Jon Wilks

Taking its name from a street in Birmingham that a teenage Jon Wilks would busk, Needless Alley is described as a patchwork of memories and marks a more autobiographical approach to his writing after previous trad folk-inclined material. These songs from his mental attic are definitely worth exploring, and, as a guitarist, he fully deserves his place alongside names such as Jansch, Carthy, and Simpson.

Folk musician Jon Wilks is releasing his fifth album, Needless Alley, on September 19th (Grizzly Folk Records). His third single, Montagu Whaler (a boat used by the Royal Navy from the 1900s to the 1960s), is the only non-original song on the album and is released tomorrow, ahead of which, you can watch the accompanying music video.

With Before I Knew What Had Begun I Had Already Lost, Jon Wilks proves once again what a stand-out talent he really is. At its soul is the love of song, of collaborating with friends, and of discovering old tunes and creating new ones.

Up The Cut is a beautiful album. A raw, but entirely seductive, performance. One for all lovers of traditional songs delivered with minimal frills. More please Jon!

Ahead of his new album, folk musician, Jon Wilks, has released a recording of a traditional Christmas Carol, with lyrics from Birmingham that have not been heard since the 1820s.

Earlier this month saw the release of “The Trial of Bill Burn Under Martin’s Act”, the ‘snappy’ title of the new EP from Jon Wilks. Jon kindly took some time out to talk us through its delights. Jon is performing at Sidmouth Folk Festival on August 3rd.

Jon Wilks shares his journey of uncovering traditional folk songs from the Midlands which led to the release of his Midlife album in November… But it doesn’t stop there.

Songs from the Attic is very much a personal journey by Hampshire-based musician and journalist Jon Wilks. His love for folk music manifests itself throughout this lovely album.

This week’s Folk Show features rituals, Cuckoos, poachers, Lapwings, Gypsies and a Golden Plover to name just a few of the themes that crop up in the folk songs we’ve pulled together. We’ve also got a sneak peek at some advance releases from Martin Simpson, Tom Russell, The Young’uns and Mairearad Green and Mike Vass plus more.