Jon Wilks

Jon Wilks is a folk singer, songwriter and acclaimed fingerpicking guitarist whose work is rooted in English folk traditions, memory and place. Described by The Quietus as “one of the driving forces of the London folk scene,” he first gained recognition through his exploration of traditional songs from Birmingham and the wider Midlands, releasing two regionally focused albums: Midlife (2018) and Up the Cut (2021).

His fourth solo album, Before I Knew What Had Begun I Had Already Lost (2023), was named Folk Album of the Month by The Guardian. His fifth and most recent album, Needless Alley (2025), marked a shift toward largely original, autobiographical songwriting and received widespread critical acclaim, including four-star reviews from MOJO, RNR and Songlines. 

Wilks has described the album as “a patchwork of memories - what you’d find if you rummaged around in my head for an afternoon.”

A former journalist for Time Out, The Guardian and Dazed & Confused, Wilks brings a sharp narrative sensibility to his songwriting and stagecraft. He founded and was the original editor of Tradfolk.co and performs both solo and with his occasional band, The Grizzly Folk.