Jon Wilks

Recognised with a double page feature in global Guitarist magazine, Jon is a guitarist of exceptional calibre. His stand-out talent has been applauded by Carl Barat of The Libertines who hailed Jon as a ‘badman fingerpicking guitarist’ and Martin Simpson who describes Jon as ‘the real deal’. Following the release of his 2023 album, Jon was Mark Radcliffe’s featured session guest on the BBC Radio 2 Folk Show and the album was awarded Guardian Folk Album of the Month. His recent music career includes four solo albums and one EP, with regular acclaim from well-regarded publications such as Uncut Magazine, Folk Radio (Klofmag) and The Guardian. Jon’s performances are warm, honest and intimate shared experiences, his presence entirely charming and modest whilst his talent brightly evident. Ever with a keen eye and ear for a story, and with a fascinating past career as a journalist and editor of Time Out, Jon’s live shows include conversation about the songs, his experiences, who and what has inspired him, as well as stories he has unearthed during his extensive research into traditional music. For his forthcoming album, due for release and touring in Autumn 2025, Jon aims for his music to bring people together with an energy that will make it hard to sit still! Emanating an upbeat, warm, communal feel, the new album sees Jon reconnecting with a talented group of old friends and collaborators, including folk luminary Jackie Oates. Inspired by enthusiastic audience and press response to his own songwriting and compositions, his forthcoming album sees Jon making a shift from his previous, more traditional repertoire to a collection of nearly all original songs. It’s a recording that is set to unite Jon’s heartfelt songwriting with his wide-ranging influences and experience in traditional music and far beyond.