Authentic Thoughtful Intimate
Electric Bourbon Folk - Smooth with a Smoky Finish. Songs with depth. Performances with soul. Jess Wayne brings seasoned storytelling and musical chops to every stage he steps on.
Jess Wayne writes music for people who've lived a little — and aren't afraid to feel a lot. He calls it Electric Bourbon Folk: smooth with a smoky finish. A rich blend of Americana, folk, blues, country, jazz, and adult contemporary that goes down easy but lingers deep.
Based in Taos, New Mexico, Jess didn't follow the traditional path — he shattered it. He's been a modern dancer in New York, an actor, a corporate reorganization lawyer in Denver, a law professor in Houston, and a guitar player in LA clubs that don't exist anymore. Every mile of it ended up in the songs.
His 2025 album Ancient Door earned eight favorable reviews from the indie press, and its track "Supposed To Be Flying" won a Top Songwriter award from the Colorado Music Business Organization. Jess plays around 80 shows a year — including a weekly residency at the Sagebrush Inn in Taos — and he's looking for listening audiences: festivals, listening rooms, and house concerts, with his sights set on Denver, Austin, and California.
Jess doesn't perform for flash. He performs for truth, connection, and the joy of making music that matters.
Booking: Jess performs solo and is available for festivals, listening rooms, house concerts, and private events — jesswaynemusic@gmail.com.
Stuns ~No Depression Blissful ~Paste Magazine
Stunning ~The Independent Spotlight Fascinating ~Brett David Stewart
Thought Provoking ~CMuse Wisdom and Honesty ~Huffpost
Molten Hot Concoction ~Nashville Music Guide
Press Reviews
“These songs linger. They heal. They remind us to be present, to let go, to love. And they do it with grace, honesty, and a smoky kind of beauty.”
— Noel Paul Stookey (Peter, Paul & Mary), via Rock Era Magazine, 2025
“Wayne sings with a rare amount of authenticity and empathy that makes it all sound within reach.”
— The Big Takeover, October 1, 2025
“Mature in a good way, full of effortless, tantalizing melodies, Ancient Door is relaxed and balanced, an album of sonic symmetry.”
— V13, August 2025
"Ancient Door is an impactful display of consistently quality songwriting from Jess Wayne." -- Obscure Sound, July 2025
“the essence of life’s complexity, for people who know that life is sometimes messy and muddy, yet simple and beautiful all at the same time… wisdom and honesty…” - Eileen Shapiro
“As many moments of blissful beauty as there are of thought provoking, real-life reflection” - Rebecca Cullen