Biography
James Devine is an award-winning singer/songwriter of Maritime Folk Music based in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. With family roots in Woods Harbour, a small fishing community on the south shore of Nova Scotia, James has loved the sea since childhood.
Over the past few years, James’ songs reminiscing the sea have been well-received by audiences during various local performances. His song The Brave Men That Go To Sea won an award in the International Songwriting Competition in Nashville in 2009.
James has since played live music alongside many great Canadian musicians, including Cape Breton-based Joseph Aucion, fiddler from Cheticamp and Sean McCabe from Millers Jug. He was also lead singer and guitarist in the Nova Scotian band Emerald Tide which played numerous concerts in Halifax, including opening for the Irish Descendants at the Greenwood Airforce Base in 2006.
James’ first album Where the Embers Glow features production by Nova-Scotian award-winning multi-instrumentalist and producer JP Cormier. With this album James performed at concerts and exhibitions throughout the Atlantic provinces and beyond, including a house concert circuit and The Stan Rogers Folk Festival in Nova Scotia.
His great grandfather arrived by boat from County Derry to Boston Harbour in 1894, playing his fiddle on the streets to make ends meet. As he never made it home to Ireland, James wrote a song called Back Home to Ireland in his honour, dedicated to folks who leave home and never have a chance to return.
James’ second album For the Love of Sail and Sea will be released on June 7, 2016 at the Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Stay tuned for upcoming performance dates and another timeless album that all ages will enjoy for many years to come.