Renamed - Noctua
"James Ladd is a unique guitarist who creates an eclectic and original blend of funk, jazz, soul and folk and has been heavily active in Bristol and across the southwest since graduating from Dartington College of arts in 2004. James is a member and frequent collaborator within the Bristol based music community that is Open Source Music whose members include Sheelanagig, Pete Bernard, Cut Collective, Type and JB, Elephant Talk and Orchestra Montpellier.
In late 2005 James formed the James Ladd trio with kit player John Blakeley & Bassist Jon Short (members of the Cut Collective and Sheelanagig). A recent revamp of the outfit has seen a change of Name to "Noctua" and introduced the soulful voice of Charlotte Egmore whose mesmeric and powerful Dusty Springfield-esque vocal perfectly compliments James' blend of smoky gritty soul and the mindblowing guitarwork of sheelanagig's Dave Archer. ( See Noctua Profile top of friends list for Full Details )
This new line-up has seen the group support Mercury Music prize and Brit Nominees ‘The Guillemots’ on their recent UK tour and secure a weekly residency in central Bristol. They are currently performing regularly across the whole of the south-west and even played two nights last year in Tel Aviv, Israel. James Ladd and his band are captivating audiences wherever they perform, invariably leaving people wanting more and with their quickly increasing fan base this is something not to be missed."
