreams - Fleetwood Mac
Sitting on the Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding
Stand By Me - Ben E. King
Fast Car -Tracy Chapman
You are My sunshine - traditional
Go to sleep you little babe - traditional
Bless the Telephone - Labi Safrie

Rory's Prices

Last updated: 2025

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

Standard Prices
DurationPrice
Short performance (up to 15 min)£93.75
Up to 1 hour£187.50
Up to 2 hours£312.50
Up to 3 hours£437.50
Customer questions

What do your clients love most about your performances?

I am told that people enjoy my unique voice, as well as my song choices. I've had compliments on my "chilled out" folk style sets and on my ability to engage crowds in upbeat sing-alongs.

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

Katie O'Brien's, Brewdog, STACK, Rescue Rooms, Bodega Social, Rock City, BEAR, The Maze, Bag O' Nails,

Which artists have you been most influenced by?

Bob Dylan, Ben Howard, Nick Drake, Kings of Leon, Oasis, Blur, The Strokes, Radiohead, Johnny Cash, Biffy Clyro, Paulo Nutini, Stereophonics, The Beatles, Arctic Monkeys, Coldplay, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Gillian Welch, Jake Bugg and many more

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

I have performed at Nottingham's Rock City, YNOT festival, Derbyshire and The Walt Disney Theatre aboard The Disney Dream.

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

I always try my best to be flexible to help ensure your event runs as smoothly as possible and to your satisfaction. If timings change slightly in the run-up to the event, please let me know as soon as you can.

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

I do include music before and beteen my sets, please let me know if there are any particular genres or artists that you would like to hear.

How much time do you need to set up?

I usually set up about 1 to 1.5 hours before the performance time. As soon as our PA is set up I can provide a free playlist service to help set the atmosphere and get your guests ready for our live performance.

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

I am always happy to discuss the type of music you would like to hear me play prior to the event. While I may not be able to cater for every song request you have, I will endeavour to play as many of the songs you would like me to and cater the rest of my performance to fit within your musical preferences.

Do you bring all the equipment you need to perform?

I can provide as much or as little PA as is required. Please let me know what you require me to provide.

Can you learn song requests before the event?

I am happy to perform up to 5 pre-agreed requests, as long as I am given a minimum of 2 days' notice per song. Any additional requests can be made, again allowing another 2 days, at a fee that can be discussed.
Musicianship
Genres:
Acoustic, Early music, 1960s era music, 1990s era music, 1980s era music, 1970s era music, Folk, Country, Folk rock, Traditional English folk, Traditional Irish folk, Traditional Scottish folk, Blues, Easy listening, Light music, Pop, Americana, Covers, Top 40, Tribute, Vintage, R&B, Rock, Alternative rock, Britpop, Classic rock, Glam rock, Hard rock, Indie, Pop rock, Heavy metal, Post rock, Rock 'n' Roll, Punk rock, Progressive rock, Australian music, Scottish music
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Instruments:
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Event types:
Bar / Club / Venue event, Wedding, Virtual event, Wedding proposal, Funeral / Memorial service, Hotel / Restaurant event, Private event, Corporate event, Charity event, Concert, Recording session, Cruise, Burns night, Birthday party, Christmas party, New Year's Eve
See all event types
Other skills:
Audio engineer, Composer, Arranger, Producer, Songwriter, Sound technician, Actor, Live looping, Music therapy, Community music worker, Singing teaching, Composition teaching, Instrumental teaching
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