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Multi-talented Jon Wilks is a much-admired fingerpicking guitarist, singer and sublime songwriter. 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 expertise in writing and in uncovering stories was honed during Jon’s years as a journalist with Time Out, during which he interviewed renowned musicians and delved into their stories. His 2023 album, Before I Knew What Had Begun I Had Already Lost was The Guardian Folk Album Of The Month. Always with a keen eye and ear for a story, Jon’s live shows include absorbing asides about the songs, his inspiration, and in the case of traditional songs, information about the original singers and collectors that he has researched. 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 has released 4 solo albums and 1 solo EP to date. His 5th solo album is out in September 2025. Having spent recent years delving deep into traditional ballads and broadsides, Jon’s upcoming 5th solo album marks a return to original material. Needless Alley is a folk-rock album rooted in themes of memory, time and place, with a strong current of nostalgia. Both lyrically and sonically, it looks back at the sounds Jon connected with in his teens, shaped by early songwriting instincts and formative band experiences. The title and title track relate to a street in Birmingham, Jon’s home city, on which he used to busk as a teenager. The album features musicians Jon has known for years, in some cases decades. It celebrates longstanding musical friendships and reflects on personal history through place and atmosphere.
‘Wilks is a fine folk songwriter, with a unique ability to blend traditional and contemporary sounds into something both fresh and vital. Add in his superb guitar work and his soft, warm vocals, and you have a very rare talent indeed. Wilks is a genuine gem in British folk and beyond.’ - Songlines **** September 2025
‘A dashing sense of verve on fingerpicked guitar.’ - Uncut Magazine
'Wilks proves once again what a stand-out talent he really is. There is an honesty and compassion in Wilks’s writing and performance, which is entirely charming.' - Folk Radio
‘Jon’s a badman fingerpicking guitarist.’ - Carl Barat, The Libertines
‘Sublime songwriting. Wilks is a rather special performer.’ - Folk Radio
Tickets: https://www.riverhousebarn.co.uk/events/142729
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre, KT12 2PF Walton-on-Thames, United Kingdom, Hannah Martin Flowers, Manor Road, Walton-on-Thames, KT12 2PF, United Kingdom
Tickets
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