Willie Jones jumped out on stage with high energy on Sunday morning on the BBC Radio 2 Stage at the Indigo O2.

This was exactly the kind of medicine we needed to hype up our day after a long night of music on Saturday!

Jones is a natural on stage. We have followed his career since he caught our attention on X Factor USA so having him play in the UK so many times is truly a privilege.

That being said, this was our first time seeing him. Jones had previously played in 2019 for Country Music Week and then returned in 2020 for the C2C Festival that never was. So to have him back for the 10th Anniversary was something we celebrated!

Kicking off with Slow’ Cookin, Jones brought that soulful, traditional country sound to the Indigo O2 which was refreshingly authentic and wonderful to absorb.

Slow’ Cookin is such a brilliant song to start with. If you didn’t know his music then this was the one to undoubtedly make a curious festival goer stay for the rest of his set. Old fans and new, Jones had attracted a very large crowd, especially for 11.20 on a Sunday Morning!

Back Porch was next. Another strong song that is incredibly catchy. Fans sang along and it was clear that Jones had a huge fanbase here in the UK.

A great response was met with Down By The Riverside. A fun, engaging song which is so much fun to dance along to, this song brought the heat up in the Indigo O2.

Bringing a bit of Jazz and Soul to country, Jones performed Soul Food next. A deliciously good song with a sick beat, the track translated epically in a live setting and, pun intended, you could feel it in your soul.

The audience bopped happily to the good time feeling Bachelorettes on Broadway and current single No Tellin’ went down a storm. A song with a modern twist that blends country beautifully with an R&B style, No Tellin’ is a toe tappin’ tune that is highly memorable and should easily be a fan favourite.

Closing the set with Them Girls Do, we felt the party was just getting started and craved a longer set. It seemed that the crowd felt the same. It is a festival so of course we weren’t going to have a full set but Willie Jones definitely deserves a place on the main stage and we hope that happens one year. Music made for the Arena, Jones would rock the joint in the O2 Arena and would definitely have the full attention of the 20,000 strong crowd.

There’s just something about Jones! He captivates his audience with his baritone vocals, his on stage charm, his soulful/trad country tunes and well, pretty much everything about him! He just brings something special to country music.

Here’s to the next time Willie!