Justin Adams is one the UK's most original and inspirational guitarists. Described by Robin Denselow in the Guardian as `Britain's answer to Ry Cooder' he released his first solo CD Desert Road in 2000. Folk Roots called it `A Masterpiece', Songlines ` An Outstanding Achievement'. Recently Adams' new band The Wayward Sheikhs have undertaken a tour, including spellbinding shows at Reading Womad and Roskilde the line-up featuring Andy Cox (ex-Beat,FYC), bass player Simon Edwards (ex Fairground Attraction), master percussionist Salah Dawson Miller, and Nigerian drummer Oseyi Akindc.

Justin Adams' guitar style first came to prominence as part of Jah Wobble's Invaders of the Heart. He co-wrote the UK Top 40 single Visions of You and the Rising Above Bedlam and Take Me To God albums. He toured regularly for 8 years with Wobble in Europe, Japan and the U.S., becoming known for his Islamic scales and Dub sensibility. In recent years he has recorded and toured with Sinead O'Connor and Natacha Atlas and produced two albums for French group LO'JO. He is a member of Ghostland, with cellist Caroline Dale and drummer John Reynolds, with whom he wrote music for Bosnian director Jazmin Dizdar's film "Beautiful People", and whose second LP `Interview With An Angel' was released in July 2001 by Instant Karma.

Other collaborations include- Asere (Label blue), Billy Bragg, Brian Eno, Indigo Girls, Baaba Maal, larla O'Lionaird (Real World), U-cef, Hector Zazou, Hukwe Zawose and Cara Dillon.

The second release from Wayward is KIN a sparse guitar-lead soundtrack album for a film set in the Namibian desert. In cinemas later in the year.

This year has also brought the third release on Justin's Wayward label Tinariwen's The Radio Tisdas Sessions. It was recorded by Justin and Lo'Jo in January 2001 during a month long stay in the Sahara which culminated in the already legendary Festival Du Desert at which Justin performed as well as acted as stage manager. The Tuareg Rebel Blues group Tinariwen played at both the Rosskilde and Reading Womad festivals where they received a standing ovation and stunning critical acclaim from the likes of Andy Kershaw and Charlie Gillet and were described by Nigel Williamson in The Times as `the most exciting debutantes' at Womad.

He is currently playing in the US to rave reviews with Robert Plant in his new band Strange Sensation, also featuring Porl Thompson (the Cure), Clive Dcanor (Portishead, Roni Size). The band have started to record an album for release in early 2002.

 

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