The band recently made its Grand Ole Opry debut and has worked with Sierra Ferrell, Zac Brown, and others
When virtuoso Irish playing jumps the pond, running naked through the wide-open fields of bluegrass/Americana, JigJam is born. Bluegrass and American folk music originated from the group’s home, and now JigJam is here to take it back! JigJam made its Grand Ole Opry debut in Nashville in March 2023 to critical acclaim, receiving a standing ovation from a sold-out crowd on country music’s biggest stage. The group was joined on the night by Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Steve Earle, Lauren Alaina, and many more.
The Offaly and Tipperary-born band has started the first wave of attack in the new Irish invasion of Americana. “Foot stomping,” “high energy,” “badassery” is what you’re in for when you see this musical powerhouse live in concert.
Founding members from Offaly, Jamie McKeogh (lead singer and guitar) and Daithi Melia (five-string banjo and dobro) were joined by Tipperary-born Gavin Strappe (mandolin and tenor banjo) in 2016. This year, they are joined by Kevin Buckley (fiddle) to make up this iGrass (Irish bluegrass) quartet.
Described as “The best Irish band in bluegrass” and “sparkling, infectious,” these lads have been hailed as “Ireland’s answer to New Grass Revival.” Bluegrass has its roots in Irish music and Irish immigration. iGrass and JigJam is what happens when the Irish find their prodigal son.
McKeogh talks to us about the band’s origins and their rise in modern music.
Can you explain the name JigJam and how it came about?
The band name was created by my sister Ciara McKeogh. She was the original fiddle player when I first started the band. A jig is a type of Irish dance tune, and the jam part reflects the ‘jam’ aspect of the band. It nods to the jamgrass music and the jam bands over the years that we try to incorporate into our songs
Sierra Ferrell invited you to perform at her Lollapalooza aftershow. How did you meet her?
I first met Sierra at Delfest in 2024. We love singing and playing music together. Anytime we’re both in Nashville off tour, we get a chance to jam together. I had a few days off on my last tour, so I went to visit Sierra in Chicago for a few days and ended up singing at the show, which was a great time! She’s unbelievably talented, so anytime I sing with her and her band, it is a very special experience! John C Reilly was also a special guest that night, so it was great to meet him too!
Congrats on your Grand Ole Opry debut. How did it go, and how did receiving a standing ovation feel?
Our Grand Ole Opry debut was an unforgettable experience. Definitely a bucket list moment for all of us. Honestly, it was hard to keep it together when we got the standing ovation. It was quite the moment! My family travelled over from Ireland for that show too, so it was very special having them there with me and getting the full experience together. Getting to be around the likes of Steve Earle in the backstage area was very cool as he’s one of my favourite artists, and my Dad is also a big Steve Earle fan, so it was great he got to meet him!
Please tell us about the new music you’re recording at Zac Brown’s Southern Ground Studio.
We met Zac Brown at a festival last summer, and he invited us to record in his studio. We had been writing for a while at this point, so it came at a good time. We’ve been there twice now and have recorded 15 new original songs, which we are releasing as singles for the foreseeable future. The studio is amazing. It’s a fantastic space to record and get creative, knowing all the history behind it and who recorded there before us. Can’t wait to get the new music into the world!
What can fans expect when they see you live?
Our live shows are high-energy and feel good! We don’t take anything too seriously and try to have a good time with our shows. People can dance and forget about the world for a little while and just have a good time. Our set is a mix of mainly original songs, some Irish and bluegrass tunes and the odd cover, which we’ll mix up from time to time.
Tell us about your singles “Running Back To You” and “Shake These Dreams.”
I wrote “Running Back to You” while I was on tour last year, driving on the I-55 from St. Louis to Chicago. It’s a love song about missing someone close to you and how hard it can be on the road, but knowing they’re there for you when you finish makes it that bit easier. Lindsay Lou was a great special guest to sit in on that song. She really brought it to a different level with her vocals!
“Shake These Dreams Awake” was a co-write with myself, Bob Halligan Jr., and Daithi Melia. Bob is a legendary songwriter, so it was amazing to write with him. It’s a popular song at our live shows, so we’re excited now that it’s out in the world!
