Rock N Roll Circus 2025 Sunday Headliner: James

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One of Britain’s most enduring bands and another who found success in the britpop and Madchester scenes of the 1990s, James will close out this year’s Rock n Roll Circus in Sheffield. Led by the enigmatic Tim Booth, James have been crafting sonically lush records for decades and are known as one of the best live bands in the country (a theme it seems across all four headliners at this year’s Rock N Roll Circus). James are still constantly re-inventing themselves and their set guarantees a brilliant ending to a brilliant weekend with sing-along hits that everyone will know married with important messages and artistic quality.

The band initially formed in 1982 and after performing under a variety of names, they eventually settled on James, named after Jim Glennie, the band’s bassist. One of the band’s first ever gigs under this new name was at Manchester’s legendary Hacienda nightclub alongside New Order and caught the attention of Factory records co-founder Tony Wilson who offered the band a record deal. The EP they released instead, Jimone, earned them a support slot for The Smiths’s 1985 Meat is Murder tour.

The band were being touted as the next big thing in both Manchester and further afield but it wouldn’t be until 1986 when their debut album Stutter was released after a move to Sire Records. It charted at 68 so the band recorded their second album Strip-Mine shortly after in 1988 after intensive remixing. It garnered largely positive reviews but didn’t sell much better than their debut.

It was a testy relationship between the band and label but despite this, James had built a reputation as a must-see live act with a solid fanbase in tow. Despite underwhelming initial releases for their first two albums, their 1989 follow up, One Man Clapping, hit number 1 in the indie charts and put the band on the path to success that they have rarely strayed from since. 

The band’s 4th record Gold Mother is where things truly took off for the band though. It came just at the right time as the Madchester movement was springboarding bands into the spotlight. But James had earned that spotlight and the singles on this album only prove that point. Gold Mother birthed ‘Come Home’, ‘Lose Control’, ‘How Was It for You’ and of course ‘Sit Down’. All four of these hit the Top 40 in the UK, with a re-recorded version of ‘Sit Down’ reaching number 2 and becoming one of the biggest-selling singles of the year in 1990.

The band were well and truly established now thanks to the success of Gold Mother and their follow up record Seven continued this success reaching number 2 in the UK album chart, with lead single ‘Sound’ becoming the band’s second top ten single in as many years. The single and album also saw the band gain more recognition across the pond in the US, leading to their first tour in the country as well as a sell-out show to 30,000 at Alton Towers.

The band returned to the studio in 1993 with the legend Brian Eno set to produce what the band hoped would be another successful record. Their hopes were realised in 1993 with the release of Laid to positive reviews and sales. hitting number 3 in the UK charts and cracking the Billboard 200 thanks to title track ‘Laid’ and its immense popularity in the US alternative singles chart. The album was followed up by another Eno-produced record in Wah Wah, a recording of the bands improvised jam sessions with vocals added afterwards.

James had a tumultuous couple of years following Wah Wah with lineup changes and strained relationships but from this came the 1997 release Whiplash. It was a successful return for the band landing within the UK top 10. Lead single ‘She’s a Star’ also landed in the top 10 in the UK singles chart. Their next number 1 album came in the form of The Best Of in 1998, a compilation album of the band’s best work under the Fontana Records umbrella.

Their next studio album followed in 1999 with Millionaires reaching number 2 on the albums chart but with the album underperforming in the sales department, the band re-worked their approach to crafting an album. For 2001's Pleased To Meet You they wrote and performed the material live before entering the recording studio. The resulting album only reached number 11, their lowest charting position since signing for Fontana Records.

Soon after, the band announced that Tim Booth would be leaving to pursue other projects and that the band were heading on a farewell tour, including star-studded gigs at Wembley Arena and the MEN Arena. Re-releases of certain albums, compilations and live albums filled the James-shaped hole felt by many, until it was announced in 2007 that the band would be reforming and heading out on tour to celebrate, including stops at T in the Park and V Festival. This was followed up in April 2008 with the band’s first new album in 7 years, Hey Ma, launching the band back into the top 10 of the UK albums chart. 

The band were truly back and with a new desire to experiment and take risks, two mini-albums followed hot on the heels of Hey Ma. The Night Before was released in April 2010 and The Morning After following in August of the same year. The two albums sounded rather different with The Night Before focusing on pop and rock soundscapes and The Morning After taking a softer and slower approach.

This departure from the usual album release style was also followed by the band reimagining their touring style with a series of dates accompanied by an orchestra and choir in 2011. It would be a wait until 2014 before a new full length album from the band. La Petite Mort released in June of that year to generally positive reviews and another top 20 entry in the albums chart.

James followed this up with Girl at the End of the World in 2016 hitting number 2 on the album charts, in combination with more positive reviews. James began working on the follow up just a few months later and Living in Extraordianry Times released in 2018, again cracking the top 10 in the UK.

Into the 2020s the band showed no signs of slowing. Their 16th studio album All the Colours of You came in June 2021 having switched to the Virgin Music Label, receiving more positive reviews and number 3 peak in the charts. 2023's all orchestral and acoustic album Be Opened by the Wonderful featured beautiful reworkings of the best of the band’s back catalogue.

Their most recent studio album Yummy carried on this strong run for the band and peaked at number 1 in the UK albums chart, only their second to do so. With over 40 years in the industry, 18 albums worth of work and an established reputation as one of the best live acts in the UK, James are sure to be the perfect band to close Rock N Roll Circus Sheffield 2025.