Jon Wilks

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Lauded by Folk Radio (KLOF) as ‘a rather special performer with an authentic and abiding love of traditional song’, Jon is a prominent fingerpicking guitarist and singer who performs traditional English folk songs and broadside ballads, as well as his own songs. 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.

"Very much part of the UK’s living folk tradition, Wilks excels at reanimating broadside ballads and antique pieces with a scholar’s ear for vernacular and a dashing sense of verve on fingerpicked guitar…. Wilks also showcases a trio of original compositions, at his eloquent best on poetic Soho encounter Greek Street" (Uncut Magazine 7/10).

With his background as a former editor of Time Out magazine and contributor to Dazed & Confused, The Guardian and other publications, Jon has a keen eye and ear for storytelling. During his live shows, he mixes entertaining folk song performances with fascinating tidbits about the original singers and collectors that he has unearthed during his extensive research on traditional folk music in the UK. Aside from being a talented musician and performer, Jon is also the founder and editor of Tradfolk.co, a website dedicated to the traditional music and ritualistic culture of England.

Additionally, he is the presenter of The Old Songs Podcast.