James Sheppard

James is thrilled to be doing his first solo show in downtown NYC's fabulous Rockwood Music Hall! Combining his varied backgrounds in classical, theatrical, rock and renaissance musics, James has created a set list of original songs and covers that are sure to be titillating to his equally varied audience. He will be performing from his own singer-songwriter pop production project Casseo, who released two tracks in May 2021: Doldrums and Manipulator. The music this evening will be rearranged for a new and refreshing ensemble of musicians.

This is not James' first venture at Rockwood. James has collaborated and arranged for queer pop rock outfit Matt Krenz & the Divine, who recently released their single I Hate Your Boyfriend in May 2022. James and Matt have performed stage one together many times since 2015, and have fond memories of this iconic NY venue.

Additionally, as a collaborator - James has played and composed for Sasha Velour's shows Nightgowns, Smoke and Mirrors (which had their first Euro tour last year) and their music video cover of Weill and Brecht's Pirate Jenny. His performances and musical direction with chanteuse Daphne Always resulted in a year long residency at Club Cumming, several shows at Joe's Pub and a Brooklyn Nightlife Award in 2018. In 2020 they released their live album Daphne Always, Live From Joe's Pub.

As an educator, James is on faculty at the Diller-Quaile School of Music as a teaching artist for their early childhood and instrumental/vocal departments. He has also composed for the Bridge Arts Ensemble, where his original children's concert Help Us Compose a Song! traveled to over fifty school districts in the Adirondacks. On Sundays, James sings as a Tenor for the esteemed Schola Cantorum at the church of Saint Vincent-Ferrer under the direction of James Wetzel.

James is thankful for this wildly contrasting musical life, his Summers between the beaches of the west and east coast, his darling family and friends and lastly his doofy cat Harvey. All things above allow him to fully embrace the queerdo musical artist that he is.