songwriter, Builth Wells, Powys, Wales
Biography 
Jack Harris was born in 1986 in Builth Wells, Powys, Wales. His mum and dad are keen amateur musicians and his life has been steeped in the music of the British Isles and the Americas. He started learning to play the guitar at the age of 8 and by the time he was 13 he was already showing a talent for writing songs and performing at his local High School concerts. He says he wrote his first decent song, "Breakfast," when he was 14.
Jack has been one of a group of local young people involved in CARAD (Community Arts Rhayader and District), which receives funding from The Arts Council of Wales. The group provides workshops ranging from song writing to performance skills development. In the summer of 2003 Jack recorded a five-track sampler CD, Pathfinder, at CARAD's recording studio. This CD was sent with his application to the South by South West (SXSW) Festival organisers in Texas where it went through a rigorous selection procedure. Jack was chosen to showcase at the 2004 SXSW Convention in Austin. With financial help from friends and fans he traveled to Texas for the festival, where he caused quite a buzz.
After his success at SXSW, Jack sent another recording to Texas, entering the iconic Kerrville New Folks Competition. He was chosen as one of 32 finalists, and in May 2005 traveled again to Texas for the finals at the Kerrville Folk Festival. A few days later he was named one of the six winners of that competition - six chosen from over 700 entrants. He loved Kerrville and Kerrville loved him. He expects to tour in the United States again soon.
Since November 2002 Jack has shared the stage with some of the finest talents in contemporary folk music. He has opened for A.J.Roach, for Kate Campbell twice and for Austin based singer-songwriter Eliza Gilkyson on the only Welsh dates of their UK tours. Jack has also supported Texan singer-songwriter Eric Taylor in both the UK and the US, as well as leading Welsh folk musicians Sian Phillips and Danny Kilbride.
Jack’s songs tell searching stories of human experience and reveal a maturity and understanding far beyond his years. His rich, complex lyrics and his powerful melodies draw upon a diverse range of influences - from the music of Tom Waits, Lyle Lovett and Laura Nyro to the local tales told by his grandmother.
