Jon William Johnson

If an audience came to see me, what would they see?
They’d see an intimate, heartfelt performance rooted in folk and Americana traditions, with stories woven between the songs. My shows lean into connection over spectacle: the kind of music that makes people stop and really listen, but also feel like they’re part of the experience. Expect acoustic guitars, layered harmonies, and lyrics that balance vulnerability with hope.

If a client hired me, what would they get?
They’d get a professional, reliable artist who knows how to create the right atmosphere for the room. Whether it’s a listening room, festival, wedding, or private event, I tailor the setlist to fit the mood—uplifting, reflective, or somewhere in between. Clients can count on me to show up prepared, on time, and easy to work with, making the music one less thing they need to worry about.

Wild Coast is the solo folk project of Seattle native Jon William Johnson.

Think: indie Americana with just enough synthesizers to raise eyebrows but not complaints. The latest album, Slowly then all at once (out June 6th, 2025 via Give/Take Records), is a five-year experiment in long-distance collaboration, heartbreak, and Dropbox folder management.

Born in a Ventura garage and finished in a too-small Raleigh apartment, the album began with a drum stem from Dan Bailey (Father John Misty) and spiraled—in a good way—from there. Featuring longtime bassist Terry Mattson (Hey Marseille, Fences, Cataldo), the songs drift between the hush of slow mornings and the ache of things falling apart, drawing on the Hemingway line about how things happen: gradually, then suddenly.

Jon is equally comfortable filling space with covers that span generations but with an emphasis on storytelling as he is with filling a set with originals.

I have a few different sound systems that help me scale up (or down) based on the need. I can provide everything needed for a small coffee shop/book store set with a portable Bose L1 sound system, a full range of mics and amps for instruments as well as a more traditional band set up with a full speaker/mixer/mic combo to ensure all bases are covered if we are not booking in a traditional music venue.

Sound reinforcement:

Bose L1 for small acoustic gigs. (Solo/Duo)
Scaleable PA system ((phone number hidden) watts) Dual speaker/sub combo with mixer and full mic/cable packages