Compendium 260 - 22nd April 2026 - Song 6 Jon Wilks - October Song (Live at the Albion Rooms) Album: Bones Date: 2026 Web: www.jonwilks.online Blue Sky: @jonwilksmusic.bsky.social

Billy Bragg calls for big turnout at London march against far right

Join us: 28 March, Park Lane, 12pm togetheralliance.org.uk

Compendium 249 - Song 9 Jon Wilks - Scarborough Fair (Live at Green Note) Album: Bones Date: 6th January 2026 Web: www.jonwilks.online Blue Sky: @jonwilksmusic.bsky.social

Bob Dylan tribute to Martin Carthy 2025 (better quality)

Four-time Grammy Award nominee Jesse Welles performs his song "Join Ice." Bob Dylan once said a single folk singer could defeat an entire army. Ladies and gentlemen, I think we have our man.

I feel like such a cliche getting goosebumps watching @zackpolanski.bsky.social’s latest political broadcast Had forgotten not just what hope feels like, but a vision for the country that feels like it’s for the citizens of this country, not just a minority of billionaires and toxic media barons

Solidarity with the forces of resistance in Minneapolis as they stage a day of action in protest at the harrying of their city by Tяump's goon army www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

Listening to the radio, I assumed the names involved were Bored of Peace

I know we're wearily used to it, but it really can't be overstated how utterly unhinged, rambling and detached from reality Donald Trump sounds when measured against the metric of pretty much anyone else in global politics. It's the court of a decrepit medieval king.

It's bizarre watching Trump talking about visiting a place called Switzerland, as if nobody has heard of it before, even though he’s delivering the speech in Switzerland.

Here's lovely man and superb noise merchant Graham Coxon and I doing Scarborough Fair at Green Note in Camden. The full live recording is out now on my BONES album, available from Bandcamp and most good streaming services. jonwilks.bandcamp.com/album/bones

Search trends in the UK growing over the last week. Trump's tariffs on countries that oppose his Greenland grab are inspiring a growing movement.

I had enough of big tech and their actions, so created this guide to make switching as easy as possible... Hopefully, it helps you take the first step, or for people who are equally passionate, to get their friends or family involved. Access the site and guide below: www.purchasewithpurpose.io

Finally, Europeans are taking to the streets to protest against the American aggression against Europe. But it should not have taken this long. And it should not only be in 🇩🇰🇬🇱. If you want your leaders to to stop their supplication to Trump and fight for you, then you need to tell them.

Fuck Spotify

70 years ago Lonnie Donegan hit the UK charts with Rock Island Line, kicking off the skiffle craze that inspired the Beatles, the Stones, the Who, Cream, Led Zepellin, Pink Floyd etc I'll be discussing skiffle with Mark Radcliffe on BBC Radio 2 Weds 14th Jan at 9pm. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Hiding from the world & obsessing over all the details of composing & recording my new album. It’s a long time overdue so I hope you’ll like it. In the meantime here’s some stills from He Comes in the Night. The whole thing is on YouTube, if you feel like cosying up with a small, eerie song.

It’s my birthday. 🎂 Thanks for the kind messages thus far. I wanted to ask 4 quick things of you today. There’s so much more I wanna say but know this is already a bit long. Don’t be a stranger. Bye for now.

Hamnet, though. If Jessie Buckley doesn’t win every award going, the world’s a wrongun.

Emily Portman returns with "Turn Again," a motherhood-inspired single from her upcoming album Dominion of Spells. A Kickstarter campaign for the album and a companion hardback book is live, with two weeks left to run. 🎶📖 klofmag.com/2026/01/emil...

What's that you say? A NEW ALBUM... ALREADY?! Well, kinda. BONES was released today. Head to Bandcamp for more info: jonwilks.bandcamp.com/album/bones

Just gonna leave this here

Even if Farage was our PM, I wouldn’t support a foreign regime swooping in and kidnapping him I guess that’s the difference between people who care about human rights and international laws, and people drunk on ideology with no moral compass

Breaking 🔥 Winner of the FiFA peace prize is bombing another country - “a serious military escalation” says BBC’s Lyse Doucet

This fab album 'Needless Alley' from @jonwilksmusic.bsky.social arrived yesterday. A delight to sit and enjoy Jon's brilliant songwriting and musicality while reading the lyric book and admiring the gorgeous artwork by @alexmerryart.bsky.social Check it out here jonwilks.bandcamp.com/album/needle...

I'll be doing a listening party for the Needless Alley this evening, Wed, 7:30pm, online. If you fancy it, drop me a line and I'll let you know how to get in.

I’ve written a behind-the-scenes account of how Eliza, Campbell and I pulled together The Life and Songs of Martin Carthy at EartH Theatre on Saturday night. From half-mad ideas to Bob Dylan’s video, it’s all in here.

RIP Danny Thompson: bassist for Pentangle, Richard Thompson, Nick Drake, Davy Graham, Bert Jansch, June Tabor, John Martyn, Donovan … www.clashmusic.com/news/legenda...

I’ve written a new piece: Why Are Artists Leaving Spotify? A Guide for Listeners. Low payouts, AI slop, Daniel Ek’s €600m weapons investment — the “Spotify exodus” is real, and listeners have choices. Read here... www.jonwilks.online/blog/why-art...

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.

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