James Birt is a session drummer from the South of England. His career launched fully in 2006. This was a very exciting year for James as he won the UK National Young Drummer of the Year award, sponsored by MikeDolbear.com. This came to him as a complete shock and opened up many doors for him to explore. During the year (2006), he was lucky enough to open Europe’s biggest drum show, Drummer Live at the Excel Centre, UK National Drum Fair, tour with Billy Ward and his hero Gregg Bissonette, as well as doing one off clinics with Steve White, Thomas Lang, Craig Blundell, Jerry Brown, Carl Palmer, Steve Timms, Cherisse Osei. He was featured on X-Change for the BBC, countless interviews on TV, radio, press and magazines, including the front cover of DRUMMER magazine which also was a complete honour for him. From 2006 onwards James has been working his backside off trying to get gigs, sessions and lots of different recording and live work. He has worked with people such as Chesney Hawkes, Steve Rushton (Son of Dork), Ray Dorset (Mungo Jerry), Greg Pritchard (Britains Got Talent), Steve Hampton (The Vapours), and Adam Norsworthy (The Mustangs). James has recorded on songs for Steve Rushton, Phantom of the Opera on Ice, Portsmouth FC Offical FA Cup Anthem, Wave 105 official World Cup anthem, Potential Maltese Eurovision Song Contest entry and recently recording on brand new Country Pop artist, Natalie Hall’s single, ‘Say’ with talks about doing her album too! James performed at Clive Aid, Oldham, (drum show in remembrance of Clive Burr), featured in a video for Jobecky Electric Drums, and played at the grand opening of the shop and the Fill your Head with Rock International, Wolverhampton (ft. Pete Boot). As well as all that, James teaches at a local college and secondary school. James is endorsed by Mapex Drums, Paiste Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks, Remo Heads, Protection Racket Soft Cases, Hardcase, Bigfoot, DfD, Quick Stick, Baskey all of which, he says, look after him very well and he’s very grateful! Here is a list of artists James has been lucky enough to work with: Steve Rushton Chesney Hawkes Modern Romance Blaze Greg Pritchard Natalie Hall The Vision Steve Hampton Mungo Jerry Ray Dorset Manhattan Ghost Stories Burr Shaw The Bizets Richard Dyer Matt Blackwell Haunted Stereo Mucky Fingers Andy Muscat The Jellyroll Men The Alan Titchmarsh Project The Mustangs Pinstripe Legacy The Hype Mozydare Trinity Forever Blue Left Hand Band The Magic Tones Saturday Night Beaver Skool Daze Simply 80’s The Playlist The Modern Fix Groove-alution Natural Blondie The Live Karaoke Band Rockeoke Me! The 68 Special See You Next Wednesday One Weird Fish James has played drums for the following list of musicals: HONK! Little Shop of Horrors Fame Grease Return to the Forbidden Planet Bugsy Malone Blood Brothers Roverang The Likes of Us The Blues Brothers Les Miserables