CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND WORK OF ONE OF OUR FINEST AND FUNNIEST WORDSMITH

John Watterson is delighted to announce his show for 2026 - An Audience without Jake Thackray , celebrating the life, songs and wonderful wordsmithery of the great Yorkshire chansonnier..

Without Jake.

Leeds-born Jake Thackray (1938-2002) is increasingly recognised as being one of the greatest English songwriters of the twentieth century, a unique talent, whose songs are full of poetry, wit, irreverence and humanity. He became known to millions through his regular appearances in the 1960s and 1970s on programmes such as Braden’s Week and That’s Life. Since his death in obscurity there has been growing recognition of his genius and a resurgence of interest in his work. His admirers include Jarvis Cocker, Alex Turner, Don Black, Thea Gilmore, Cerys Matthews, Benjamin Clementine and Neil Gaiman.

With John.

John Watterson is the UK’s leading performer of Jake’s songs. As Fake Thackray he has toured with Fairport Convention and more recently with Jasper Carrott. John has performed at Latitude, Cropredy and the Edinburgh Fringe Festivals. He has also played for Jake’s family. John has appeared many times on radio, including Radio 4’s Great Lives, a Radio 2 documentary on Jake presented by Cerys Matthews and Radio 3’s The Verb hosted by Ian McMillan. Recently was invited to appear on TVs Meet the Richardsons with Jon Richardson and Lucy Beaumont.

John and colleague Paul Thompson have recently published the first and only biography on Jake, ‘Beware of the Bull, The enigmatic genius of Jake Thackray’.

The show will include many Jake classics (Sister Josephine, On Again On Again, The Bantam Cock and others), anecdotes from John’s research into Jake’s life for the recently published biography as well as some of the ‘lost’ Thackray songs John has rediscovered and recorded on his CD, The Lost Will and Testament of Jake Thackray.

“Affectionate and skilful. Long may John continue” (Sir Richard Stilgoe).

“Jake’s songs are in safe hands” (Ralph McTell).

“I am sure my old friend would be delighted” (Jasper Carrott).

Description supplied by the event organiser.