Jon Allen has a voice you don’t forget. Just ask Jools Holland, who demanded Jon appear on ‘Later…’ after hearing him on the radio. Or Duffy, who heard his version of ‘Mercy’ and called him in to the studio – only to find that he wasn’t the black soul-man she had imagined. Or the millions of viewers of ‘Homeland’ transfixed by his track ‘Joanna’. Or the BBC producers repeatedly A-listing his songs. Or fans Guy Chambers, or Mark Knopfler, or Jo Whiley, all of whom have been entranced by his trademark mix of catchy tunes and and Sixties-inflected country blues.

Jon’s most recent album, ‘Deep River’, contains some of his best work and immediately became Radio 2’s Album of the Week. To Jon, it’s simple. “I just try to write music that moves me. I’m trying to express some truthfulness. There’s no gimmicks, no beeps and whistles.”

Support: Lesley Pike

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