Bob Dylan, Loudon Wainwright III, Nic Jones, Martin Carthy, Cat Stevens, Elvis Costello, Steve Goodman, Randy Newman, David Bowie, Abba, Phil Spector, Gilbert O'Sulivan, Steeleye Span, Fairport Convention
Wesley Stace was born in Hastings, Sussex in 1965, and educated at The King's School, Canterbury, and Jesus College, Cambridge. Under the name, John Wesley Harding, he has released 15 albums, ranging from traditional folk to full on pop music. His most recent pop release WHO WAS CHANGED AND WHO WAS DEAD (2009), recorded with The Minus Five, was a critical smash, garnering considerable airplay: the album is "terrifically catchy" (NEW YORKER), while Harding is "hyper-aware, expertly tweaking the lyricist's game at every turn" (LOS ANGELES TIMES), with "lyrics that dazzle" (WALL STREET JOURNAL). "Typically wry and acerbic" (BILLBOARD), the songs "reveal a greater maturity and lyrical polish..." making it "the most pleasing album Harding has made since his first studio effort, Here Comes the Groom" (ALL MUSIC GUIDE).
John Wesley Harding has been joined onstage by Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, John Prine, Bruce Springsteen (with whom he recorded a duet on his album AWAKE), Joan Baez, Peter Buck, Evan Dando, David Baddiel, Rick Moody, Tanya Donelly, Josh Ritter, Rosanne Cash, Colin Meloy, Scott MacCaughey and Robyn Hitchcock amongst others. He has appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Late Show with David Letterman, and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. His songs have been featured in films (including High Fidelity) and covered by other artists. His most recent record was "Songs of Misfortune", a (mostly) a capella recording by The Love Hall Tryst, featuring the ballads from his first novel, Misfortune. The recently released DVD "A Bloody Show" documents an epic show filmed at Bumbershoot in Seattle, featuring songs from Misfortune, on which JWH is accompanied by a rock band, a string quartet and The Love Hall Tryst, and readings from the novel.
His series of "Cabinet of Wonders" variety shows in Spring 2009 in New York City at Le Poisson Rouge included appearances by Rosanne Cash, Graham Parker, Josh Ritter, Rick Moody, Colson Whitehead and Jonathan Ames. It's "a brilliant evening of laid-back fun" (VILLAGE VOICE) and "one of the most whip-smart variety shows on the market" (PORTLAND TRIBUNE). A further series in the fall of 2009 at the same venue will feature, among others: A.C.Newman, Rhett Miller, Steven Page, Eugene Mirman, David Gates, John Roderick, Jon Auer, Tanya Donelly, Patrick McGrath, Todd Barry, Steve Almond and Stephen Elliott. The shows will also feature his NYC band, The English UK.
His first novel, MISFORTUNE, under his real name Wesley Stace, was published to great acclaim in 2004 by Little, Brown (USA) and Jonathan Cape (UK) - translations followed in Italy, France (where it has become a bestseller), Holland, Taiwan, Japan, Spain and Israel. It was nominated for The Guardian First Book Award, The Commonwealth Writers' Prize, The James Tiptree, Jr. Award, listed as one of the books of the year in The Washington Post and The Boston Phoenix, and was one of Amazon's Top Ten Novels of the Year. MISFORTUNE has been optioned, and the script has been finished.
His second novel, BY GEORGE, was published in August 2007; it was one of the New York Public Library's Books To Remember of 2007, and Booklist Editor's Choice for books of the year. He has recently completed his third , CHARLES JESSOLD, CONSIDERED AS A MURDERER (to be published by Jonathan Cape in the UK in Sept 2010). Stace is currently artist-in-residence at Fairleigh Dickinson University, NJ, where he curates the Words & Music Festival. He reviews for the Times Literary Supplement.
He has lived in America since 1991, and resides in Fort Greene, Brooklyn with his wife Abbey, daughter Tilda and son Wyn.
We thank you for the add. We’re just a small band, but we’d be delighted if you listened to our Garage Rock songs and you sent us any kind of comment!! If u couldn’t we’ll be happy if you just let this comment be shown, so that ur fans & friends get to know us. ☠
Hello there Mister JWH, long time fan...first time MySpacer. And also, soon to be first time live performance attender! I'm coming over [from London] to the Santa Monica show. The first thing I heard by your good self was the live album with the 'Live Aid' track on. And now, I'm gonna stick my neck out here and guess that song is no longer in the live set? Nor, I presume, is there any way of ever getting a copy of the album? [That's your cue to amaze and astound now by telling me that strangely enough you just came across a copy in a dusty old box in the back of your wardrobe, and you'll bring it to Santa Monica!] The new album is excellent as ever....really looking forward to the show. See ya, Paul
Wes, brilliant show and night, thanks for making me laugh (not as easy as some might think!) and LOVE the live CD esp. Window Seat (see, I'm learning, song titles...) Really sad I couldn't make the Filo, hope the rest of the tour is fun (and no more dodgy Spanish!)
Hey there JWH, great to be able to finally count you amongst our friends. Have been fans for many, many moons. We've got a new album out, would be honored if you'd give it a listen and share your thoughts. Take care, VL
I really enjoyed hearing what you had to say on the 360 deal with yourself panel at sxsw. It is much appreciated. Also enjoyed the uke set you and Amanda did while we were all waiting. Cheers.
May i suggest Bad Dream Baby with jarvis playing those drums!! i will NEVER forget Iota nite!! thanks for coming and making my early times in the dc area a really positive beginning!!
Online Now!
