“James Coates sounds like Bob Dylan if he could actually sing, while lyrically he veers closer to Springsteen territory.” —Seattle Weekly

James Coates is a Northwest singer-songwriter who's used deeply-personal songs to connect with audiences for 15 years. His soulful brand of Americana blends rock, soul, country and R&B to create a sound that harkens back to the golden age of ‘60s and ‘70s songwriting.

The Oh Wells embody Northwest Americana highlighted with the band’s power pop and classic rock roots. Spinning up melody driven pop songs, relatable storytelling, and signature harmonies, The Oh Wells evoke a modern twist on classic American folk-rock from the 1960s and 70s. Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, singer-songwriters Brian Kerrigan and Ira Merrill formed The Oh Wells during the pandemic as they sent songs back and forth to each other over the internet. In 2021, the band released a Christmas EP with former Super Deluxe frontman, Braden Blake, entitled “Braden Blake and The Oh Wells – Satin Bows and Arrows”. In early 2022, The Oh Wells released their first EP of 7 original songs titled, “Dakota”, an acoustically driven EP that fuses their unique blend of originality with nods to artists they hold dear: Tom Petty, The Jayhawks, The Beatles and CSNY.