Multi-talented Jon Wilks is a much-admired fingerpicking folk guitarist and singer in the Martin Carthy/Martin Simpson vein. His talent has been recognised by Guitarist, one of the world’s biggest guitar magazines, which featured him as one-to-watch in July 2022. His upcoming 5th solo album (due in Autumn 2025) promises an absorbing blend of historical richness, trad influences and Jon’s own sublime song writing.

Jon is a prominent performer of traditional English folk songs and broadside ballads. Always with a keen eye and ear for a story, Jon’s live shows include absorbing tidbits about the songs, original singers and collectors, that he has unearthed during his extensive research on traditional folk music. As Gavin McNamara describes – ‘Jon brings the whole scene to life. A flickering cine film of black and white lives, painstakingly hand coloured to bring out every striking detail.’

Jon’s exceptional talent is also self-evident in his sublime song writing. His expertise in writing and in undercovering stories was honed during Jon’s years as a journalist during which he interviewed renowned musicians and delved into their stories (Jon was editor of Time Out magazine in Tokyo and Abu Dhabi and contributor to The Guardian, Dazed & Confused etc).

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’. 

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.

Wilks proves once again what a stand-out talent he really is. There is an honesty and compassion in Wilks’ writing and performance, which is entirely charming. Klofmag