Jackie Oates stands at the heart of the British folk scene as one of the country’s most cherished and distinctive voices. A two-time BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winner and five-time nominee, Jackie is an exquisite singer, expressive fiddler, composer, and multi-instrumentalist whose work has redefined contemporary English folk.

Across a string of critically acclaimed solo albums, Jackie has cemented her reputation as one of our most gifted interpreters and performers of traditional song. Jackie persistently seeks out unexpected artistic corners to illuminate with her voice, research, writing, and musicianship. 

A true collaborator, Jackie embodies the cooperative and democratic ethos that still lies at the heart of the British folk tradition. Jackie performs and records with a host of long-time friends and celebrated folk names including John Spiers, Belinda O’Hooley, Charlie Dore, Jon Wilks, Mike Cosgrave, John Parker, Megan Henwood, Alasdair Roberts and the late Simon Emmerson. An integral member of the folk supergroup, The Imagined Village, alongside Simon, Eliza Carthy, Martin Carthy and Billy Bragg, Jackie has continually expanded the boundaries of what folk music can be.

Jackie works on a steady stream of commissions which have recently ranged as widely as BBC Radio 3, The Orchestra of The Swan, LUSH Handmade Sound, and Yoto Music player for children. Her haunting rendition of The Cure’s Untitled, commissioned by LUSH in 2022, was featured on Iggy Pop’s Confidential show on BBC Radio 6.

During 18 months as Artist In Residence at The Museum Of English Rural Life, Jackie spent countless hours in the museum’s library researching the seldom explored area of English Lace Telling songs – a tradition of singing to accompany women’s textile work – from which her album Needle Pin, Needle Pin with John Spiers and her Radio Ballad The Lacemakers, were the results.

Jackie’s music for children and families is cherished by many. Her collection of traditional sleep songs in her 2013 album Lullabies, continues to be the soundtrack to many a bedtime, and most recently Jackie has collaborated with Nick Hart on his traditional Nursery Rhyme project. Those with pre-school children are familiar with Jackie’s vocal and instrumental contributions to the CBeebies smash hit Nick Cope’s Popcast.

It’s this spirit of exploration — her drive to bring the richness of English folk to new audiences and settings — that truly sets Jackie apart. Whatever the project, Jackie adds her understated magic and brings fresh life to the gems she uncovers.

Jackie graduated with an MA in Music Therapy and currently practices as a Music Therapist in schools and hospices. The unexpected loss of Jackie’s much-loved father just 5 days after the birth of Jackie’s first child, led to Jackie’s decision to become a Music Therapist. This academic focus and work in turn has been a catalyst; deepening Jackie’s relationship with her music and reshaping how she performs, creates, and connects with her audience.