Jon Wilks is an acclaimed singer, songwriter and fingerpicking guitarist whose music is steeped in English folk traditions, memory and place. Hailed as “one of the driving forces of the London folk scene,” he first made his name reworking traditional songs from Birmingham and the Midlands, before turning toward deeply personal, autobiographical writing on his later releases.

His albums trace a journey from regional storytelling to intimate reflection, with 2023’s Before I Knew What Had Begun I Had Already Lost earning widespread praise, and 2025’s Needless Alley marking a striking shift into original material. In early 2026, he released BONES, a companion collection of demos, outtakes and live recordings — raw, fingerpicked and beautifully unpolished — capturing the quiet spaces between his studio albums.

A former journalist and founder of Tradfolk.co, Wilks brings a keen storyteller’s eye to both his songwriting and his performances. Whether on record or on stage, his work is rich with atmosphere, history and the echoes of lives lived.

“Pulls off that niftiest of tricks – paying due homage to the traditions whilst sounding original and contemporary.” — Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2 Folk Show“Jon Wilks is the real deal. He has a deep love for folk music which is coupled with intelligence, curiosity and musicianship. He is a fine guitar player, a really good singer and an excellent writer to boot. What he does is capture the essence of his material.” — Martin Simpson

“Pulls off that niftiest of tricks – paying due homage to the traditions whilst sounding original and contemporary.” — Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2 Folk Show