Is Warren ‘Lonnie’ James the new “King of Skiffle”? This here’s the story of the jazz and country-blues musician and entertainer from Warrington who has been on the stage performing since he got his very first booking as an 8 year old boy in Wallasey, Merseyside – and the train hasn’t stopped rolling since.
Warren is now an official Tanglewood Guitars artist / brand ambassador – the first of 2023! He has been a loyal user of their British brand guitars for over a decade and we are so delighted to share his artist page which puts him alongside the likes of Fleetwood Mac’s Peter Green and many other respected artistes at Tanglewood: http://www.tanglewoodguitars.co.uk/warren-james
From cruises, theatre, and cabaret to performances for the Royal Variety. Warren specialise in delivering nostalgia and fun whilst performing the magnificent songs of his Hit Parade Heroes, including: Johnny Cash, Buddy Holly, The Everly Brothers, Eddie Cochran, Joe Brown and most notably, Lonnie Donegan, to name a few.
During the last few years, Warren has performed over 250 concerts per year and has been working regularly for the former Black Sabbath manager, Jim Simpson, and Big Bear Music.
The Birmingham based Jazz and Blues management agency, started by Jim Simpson in 1968, launched Ozzy Osbourne’s career into the stratosphere.
In 2025, Warren James performed at the launch party of Jim Simpson’s 41st Birmingham Jazz and Blues Festival before an audience of local celebrities and dignitaries.
During the festival, it was announced that the Black Sabbath frontman, Ozzy Osbourne, had died.
Warren James was performing with one of his popular bands, The Skiffle Heroes, at the time of the announcement, and they quickly improvised a skiffle style tribute to the Black Sabbath legend and were probably the first band to do so at the festival.
“Warren gave us our monies worth in 10 minutes, the rest was FREE”
In addition to his solo career, he tours with a number of first class traditional jazz and blues show bands who feature the music of the 1920s and 1930s, such as: Baby Jools & The Jazzaholics, The Jake Leg Jug Band and The Lonnie Donegan Story. With each of these shows, Warren plays banjo and guitar, as well as being a featured vocalist.
As BBC Radio 2 said back in 2006 – “Keep your eyes open for Warren James, you will not be disappointed”
The Daily Mail in 2009 – “Warren James is stylish, classy and entertaining on all levels”
Warren James 