Jon Loomes

Jon Loomes is an English traditional singer and guitarist whose work centres on the great narrative songs of the British Isles.

His performances begin with the words. Voice and guitar are treated as a single instrument, each shaping the pace, colour, and dramatic movement of the narrative. Every arrangement is developed according to the demands of the individual song.

Jon's guitar playing stands within the modal accompaniment tradition established during the English folk revival. Drawing on its characteristic tunings, modal harmony, and rhythmic approach, his performances seek to reveal the shape, pace, and meaning of each song.

Alongside his performing career, Jon has worked extensively as a producer, recording engineer, and instrument maker. Those disciplines have deepened his understanding of sound, but his focus has remained constant: bringing traditional songs to life with clarity, restraint, and fidelity to the story.

His latest album, Dust in the Sun, is presented as a rediscovered recording from the summer of 1976. Recorded in the manner of the English folk revival, it explores the borderland between history and imagination through a sequence of traditional songs unfolding within an imagined place and time.