Traditional singer and guitarist: post-revival British folk
Jon Loomes is a traditional singer and guitarist working in the post-revival British folk tradition. His work centres on narrative song, with ballads and long-form storytelling at its core. His singing is direct and unforced. His guitar playing is vivid and authoritative, built on non-linear voicings, rhythmic precision, and a deep study of traditional fingerstyle, allowing melody and text to remain in clear focus.
Widely respected for his interpretive judgement, Jon treats songs not as vehicles for expression, but as functioning narratives shaped by causality and consequence. Emphasis is used sparingly. Meaning is allowed to accumulate through sequence rather than display.
For over two decades, Loomes has been a sought-after collaborator, appearing on recordings by numerous artists. His work features on albums recognised by FATEA, Bright Young Folk, and The Daily Telegraph.
He has performed extensively across clubs and festivals in the UK, known for sets that balance clarity, weight, and dry humour, and for guitar playing that is both disciplined and striking, in service of a deep, unsentimental engagement with the tradition.
Live
(Further dates announced via mailing list)
They say:
“Genius” - Zoe Ball, BBC
“Memorable” - EFDSS
“Legendary” - FATEA
“Inimitable” - Sidmouth Folk Festival
