Bluegrass with an edge from energetic jigjam

Jigjam, a blazing bluegrass trio from Offaly, play Monroe’s Live this Saturday, March 14. The band are Jamie McKeogh (lead vocals, tenor banjo, guitar, mandolin), Daithí Melia (five-string banjo, guitar, vocals) and Cathal Guinan (double bass, fiddle vocals).

“We would have got started about two a half years ago,” Jamie says. “We started to make a few quid playing locally in pubs around Tullamore. We started as a five-piece, with my sister and another lad, James Hogan. Then they had to drop out due to work and college commitments, so we ended up as a three piece.”

Developing their bluegrass sound, Jigjam decided to make Oh Boy!, an album of covers and bluegrass standards.

“It was down in Killarney, in Sonas Studios,” Jamie says. “Tony O’Flaherty is the man down there. We found him through [Galway band] We Banjo 3; we play a good bit with those guys. They recorded with Tony as well, and we were impressed with the quality of sound.”

Jamie and the lads were determined to capture the sound of the three of them playing in a room together, with very few overdubs.

“The first thing we said before we started recording was to keep it sounding as live as possible. Whatever we recorded, we try our best to recreate on stage, as opposed to adding ten or twelve instruments. What you hear on the album, you get at the live show.”

Having a CD to send around the country has also helped to raise their profile.

“A lot of places wouldn’t take us unless we had something to show first,” Jamie says. “When you’ve your product in your hand, people will be able to distinguish what you are.”