Gregory Alan Isakov

Though Isakov was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, he moved to the United States at a very young age and spent the majority of his childhood growing up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He got an early start in the music industry and started touring with a band when he was only 16. Later in his career Isakov moved to Colorado and started producing solo material. He drew inspirations from a diverse range of artists including delta-blues revivalist/ jazz aficionado Kelly Joe Phelps, evocative poet and acclaimed folk artist Leonard Cohen, and heartland rock sensation Bruce Springsteen.

Isakov takes musical ideas from a variety of sources, both musically and experiential; however he never comes off sounding redundant or like a simulation of one of his musical idols. He has honed in on a sound uniquely his own. It is weathered, spacious and filled with transformative moods. His music can create an atmosphere in the same vein as pioneering delta blues musician’s like Son House and it can just as likely channel in the slowcore minimalism of artists like Mark Kozelek.

Isakov has released six full-length studio albums including That Sea the Gambler (2007), This Empty Northern Hemisphere (2009), The Weatherman (2013), Gregory Alan Isakov with the Colorado Symphony (2016), Evening Machines (2018), which was nominated for a Grammy award for Best Folk Album, and Appaloosa Bones (2023).

Gregory Alan Isakov tours internationally with his band. When not on the road, he runs a small farm in Boulder County, Colorado. The farm provides produce to its CSA members, local restaurants, as well as to a local food bank.

Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S., yet currently based out of American Fork, Utah, the mid-westerner began honing his composition and songwriting skills in 2003. Following three years of live shows and of expanding his catalogue of songs, James issued the album “B-Sides: It’s Dark Outside” in 2006. Whilst failing to cause a stir, the record set the scene for future releases including the 2007 EP “Fields and Floods”.

Initially issued only as an iTunes digital release, James’ debut full-length “The Sun is Always Brighter” topped the iTunes Folk Album Chart the same year. By the end of 2008 the album has sold over 25,000 copies, and had found favour with the online indie-folk scene who heavily promoted the up-and-coming musician. In support of “The Sun is Always Brighter” James embarked on a U.S. promotional tour in support of John Mayer, David Gray, Third Eye Blind, and Brett Dennen.

Like its predecessor, the singer-songwriter’s sophomore album, 2009’s “Build Me This”, earned critical acclaim from a host of publications including Paste Magazine. Issued by Intelligent Noise/Northplatte Records, the record combined the tragedy of James’ lyrics with a distinctively weathered voice old beyond its years. Following the supporting tour, Joshua James returned to the studio to craft the November 2012 album “From The Top of Williamette Mountain”. Featuring friend and guitar player Evan Coulombe on a number of the tracks, the record charted at No. 23 on the Billboard Folk Album Chart. The EP “BEWARE” arrived in 2013 on his own Northplatte Records, followed by the collaborative cover album “Well, Then, I’ll Go To Hell” the same year.