Jack Jones (musician and poet)

Influences and Writing Style

Jack's writing influences include Julian Cope and Dylan Thomas and according to The Musical Manual his spoken word poem Ketamine "shares stark resemblance to workings of punk-poet legend, John Cooper Clarke.". Even the Stars music blog described "Ketamine" as "laced with wit and humour and the other ["Pound Land"] a droll comical observation of modern life based around a visit to Poundland". Jack Jones has been described as a "singer, guitarist and full-on enigma", a "fine poet...With a John Cooper Clarke-esque delivery of his sideways glance into the uglier corners of modern society...wistful and witty poems" and as having "extraordinary stage presence".

Career

Jack Jones is the songwriter, lead singer and guitarist in the band Trampolene, but also performs music and spoken word poetry as a solo artist.

In 2015 Jack performed his spoken word poetry at The Great Escape Festival in Brighton, Stoke Newington Literary Festival and "Bring the Ruckus" at The Albany in London.

The video for Health & Wellbeing (at Wood Green Job Centre) was premiered on The Guardian website, Ketamine was premiered on Vice Noisey on 21 October 2015, Pound Land was premiered on Gigwise on 18 December 2015, and Gigwise said of Jack Jones "indie has a new poster boy" in their article "Artists who are going to own 2016". Music business legend and 1965 Records owner James Endeacott described Trampolene as a "great band and their singer Jack is a wonder" when sharing the video for Artwork of Youth on his blog.

In January 2016 he was personally invited by Peter Doherty and Carl Barât of The Libertines to perform on their sell-out arena tour. He performed two poems and then welcomed the band to the stage in front of 20,000 fans. In his first feature in the NME he is introduced as "Jack Jones, singer in Welsh indie rockers Trampolene, plucked from life living in the back of his broken-down van to follow in the proud pre-Libs poetry footsteps of none other than Russell Brand." On 7 September 2016 he reprised this role to perform his "To Be A Libertine" poem and introduce The Libertines at Brixton Academy for their Unity Rocks charity show.

Jack Jones' first fashion shoot was for OutThere Style magazine, published February 2016 and was featured wearing jewellery for Pirate Treasures "Stage Style" collection also in February 2016.

He was asked to be Chrissie Hynde's guitarist, but turned it down due to band commitments with Trampolene.

Jack's first article for The Guardian was published on 18 March 2016.

Jack Jones was Drew McConnell Helsinki's special guest at Servant Jazz Quarters in Dalston, London on 19 April 2016, where he played a solo set of poems and songs to a packed venue.

During May 2016, Jack supported Peter Doherty on his UK "Eudaimonia" tour and also played guitar for him. Venues included Glasgow Barrowland Ballroom and two nights at Hackney Empire in London. He also performed at The Libertines secret show at The Boogaloo, London in July 2016.

On 15 June 2016 the NME published a poem Jack wrote for them about the UK's EU Referendum, based on The Clash song "Should I Stay or Should I Go?".

Throughout 2016 he played headline shows across the UK with his band Trampolene, and he performed solo at Latitude Festival, whose website describes him as a "music icon".

On 3 September 2016 the day after a playing a headline show at KOKO in Camden, London, with Trampolene, Jack appeared on Tom Robinson's BBC 6 Music show where he performed spoken word and was interviewed, which was filmed for a live stream on the Trampolene Facebook page.

In November 2016, the day after Trampolene headlined a sold out show for This Feeling (club night) at Water Rats in London, Jack flew to Argentina to become Peter Doherty's lead guitarist in his band the Puta Madres,for a November/December 2016 tour of Argentina, France and UK. They played two shows for the reopening of Le Bataclan in Paris, followed by a week's tour across France and then Kentish Town Forum in London and Manchester Albert Hall. Jack Jones opened the shows with a solo music and spoken word set, before rejoining the stage as Peter's lead guitarist. He was described in a five star review in The Independent newspaper as "Swansea's finest" and "sickeningly talented". During this time, Trampolene's EP "Pocket Album Five" was released, on 25 November 2016.

Jack Jones played two solo shows at the end of 2016, Kazoopa Festival, Leeds in November and This Feeling's New Year's Eve night at Nambucca, London.

In January 2017 Trampolene began a series of "House Party" gigs, playing in fans' houses. They made the Welsh newspapers after playing in a young fan's garage.

As of February 2017 several Trampolene dates have been announced, a solo show at Russell Brand's charity Trew Era Cafe, plus Jack will be playing a European tour with Peter Doherty in February and March.