Jake Blount

Information

Jake Blount is a rising star of American roots music, a talented banjoist, skilled fiddle player and powerful singer. 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 also been showcased on NPR’s Tiny Desk concert series and BBC Radio Two’s Folk Show. Jake has performed and collaborated with roots music luminaries including Kaia Kater, Rhiannon Giddens, Tatiana Hargreaves and the Kronos Quartet. He is a specialist in the early folk music of Black Americans, and 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. Jake has a BA in ethnomusicology and is currently studying for a PhD in musicology & ethnomusicology. Originally from Washington DC, he has toured widely across the USA and Europe, taking his music and scholarship to renowned venues including Carnegie Hall, Newport Folk Festival, the Library of Congress and Roskilde Festival in Denmark.

Jake received much acclaim for his 2020 debut album Spider Tales and his 2022 release The New Faith, which is part of Smithsonian Folkways Recordings’ prestigious African-American Legacy Series. The album has received glowing reviews from Rolling Stone, The Guardian and many more, and sees Jake exploring new sounds and tones, skilfully incorporating electric guitar, percussion and spoken word alongside banjo and fiddle. The New Faith imagines what Black religious music might sound like in a not-so-distant future world devastated by climate change, and includes inspired new arrangements of traditional songs including Black spirituals and Blues.

Jake Blount is a mesmerising, hugely entertaining live performer, and will be appearing with his trio, featuring outstanding double bassist Nelson Williams and gifted multi-instrumentalist Gus Tritsch. Expect a mix of evocative songs and footstomping fiddle tunes, with exceptional musicianship and soulful singing.

“An uncommon talent.” – The Guardian

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