Jon Wilks
Described by The Quietus as one of the driving forces of the London folk scene, Jon Wilks is a folk singer, songwriter and acclaimed fingerpicking guitarist rooted in English folk traditions, memory and place. His stand-out talent has received regular acclaim from publications including The Guardian, Uncut, Songlines, MOJO and RNR, and he was recognised with a double-page feature in Guitarist magazine.

Wilks has released five solo albums, one EP and one compilation to date. His fourth album, Before I Knew What Had Begun I Had Already Lost, was named Folk Album of the Month by The Guardian. His fifth and most recent solo album, Needless Alley (September 2025), received widespread critical praise, including four-star reviews from MOJO, RNR and Songlines.

Described by Wilks as ‘a patchwork of memories — what you’d find if you rummaged around in my head for an afternoon’, Needless Alley marks a shift from his earlier, more traditional repertoire towards a collection of largely original, autobiographical songs. Both lyrically and sonically, the album looks back to the music he connected with in his teens, shaped by early songwriting instincts and formative band experiences, while remaining firmly grounded in the folk tradition he has become known for. Its title and title track reference a street in Birmingham — Wilks’ home city — where he busked as a teenager.

Alongside his solo work, Wilks has built a reputation as a collaborator and scene-builder. He founded and was the original editor of Tradfolk.co, and has collaborated and shared stages with artists including Graham Coxon, Billy Bragg, Martin Carthy, Martin Simpson, Eliza Carthy, Broadside Hacks, Angeline Morrison and Ellie Gowers, among many others from across the UK folk scene. He performs both solo and with his occasional band, The Grizzly Folk.

Wilks is a fine folk songwriter…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 ****
Stylistically versatile, Wilks can turn out an infectious melody...he aces it with his precise guitar finger-picking. A powerful album.
RnR ****
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.
Folk Radio
One of the driving forces in the London folk scene... Wilks is among the best at what he does, his guitar playing wonderfully sharp and shimmering
The Quietus
A scholar’s ear for vernacular and a dashing sense of verve on fingerpicked guitar.
Uncut Magazine