But my favourite song on 'Needless Alley' is @jonwilksmusic.bsky.social 's own. 'Mine is the Sun' is richly mysterious: with landscape, brilliantly coloured, that 'asks us for nothing', a traveller, the oncoming cold. A world, as the best songs are! Highly recommended!

The one song on 'Needless Alley' not by @jonwilksmusic.bsky.social is a cracker: 'Montagu Whaler', about a small boat which served great ships - & saved lives. Written by 'Bernie' Bruen, a sailor who knew his stretchers from his gunnels! A song of loss - with an irresistible tune!

CD Review ! @jonwilksmusic.bsky.social ' 'Needless Alley'. A joy! So much appealing 60s music, I now realise, came from the very young... But later songs can be rueful, witty & wise. Here they are..with guitar work which ranges from energetic to langorous: both lovely.

#NowSpinning #NowPlaying #NowListening Just wonderful. Virtuoso guitar and a now richly venerable voice. And some breathtaking arrangements, accompanied by Sheema Mukherjee on sitar and @elizacarthy.bsky.social on fiddle and voice. Let me swim in a jug of this.

This album is like a warm bath. One of my favourite releases this year.

BUY THIS. IT IS COMPULSORY 🥰

New album out today. Mojo says it’s “barely folk, but classy” 😂 Info here: www.jonwilks.online/blog/needles...

Stop selling arms to Israel then.

Really interesting piece by Jon Wilks - I’ve recently cancelled my Spotify subscription and moved platforms. While other streaming services are by no means perfect, at least my money isn’t directly funding causes I disagree with. Recommend this to any artists/listeners thinking of ditching Spotify!👇

Interesting and informative piece by @jonwilksmusic.bsky.social on why, and also, how, he took his music off Spotify www.jonwilks.online/blog/life-af...

Woooot!

Fascists aren’t welcome in our streets. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever.

New piece: Life After Spotify: What Musicians Lose — and What They Gain. A field report for any musicians wrestling with leaving Spotify — the playlist trap, the illusion of “discovery,” and what you really gain by stepping away. www.jonwilks.online/blog/life-af...

Where is Keir Starmer? Where is the leadership? Fascists marched on our streets yesterday and he hasn’t said a single word. Instead the Prime Minister spends his time defending the “best pals” of paedophiles. He is a coward. He should resign.

Charlie Kirk was not a “free speech activist” and any outlet that tells you he was is lying to you. He wanted unlimited freedom for himself and as little as possible for the people he hated, ie anyone who wasn’t a white male conservative. His values were trash

Congrats to me ol' mucker Martin Carthy on his nomination for the frickin MERCURY PRIZE!!!! #dontcallhimalegend

Absolutely DELIGHTED to tell you that #thedaddy has been nominated for this year’s MERCURY PRIZE!!!!!! About time, Dad! You total BELTER! 🐟🐟🐟👑👑👑🕺🏻🕺🏻🕺🏻🌟🌟🌟 Congratulations team: Ben Seal, Liz, Chris Salt, Kairen Kemp, Jon Wilks, Tim Youster and Dan Macdonald! #transformmethenintoafish

Jon Wilks's 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. klofmag.com/2025/09/jon-...

My old friend Rasheed has opened Brighton’s first LGBTQ+-centred record shop, Dream Street Records. A welcoming space that champions queer musicians and artists, it’s already becoming a community hub. Give it a follow and spread the word: www.instagram.com/dreamstreetb...

Folk musician Jon Wilks is releasing his fifth album, Needless Alley, on September 19th. Ahead of the release of his third single tomorrow, watch the video for the catchy "Montagu Whaler". klofmag.com/2025/08/watc... @jonwilksmusic.bsky.social

We’re doing it again! After a rollercoaster of a year.. we sold out of Super Early Bird tickets on site so we have decided to bring our early birds forward so people can still catch the worm! Thank you to everyone that continues to support this event. folkeast.co.uk/tickets-4/

Given that Birmingham International Airport is actually in Solihull (or thereabouts), I think they should wait until Jasper Carrott dies before making this hasty decision. Choices, choices. www.change.org/p/rename-bir...

Some Saturday highlights for ya! Be sure to check out the Les Cousins special anniversary takeover in the barn..

What about Sunday then!

Me and my impressive collection of Martins.

More artists like @jonwilksmusic.bsky.social are taking the decision to remove their music from Spotify for ethical reasons, as Jon explains in his post 👇 Help support Jon and others by buying their music on Bandcamp tomorrow #BandcampFriday 1st Aug when @bandcamp.bsky.social waive their sales fee 🤗

We are at a critical juncture. We need an alternative, now. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

My fifth solo album, Needless Alley, is out on September 29th. You can pre-order it on CD, digital download, or blue translucent vinyl from the link below. Here's the gorgeous canal boat art by Alex Merry. jonwilks.bandcamp.com/album/needle...

I'm taking my music off Spotify. Here's why... jonwilks.online/im-taking-my...

I’ve taken the initial steps to remove my music from Spotify. Thanks to Distrokid, the digital distributor I use, for acting so quickly – it’ll be gone within the next day or so.

Starting to think this might be the last time I do an album and tour. It's sooooo ball-breakingly expensive, exhausting and dispiriting. I just want to stop and sleep until it's all over.

The images of children starved to death in Gaza should be the lead of every news program.

New Cosmic Church @iheartnoise.bsky.social @campradio.bsky.social now on #mixcloud @matthewhiram.bsky.social @sugaarpan.bsky.social @budosband.bsky.social @modernnature.bsky.social Me Lost Me @jonwilksmusic.bsky.social @hivemindrecords.bandcamp.com & loads more ihrtn.net/radio-shows-...

#NowPlaying on Cosmic Church @iheartnoise.bsky.social for @campradio.bsky.social @jonwilksmusic.bsky.social - Strung Out On the Line (ft. Ellie Gowers) - S/R jonwilks.bandcamp.com/album/needle... listen.camp

New Cosmic Church @iheartnoise.bsky.social on @campradio.bsky.social @matthewhiram.bsky.social @sugaarpan.bsky.social @jonwilksmusic.bsky.social House Band @upset-the-rhythm.bsky.social @modernnature.bsky.social @hivemindrecords.bandcamp.com Scree & more Starts 3pm UK time on Saturday listen.camp

www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8mk... My son's latest track. I love this. Proud dad moment.

Go see if you can! Tix in hand for Sheffield - top bloke/musician 😁

Go see Jon! ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

Gigs, gigs and more gigs! I'll be playing songs from the new album (sometimes with a band) and songs that are much older than that. Venue details and tickets here: jonwilks.online/gigs

Aw, thanks Liza 🥲

My fifth solo album, Needless Alley, is out on September 29th. You can pre-order it on CD, digital download, or blue translucent vinyl from the link below. Here's the gorgeous canal boat art by Alex Merry. jonwilks.bandcamp.com/album/needle...

Very pleased to share the dates for my album tour. I’ll be playing songs from the new album (out in October), plenty of the old traditional tunes, and a few others that have followed me round for years. And for the first time in about 15 years, some of these dates will be full band gigs.

If you're not sure about the importance of Wizz Jones (1939-2025) to the British folk and blues scene, here's Johnny Depp reading Keith Richards' words on how he influenced all of those Southern twangers.

RIP the truly wonderful Wizz Jones. Only met him twice, but feel so very priviledged to have done so. A quiet, lovely, gentle giant of the British folk and blues scene. Cheers, boss.

If you haven't already pledged for Jon's new album, now's the time!

93% funded!! Can you help me get across the finishing line? www.kickstarter.com/projects/jon...

Have you listened to Matt Quinn's In The Roud podcast yet? It takes what I did with The Old Songs Podcast and goes even deeper. I'm on the latest episode talking about "The Jovial Hunter of Bromsgrove". Be warned: it's a long one! www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnJD...

I heard it! Very good! Good luck with the Jon Wilks new album Kickstarter! I see it's got to 75% ( on Thurs 17 April). A good chance for more Easter backers to push it over the line by 2.56 pm on Wed 23 April! Very best wishes!

Should you be lurking around your radio at 9pm tonight, it's a Les Cousins special! www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

#thedaddy being interviewed and photographed for The Guardian today. #transformmethenintoafish #thecodfatheroffolk