JOE WILKES

Bio:

Joe Wilkes Garden of the Night

Joe Wilkes Here on this Frontline

JOE WILKES Infra Red

BIOGRAPHY

Spotlight, Joe's debut came out back in 2006, since then he's released 2 others; Here On This Frontline (2008) and Looking For The Grave of Garcia Lorca out now (Oct 11th 2010) on Spitz records. DJ's Sean Rowley and Iain Anderson on the BBC and Luis de Benito on Spanish national Radio are regular players of both records as are many others.

Joe's been headlining shows up and down the country, playing gigs on the continent, has played with Bert Jansch, Joan As A Policewoman, Davy Graham, Beth Orton, and Dick Gaughan amongst others.

More gig details at Joe Wilkes official website

ALBUM REVIEWS

"…finally getting some serious attention, his tunes are wonderful and his voice is as comforting as a big duvet on a cold night, beautifully crafted, what more do you want?"

ACOUSTIC Magazine

"Every now and then something terrific this way comes… Wilkes is a major talent. His songs are robustly crafted and he likes to defy convention and take risks with song structures. Great melodies are matched by sharply observed, intelligent lyrics and the album’s freewheeling arrangements take the listener on journeys beyond the usual folk confines…. Wilkes has created his own sound, has his own angle and is very much his own man. Steeped in contemporary issues Here On This Frontline, like its creator, is hugely welcome"

ROCK 'N' REEL Magazine

"Time was when all singers at Soho folk hangouts owed debts to Woody Guthrie. Except Wilkes is of today and flavours his songs with French horns and bassoons"

MOJO playlist

“Unique and remarkable”

EIGHT MILES HIGHER

"Joe Wilkes is one of those all-too-rare musicians who, when they play, make you believe in them instantly….The great beauty of Here On This Frontline is encapsulated perfectly by the title track, which paints an exotic musical backdrop in front of which is played a poignant love song, born out of tragedy. The whole thing is delivered with such delicacy that it can’t fail to move even the most hardened of cynics….Joe Wilkes doesn’t patronize his audience or trivialize his music, this is a serious album that shines bright"

AMERICANA UK

"Joe Wilkes’ first album was a breath of fresh air and this follow-up, is just as strong. This is a truly atmospheric set. Garden of The Night and If I Could Change Everything, are both soaked in the singer/songwriter’s unique charm with the latter effortlessly, tunefully soaring into all-out rock. Wilkes is still deserving of the spotlight, even on the frontline"

HI-FI CHOICE CUTS 2008

"This is an absolutely beautiful depiction in words and music"

BLUES MATTERS

"Joe Wilkes faces the difficult ‘Second Album Syndrome’ with a superb collection of songs. He has a drop dead gorgeous voice. Great stuff"

CLASSIC ROCK SOCIETY

"Folk,Jazz and Indie influences knit together with surprising cohesion....the entire album offers up a striking melange of tones and textures in true 'it shouldn't work but...' style. Wilkes' ear for an attractive melody is spot-on from start to finish. Many up-and-coming singer-songwriters produce highly competant first albums but fewer of them couple quality with a genuinely individual sound. ....he has the advantage of being instantly memorable"

MAVERICK MAGAZINE

"Joe Wilkes has made the odd recording before, but Spotlight shows a new level of maturity in the work of this twentysomething Brit. He's happiest spinning out effortlessly charming melodies. A haunting set that deserves to be spot-lit"

HI FI CHOICE

"Not for the first time being down and out in Paris makes for startling artistic results....Having decamped to Paris in 2002 to get it together after finding himself 'between houses' in London, whatever Wilkes was running away from he/we were more than compensated with the collection of songs that returned with him across the channel. Influences such as John Martyn, Bert Jansch and Davy Graham are immediatley apparent in Wilkes' dexterous, percusive guitar style, which has an almost European flare to it... Flamenco-Folk? Spotlight as Wilkes did himself, reaches beyond the shores of it's influence....it rewards the listener with an eclectic collection of roots based music, with the stylistic variety a whole album requires yet remaining focused and congruous throughout"

AMERICANA UK

"Do you wonder past the CD section in Tesco and wonder why no one makes proper music anymore... Well worry no more....’This Time Won’t Last Forever’ is the sort of song James Blunt wishes he could write and I wish Radio 2 would play it instead of ‘Your Beautiful’ - add nausea. Joe Wilkes is a name to look out for"

BLUES MATTERS

"...his music gets under your skin. A talented British musician giving the folk legacy a new British and personal twist"

THE MORNING STAR

LIVE REVIEWS

"One of the best live acts currently playing the Spitz"

AUDIENCE MAGAZINE

"Bubbles floated through the air whilst Joe Wilkes serenaded the masses stretched out before him, his laid back attitude and emotive tunes eked out to the chillers amongst the blades of grass"

BBC CAMBRIDGE

"Kerouac in song"

CANTERBURY ACOUSTIC

"Joe is a rare diamond in the acoustic scene, in that he has something to say. His songs mine deeply into the psyche of modern England. As a performer he has an irresistible gravity"

BRISTOL FOLK HOUSE

"He uses beauty as an inspired weapon. Joe Wilkes is a great artist, a shipwrecked person like many of us on the frontline today" / "La belleza como "arma inspiradora"... Joe Wilkes es grande, un náufrago de los nuestros...En pleno "frente" cotidiano"

ISLAS DE ROBINSON (Radio 3 Nacional Española)

********************************************************************************

.. .. .. .. .. Click Buy Now if you would like to buy a copy of Spotlight with paypal or with a credit card. To pay by cheque or cash email info@joewilkes.co.uk for a list of stockists and mail order details. All albums come with full artwork, gatefold digipacks and cost £10 which includes post and packaging.

.. .. .. .. ..

As well as the free downloads here and at www.joewilkes.co.uk you can pay for downloads of other tracks using itunes.

joe wilkes Too Late To Pray

Member Since:

April 09, 2006

Members:

Sounds Like:

Record Label:

Spitz Records / Vida Music