James' long and winding road

FEW people have heard his stuff, but James McCartney is getting plenty of media exposure as he embarks on his first ever tour. Which is perhaps unsurprising given that his dad is ex-Beatle Sir Paul McCartney.

Clearly, being the son of the most successful composer in popular music history is a useful way to stand out in a crowd of musical hopefuls, but the flipside is that making a name for yourself is going to be a long and winding road.

As we've seen with other kids of musical icons (think Julian Lennon or Sean. Or even Ringo Starr's boy, Zak Starkey), even if he does do well he'll always be known as Macca's laddie. Not only that, but he'll forever be asked less about his own prospects than about what it was like to grow up in the company of a bona fide legend. Them's the breaks though.

Perhaps unsurprisingly for one who has spent most of his life trying to hide from his show business heritage (unlike his sisters Stella and Mary, who have prospered from their father's fame), the younger McCartney doesn't attempt to mimic his doe-eyed dad musically.

Obviously Sir Paul's been a big influence, but the singer and songwriter, whose tentative foray towards musical stardom brings him to Cabaret Voltaire on Sunday, also cites the likes of Nirvana, The Cure, Radiohead and PJ Harvey among his heroes.

The 32-year-old multi-instrumentalist says that he's been interested in music all his life but started to take a serious interest after his dad bought him a four-string guitar when he was nine.

"He taught me simple chords and I was able to start playing from that point," he recalls. "But I think I have always been inspired to be a musician from when I was a little baby or for as long as I can remember. Music has always been a big part of my life, with my mum (the late Linda McCartney] and dad's influence, being on tour as a child, and my whole family being very artistic and creative it was just a natural thing for me."

While tens of thousands will turn out to see Sir Paul play Hampden Park this summer, his son will have to make do with playing to a few hundred punters when he makes his Capital debut this weekend. Naturally very shy, that suits him just fine for the time being.

"Intimate venues are a bit more personal and I enjoy them, but I would like to play all kinds of gigs. I'd like to play Wembley, and I'd like to play festivals, huge free concerts, everything," says the singer, who played a raft of secret gigs last October under the name Light.

"I just want people to become more aware of my music and enjoy it, and maybe get some crowds totally rocking. I've got a great bunch of musicians together and I'm looking forward to it."

Asked where he gets his inspiration as a live performer, he says, "Obviously first The Beatles, my dad and John Lennon, but I'd say Nirvana have had a big influence on my music and live performance too. I love the music, I love the art, it's intense."

Having spent a lot of time in Scotland in the past, this is one of the dates on the tour McCartney is particularly looking forward to. "I went to Scotland a lot on holiday each summer with my family and have some great memories, so it means a lot to me," he says. "A lot of great folk music comes from Scotland – it's an inspiring place.

"I will have the chance to spend a couple of days off in the area, so I can't wait for that too."

James McCartney, Cabaret Voltaire, Blair Street, Sunday, 7pm, 7, 0131-220 6176

HEY JAMES, DON'T MAKE IT BAD: McCartney plays Cab Vol while dad has to make do with Hampden

Picture: STEVE GILLETT-LIVEPIX

Hebden unleashes full electronic Four Tet

ELECTRONIC wizard Kieran Hebden and his trusty laptop provide superb soundscapes to the Bongo Club tomorrow night.

The pioneering Londoner, better known as Four Tet, highly acclaimed for his folktronica leanings on albums such as Rounds, returned recently with newbie There Is Love In You – a stunning comeback effortlessly blending techno and jazz.

"I wanted to make a good album that felt like it had a point," says Hebden, who has also done remixes for a number of artists including Super Furry Animals, Radiohead, Manic Street Preachers and Bloc Party.

"After putting out quite a few albums, there's a feeling of why make another? I was trying to make something that was an album experience. I think I'm still stuck in that traditional mindset.

"I've done quite a few records now, and I look back and think of them as documents of my musical journey. I think the most important thing for me is putting out records that document ideas. I want to be able to look back on all this in the years to come and see how I explored those ideas.

"With a lot of the music I really love, like Miles Davis, you can go back and see the processes and the stages."

GARY FLOCKHART

Four Tet, Bongo Club, Holyrood Road, tomorrow, 7pm, 12, 0131-558 7604

the prodigiously talented sons

Rufus Wainwright – The preening prima donna has arguably surpassed the fame of his parents – Loudon Wainwright III and the recently departed Kate McGarrigle.

Jakob Dylan – Must have been especially daunting for the son of Bob, pictured, going into the family trade, but today he's a Grammy-winning singer and songwriter, whose band The Wallflowers have a massive following.

Jeff Buckley – Few would argue that his music is more widely lionised than the cult recordings of his father, Tim.

Ziggy Marley – The four-time Grammy award winner has proved successful at carrying on his father's legacy.