Head Of Programmes
Head of Programmes is the alias of singer-songwriter James MacGregor, who with the help of his band of musically-gifted friends, plays a mixture of intimate alt-country and indie rock likened to Smog and Leonard Cohen. It has so far spawned two albums, The Magnificent South (2008), dubbed “a timeless masterpiece” (The Fly) and “breathtakingly beautiful” (GO2 Magazine), and Goodbye Forever, due for release this summer.
Having previously played in bands such as punk outfit Rebuild the Doxa, James found a sense of freedom in going solo as the alias Head of Programmes, a name he’d used while recording tapes in his bedroom as a teenager. Drawing on influences such as Nick Cave, Neil Young, Tom Waites, and Morrissey, this name has caused occasional confusion at gigs, with many people still unsure whether it’s a band, or if James really is a solo artist. It doesn’t seem to affect the enjoyment created by the music though, with 24/7 Magazine stating that James creates “teary melodies and baritone resignation, with a wry nod to the cool manoeuvres of Velvet Underground. Magnificent.”
www.myspace.com/headofprogrammes
www.facebook.com/pages/Head-Of-Programmes
“A rumbling stomach of slow-burning vignettes…tapping into a rich vein of melancholy.”
24/7 Magazine
“Is it a band, is it a solo artist? Head of Programmes, though a buzz word on the local scene, is and always has been a bit of an enigma.”
What’s On South-West
Links:
- A Head of Programmes interview with What’s On South West:
Video:
Head of Programmes perform ‘Heart Wrung of Hope’ from the album The Magnetic South:
