JigJam: Oh Boy! | Album Review

The banjo has for too long languished on the periphery, treading a path between margins too narrow to fully exploit its full potential. Recent years have changed all that, though, with We Banjo 3 boldly excavating the instrument’s rich expanse to impressive effect.

Now along come JigJam, who cast their beady eyes on that busy intersection where Irish, Americana and bluegrass music thrives.

Lead singer Jamie McKeogh channels Chris Thile with his refreshing cover of Rye Whiskey, but covers of Old Crow Medicine Show's Levi and Vance Joy's Riptide reveal a trio with ears cocked for contemporary music that isn't afraid to show its roots.

Tunes are woven adeptly in between, with Zöe Conway's Ringing The Bell paired imaginatively with The Banks of Newfoundland. An audacious debut from a musically agile trio.

[ jigjam.ie ]