“Before there were genre labels—many of which were artificially created by the music industry for cynical reasons—there was a fertile ground of discovery and experimentation and cross-pollination of European and African and indigenous music. Jones’ album feels current and sophisticated in its blend of sounds, but it also in some ways represents a return to that organic, authentic cultural exchange from which American roots music originated.”
“Jonivan Jones unveils a striking reflection on perception and truth in “Plain Bellied Water Snake””
“It was the voice of Arkansas songwriter Jonivan Jones that struck us when we first heard this new song, ‘After The Sunset’, with its acoustic blues/country sound that reminded us of fellow gravelly troubadour Ryan Bingham.”
“blending local color from the places he’s encountered on his travels, which span from the Deep South, to the East Coast, to the South Pacific and in between. Though his voice has always maintained that charismatic rasp, his time on the road is what has largely influenced that gravelly, soulful quality, which is evident in his latest album.”
BIO/BACKGROUND
"Jonivan Jones is a musician and performing songwriter with roots in Arkansas and South Texas, blending South Pacific travels, twang, and psychedelic sounds with old folk, blues, and a DIY campfire atmosphere. His style fuses traditional folk, early Western, and Delta blues, creating moments that resonate with audiences through the intersecting framework of genres and common experiences buried within the music.
At the age of 14, while learning on an old hand-me-down guitar, Jones began to recreate and patch together little bits of songs with the encouragement of family, friends, and musicians. Jones grew up in Arkansas and was frequently taken on camping trips to Mountain View, Arkansas, where he listened to the local folk music. Twice a year, for most of his youth, Jones's family camped in a nearby section of land along the Sylamore Creek, where there was a private gathering that included nighttime fire sessions of some of the most genuine folk music. It was there that he received the privilege and opportunity to witness (and occasionally receive a little mentorship from) the style of a revered songwriter and cowboy singer who performed under the stage name "Lucky Larue."
Some years later, around 2004, he began writing and recording melodies on an old 4-track tape recorder (purchased for $40 while living/working near New Orleans, LA) and experimenting with songwriting styles and 4-track recording processes. Two years later (2006), while living and working in Corpus Christi (TX), he started venturing to the Executive Surf Club's Wednesday Open Mic Night and began booking himself around the town and South Texas.
Dropped C# tunings, homemade foot drums, stomp boxes, and an old 1974 Fender Deluxe Reverb amp became some commonly used tools for a few years to come. Performing live and releasing do-it-yourself songs/music for years after, sometimes as a 3-piece or a 2-piece under the name “animalsound” or “animal+sound,” supplied some lessons and ethics that shaped his approach to being a performer and a songwriter.
Exploring and connecting to musical locales is a difficult thing, but occasionally a few fellow musicians, songwriters, and performers welcomed a few chances to collaborate on recordings and live shows. After years of splitting shows with friends and musicians in random towns (and once even getting to play at an impromptu SXSW show in 2007 at The Pita Pit on 6th and Congress), he arrived at a junction and opportunity for change. In 2016, while embracing the spirit of the folk and roots music that he grew up with and the deep reverence for Delta blues and bits of the DIY spirit from his formative years, he began writing and performing original music under his name.
With a style that is best characterized by its fusion of genres and ghosts that hitchhike through the music, there is an evolving juxtaposition taking place within the songs, creating a catalog of unique music that is a nod to life’s pact with the wild."
(Excerpt from Carol Roth's review of Jones's album, “Ragged Jangly”) ”)
~‘Before there were genre labels—many of which were artificially created by the music industry for cynical reasons—there was a fertile ground of discovery and experimentation and cross-pollination of European and African and indigenous music. Jones’ feels current and sophisticated in its blend of sounds, but it also in some ways represents a return to that organic, authentic cultural exchange from which American roots music originated.’
FESTIVALS:
~Pot O' Hot Festival - Kerrville, TX - February 28, 2026
-Delta Arts Festival - Newport, AR - June 6th and 7th, 2025
-TrailHead Beer Garden Pot O Hot Festival - Kerrville, TX - February 22nd, 2025
-SASHTO Conference Performing artist -Rogers, AR - August 20, 2024
-Electric Strawberry Eclipse Festival - Hot Springs, AR - April 6th, 2024
-Hidden Acres Farm Eclipse Festival - Russellville, AR - April 5th, 2024
-Electric Strawberry Artist Feature - Hot Springs, AR - March 1-31st, 2024
-Trail Head Beer Garden Pot O Hot Festival - Kerrville, TX - February 24th, 2024
-Harmony in the Hollow/LGBQT+/Hidden Acres Farm Fest. -Russellville, AR - May 26th, 2023
-Hot Water Hills Festival - Hot Springs, AR - September 30th, 2022
-Harmony in the Hollow - Russellville, AR - May 27th, 2022.
FEATURES:
KASU Arkansas Roots 91.9 FM
Shoog Radio KABF 88.3 FM
“Little Red Hen” Gems On VHS Monthly Playlist ~ December 2022
“Moira's Heart” Gems On VHS Monthly Playlist ~ May 2024
“Round the Circle” Gems On VHS Playlist ~ December 2024
AWARDS:
Songwriting Awards.Word - 2024
Best OutLaw Song ~ “Wide Place in the Road”
ARTIST STAGE NAME: Jonivan Jones
GENRE:
Contemporary Folk and Blues
SUBGENRES:
Regional Folk, Indie Folk, Folk Blues, Folkabilly, Americana, Country Folk, Folk Rock, Old Timey Folk, Roots Folk.
INSTRUMENTATION:
Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, 8 String Lap Slide, Harmonica, Stompbox
SOUND SETUP:
Artist travels with ability to run a full sound set up with 1 PA and Monitor, 2 Vocal Microphones, 1 Instrument Stand, 1 Acoustic Guitar, 1 Electric Guitar, 1 String Lap Slide guitar, Multiple Harmonicas and 1 Stompbox.