By Meghan Muldoon

WESTPORT–The British singer-songwriter MT Jones is winning America over, one show at a time. 

“It’s been really, really well received,” Jones said about his current U.S. tour. “Some people have turned up to the shows just for me and traveled really far to come and see the show. It’s just super heartwarming.”

On Sunday, July 19, Westport audiences will have a chance to discover the musician for themselves when Jones brings his emotionally rich songs to the Levitt Pavilion.

The Westport stop is one of 25 dates on a tour that stretches into October, taking Jones up and down the East Coast and across the U.S. from Alabama to Seattle. The schedule can be grueling, with long drives between shows but Jones said he is embracing the pace. 

“I’m here for it,” he said. “I’m with good people. It’s just been a good vibe.”

Steeped in the warmth of 1960s and ’70s soul, Jones’ songs echo the melodic craftsmanship of Motown and legendary songwriters like Burt Bacharach, Carole King and Brian Wilson, while drawing equally from modern R&B and jazz. Critics have compared his sound to Donny Hathaway and D’Angelo, but Jones emphasized that his deeply personal style is unmistakably his own.

“I don’t go in with the intention of making a retro soul kind of record,” he said. “I just sort of write what resonates with me and what I feel. So I’d say the music’s very honest. It’s about real things that have happened in my life and experiences, and the songs are pulled from that.”

That honesty is at the heart of his debut album, “Joy,” released this year. The record features the acclaimed singles “Why I Cry,” “Gentle Reminder” and “I Don’t Understand,” along with the moving closing track “Her Name Is Joy.” 

The album has helped establish Jones as one of Britain’s rising soul artists, earning him recognition as an “Artist to Watch in 2026” from music publications including Earmilk and The Digilogue.

His growing reputation has been fueled by an impressive year on the road. After selling out venues across the United Kingdom, Jones made his U.S. headline debut in Los Angeles and Brooklyn, performed at SXSW in Austin and appeared on NPR’s World Cafe. 

Before stepping into the spotlight, Jones spent years as a busker and a session musician supporting other artists. It wasn’t until about three years ago that he began writing and performing under his own name.

“I never initially thought I was going to follow the artist route,” he said. “Then when I settled into it, it feels like the main thing I want to be doing all the time.”

Although songwriting comes naturally, Jones admits performing wasn’t always his favorite part of the job.

“I used to prefer writing, but I love performing now,” he said, adding that live music creates a genuine conversation between artist and audience.

“Playing music live is the best way to connect those songs to people because it’s a personal experience,” he said. “I always try to keep the live arrangements quite fluid so things can happen and evolve on stage. It’s got to be a back and forth.”

Rather than recreating his recordings note for note, Jones allows each concert to evolve naturally, responding to the audience in front of him. For Westport concertgoers, that means no two performances are exactly alike. And while each show takes on its own personality, Jones’ goal as a performer remains the same. 

 “I just hope people like the songs and want to have a good time,” he said.

MT Jones performs Saturday, July 19, at 7 p.m. at the Levitt Pavilion. Admission is free and reservations are available here.

Meghan Muldoon

^{_{Meghan Muldoon is a freelance journalist based in Darien, Connecticut. As a television and print journalist, Muldoon has covered state government and politics in Virginia and Connecticut.}}