Irish-influenced bluegrass band, JigJam, is heading back to Chicago on March 1st to perform at the Old Town School of Folk Music. JigJam plays a mixture of Irish and bluegrass music they’ve dubbed ‘I-grass.’ According to the band, the two genres are very closely related and are a lot of fun to play with–the result is a unique style of music heavily influenced by American Folk but still true to their Irish roots. Their live shows are a high energy, foot stomping affair!
Hailing from Tullamore, County Offaly, and County Tipperary in Ireland, the band is excited to be back in Chicago, having made great memories playing the Gaelic Park Irish Fest in prior years. JigJam’s Jamie McKeough told Bluegrass Chicago that they have “made a lot of friends in the Chicago area. . . and also met a lot of the Irish community. It’s always great to meet with fellow Irish men and women while on the road.” You might also catch them this weekend enjoying some jazz at one of their other favorite local venues, The Green Mill.
All multi-instrumentalists, JigJam interchange between banjos, guitars, fiddles, mandolins and double bass onstage, creating an experience pleasing to both the eye and the ear. In addition to touring in the UK and Europe, they have headlined major bluegrass festivals, including the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, as well as popular Irish festivals like the Milwaukee Irish Fest.
Watch the music video for “Tullamore to Boston” off of their recent album, Phoenix, here: