Jake Blount Trio

Jake Blount is a sensational and mesmerising live performer, and will present just a handful of summer dates in the UK and Europe with his trio this year.  The WemsFest audience are very lucky to have nabbed one of only two UK dates (the other is London)!  Get yourselves to Chidham Village Hall!!!

Jake Blount is one of the most important new voices to emerge on the American roots music scene in recent years. A talented multi-instrumentalist and powerful, soulful singer, Jake is also a specialist in the early folk music of Black Americans. His work shines a light on the major contributions that Black, Indigenous and LGBTQ artists have made to American folk traditions, which have often been overlooked.

Based in Rhode Island, USA, Jake won the 2020 Steve Martin Banjo Prize and was nominated for Artist of the Year at the 2023 International Folk Music Awards. He has studied with roots music luminaries including Rhiannon Giddens and Hubby Jenkins, and has a BA in ethnomusicology from Hamilton College. Jake received considerable acclaim for his 2020 debut album Spider Tales and the 2022 follow-up, The New Faith, was released as part of Smithsonian Folkways Recordings’ African-American Legacy Series. Described as “Black folk music from the future”, The New Faith has received glowing reviews from Rolling Stone, The Guardian and many more. It sees Jake exploring new sounds and tones, incorporating electric guitar and percussion alongside banjo and fiddle. Conceived, written and recorded during the darkest months of Covid lockdowns, it imagines what Black music might sound like in a not-so-distant future world devastated by climate change, and is centred around radical new arrangements of traditional songs, including Black spirituals and Blues. 

“An uncommon talent.”  – The Guardian

“Absurdly talented in about every way a musician can be” – LA Times

“An Afrofuturist in roots-music garb” – NPR

Doors open at 7.30pm.

Licensed bar.

The Barleycorn Tavern, which is a stone’s throw from the Village Hall, are very kindly offering ticket holders 2 for 1 meals before the concert. You’ll need to call them and book at least 3 days before the event, and will need to show either your ticket or your wegottickets email. You can view the menu and find contact details here.