MT Jones Brings JOY to North America—and We’re Already Levitating
There are voices that make you stop what you’re doing. MT Jones nearly had us falling off the chair. Five seconds into the first track we heard, we were levitating. Here at the Box, that is usually a very good sign.
Yes, Al Green comes to mind. There is a warmth and emotional generosity in Jones’ delivery that opens a familiar door. But a familiar feeling is not the same as a borrowed identity. Listen beyond that first comparison and a versatile vocalist and thoughtful songwriter emerges, with his own stories to tell. The soul in this music isn’t decoration. It feels completely invested in the work.
With his debut album JOY, released in March 2026, and an autumn run of American, British and European dates, this is a particularly exciting chapter to catch him in. Artist biography, official tour dates.
The person behind the voice
When we sat down with MT, the warmth followed him into the conversation. He came across as genuine, honest and steady in his purpose. There was an ease to his answers that made the interview feel like a conversation with someone who cared deeply about the music without needing to turn every answer into a sales pitch.
We deliberately kept our attention on the present: the project, the tour and the experience he hopes to bring into a room. Still, a few glimpses of his beginnings helped explain why the music feels so deeply rooted.
Jones told us he began learning piano at eight. He spoke about his father and his uncle Davey as early musical influences—a family love of making music that did not depend on anyone being a professional performer. They helped kindle a flame, and we are enjoying the warmth of it today.
That matters to us. Musicality is more than a list of instruments on a biography. It is the instinct to hear how a song fits together, where a voice belongs and when a feeling needs room to breathe. In Jones’ work, that instinct is part of the magic.
Classic warmth, his own direction
His public story already includes songwriting for other artists, work in Liverpool and London, and the pause during lockdown that gave him space to develop music under his own name. His debut single, “I Won’t Ever Say Goodbye,” began that chapter; BBC Introducing support and a 1Xtra Step Up feature followed. Crossover Touring.
But a résumé only gets us so far. What keeps us listening is the delivery. Jones can bring tenderness and strength into the same phrase without making either feel forced. The classic-soul references are there, but so is a living, breathing artist finding his own way through them.
For us, JOY is an invitation to spend time with that artist. Give the songs room beyond the first dazzling vocal moment. There is craft underneath the glow, and that is what makes us interested in where he goes next.
A little JOY, close enough to touch
The immediate opportunity is the stage. For the lucky devils within reach of these dates, there is a chance to hear this first-album chapter unfold in person.
His official itinerary includes Atlanta’s Aisle 5 on September 15, AmericanaFest in Nashville on September 18, Anodyne Coffee in Milwaukee on September 25 and Schubas in Chicago on September 26. The route continues west, including Seattle’s Sunset Tavern on October 1, Portland’s Jack London Revue on October 2 and Los Angeles’ Moroccan Lounge on October 7. British dates follow, with London’s O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire on October 15 and Liverpool Philharmonic Hall on November 13 among the scheduled stops. Full dates and official ticket links.
We came away from our conversation excited about the artist as much as the album. A wonderful voice gets your attention. The care behind it gives you a reason to stay.
MT Jones has both, as far as our ears are concerned. Put on JOY, find your nearest show, and let a little of that warmth into the room. Just keep an eye on your chair.
Featured image: official JOY Deluxe artwork, supplied by Coffee Talk Media.
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