Leighton Jones is a theatre composer, performer and singer/ songwriter currently based in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire. He is currently resident composer for Proper Job Theatre company in Huddersfield and this year created original choir score for their critically acclaimed immersive music theatre production of ‘Beowulf’ with libretto by Ian McMillan (The Bard of Barnsley) and Michelle Scally Clarke.

In 2024 he will be composing for The Royal Opera House Youth Theatre Company and their ‘Making Opera for Young Audiences’ programme.

Growing up on The Isle of Skye, Leighton developed a passion for performance and musical theatre collaborating with artists of varying disciplines across Scotland, co-writing and performing with several prolific Scottish acts:

Touring as keyboardist for Celtic fusion group 'The Peatbog Faeries', he co-wrote their third and fourth studio albums ‘Welcome to Dunvegas’ (2003) and ‘Croftwork’ (2005), before forming Hebridean folk-noir quartet 'The Dead Man's Waltz' in 2009 and releasing their critically acclaimed self-titled debut album “fusing Weimar Cabaret, the accordion of Yann Tiersen and theatriality of Beirut and Bellowhead' (The Herald).

Combining experimental music, spoken word and film, The Dead Man’s Waltz played to audiences at Glasgow's Short Film Festival, The Edinburgh Fringe and The Festival of Death at London's Southbank Centre.

In 2015 Leighton released his immersive debut solo EP All The Way Home:

'Showcasing a palette that spans melancholic piano balladry and traditional folk with a meticulous approach to sound design' (The Herald)

The record was aired on BBC Radio 3's Global Gathering, Radio Scotland's Travelling Folk Show and performed live at St.Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh for the 2016 Hogmanay celebrations. Garnering stylistic comparisons to Peter Gabriel and the synth pop of the early 80's, the five track song-cycle draws on the influences of his early childhood in Yorkshire and the Isle of Skye in Scotland where he relocated at 9 years old, blending the folk music of the highlands islands with colliery brass bands, chamber-folk instrumentation and geographical synergy of his youth.

In 2016 he returned to Yorkshire to study a Masters in composition and performance mentored by Belize born British composer Errollyn Wallen, composing a series of theatrical musical vignettes and a song cycle based on the plight of our pollinators and decline of the honeybee.

In 2019 he formed chamber pop group Beware of Trains with Scottish soprano Marie Claire Breen ("A soprano of rare fluency" - The Daily Mail), forging a collaboration combining there shared loved of musical theatre and orchestral pop.

That year they released their debut singles 'Let's Move To London' and electro-pop 'In Your Pocket' before performing a sell out festive concert at Bradford Cathedral for 'A Kitmas Concert' with members of Opera North chorus to raise funds for Allerton Cat Rescue.

During lockdown, the band composed a body of new material, broadcasting exclusive live content for their local Heptonstall Virtual Festival in 2020.

Inspired to write a festive song based on Allerton Cat Rescue centre's slogan ‘Helping cats and kittens find their Forever Home for over 40 years', the band released their festive 3rd single in November 2023 co-produced and mixed by Darren Allison (The Divine Comedy).

“‘Forever Home’ carries all the glamour of the West End and all the alternative allure of the Legendary Pink Dots and Jason Webley…prepare for the scintillating resonance and grab a few tissues. It hits harder than the end of Raymond Brigg’s symphonic poem, the Snowman.” A&R Factory

Joined by Leeds Conservatoire multi-instrumentalist Laura McIntosh on bass and keys, the band performed a sell out single launch show at Square Chapel Arts Theatre in Halifax ahead of a short UK tour in December 2023.

Artist Bio

In 2024 he will be composing for The Royal Opera House Youth Theatre Company and their ‘Making Opera for Young Audiences’ programme.

Growing up on The Isle of Skye, Leighton developed a passion for performance and musical theatre collaborating with artists of varying disciplines across Scotland, co-writing and performing with several prolific Scottish acts:

Combining experimental music, spoken word and film, The Dead Man’s Waltz played to audiences at Glasgow's Short Film Festival, The Edinburgh Fringe and The Festival of Death at London's Southbank Centre.

In 2015 Leighton released his immersive debut solo EP All The Way Home:

'Showcasing a palette that spans melancholic piano balladry and traditional folk with a meticulous approach to sound design' (The Herald)

In 2016 he returned to Yorkshire to study a Masters in composition and performance mentored by Belize born British composer Errollyn Wallen, composing a series of theatrical musical vignettes and a song cycle based on the plight of our pollinators and decline of the honeybee.

In 2019 he formed chamber pop group Beware of Trains with Scottish soprano Marie Claire Breen ("A soprano of rare fluency" - The Daily Mail), forging a collaboration combining there shared loved of musical theatre and orchestral pop.

That year they released their debut singles 'Let's Move To London' and electro-pop 'In Your Pocket' before performing a sell out festive concert at Bradford Cathedral for 'A Kitmas Concert' with members of Opera North chorus to raise funds for Allerton Cat Rescue.

During lockdown, the band composed a body of new material, broadcasting exclusive live content for their local Heptonstall Virtual Festival in 2020.

Inspired to write a festive song based on Allerton Cat Rescue centre's slogan ‘Helping cats and kittens find their Forever Home for over 40 years', the band released their festive 3rd single in November 2023 co-produced and mixed by Darren Allison (The Divine Comedy).

“‘Forever Home’ carries all the glamour of the West End and all the alternative allure of the Legendary Pink Dots and Jason Webley…prepare for the scintillating resonance and grab a few tissues. It hits harder than the end of Raymond Brigg’s symphonic poem, the Snowman.” A&R Factory

Joined by Leeds Conservatoire multi-instrumentalist Laura McIntosh on bass and keys, the band performed a sell out single launch show at Square Chapel Arts Theatre in Halifax ahead of a short UK tour in December 2023.