After gaining over one million followers on social media and earning the praise of songwriting greats with his witty and well-crafted folk songs, Jesse Welles made his late-night television debut with an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Welles has created a serious buzz churning out timely and topical songs by the dozens. His talent for writing cleverly and poignantly about what he sees going on in the world has garnered the Arkansas-based musician a large following on TikTok, Instagram, and other platforms. Dave Matthews introduced him as “one of the best songwriters I’ve ever heard in my life” before a performance at Farm Aid in 2024, and the New York Times ran a profile calling him “a folk musician that sings the news.”
He recently released a 63-song album, Under The Powerlines (April 24 – September 24), which features selections from his ongoing stream of social media posts, as well as another, full-band album, Middle, that sees him break away from the hyper-specific style of songwriting he’s become known for in favor of a broader, more timeless perspective.
It was the latter project that Welles drew from for his appearance on Kimmel. The 30-year-old folkie was joined by a four-piece band to perform his song “Horses”, the opening track from his 12-song studio album.
Watch Jesse Welles make his late-night TV debut performing “Horses” on Jimmy Kimmel Live! below.
Welles is currently on tour with upcoming shows in the Pacific Northwest, Colorado, and Texas, as well as in the U.K. and Europe. Find a full list of tour dates and tickets here.
Jesse Welles — “Horses” (Live)