New Zealand by way of Nashville – fiddle star George Jackson and his stellar old time band make their UK debut
We have had to cancel the planned autumn 2020 George Jackson Band tour due to the ongoing Covid-19 virus crisis, stay tuned for more info on new potential dates in 2021
New Zealand born fiddler George Jackson has made travelling a way of life. Born to musician parents in Christchurch, NZ, he spent much of his childhood touring around in a house bus with his family band. An avid student of American fiddle styles, Jackson eventually made his way to Nashville where he now lives, a highly respected member of a thriving community of bluegrass and old time musicians. He’s been making a name for himself in Music City in the last few years, as a member of the Missy Raines Trio (led by the acclaimed double bass player of the same name), and now as leader of his own sensational string band. The George Jackson Band specialises in rollicking old time Americana and bluegrass.
On his acclaimed 2019 release Time and Place, Jackson offers a mesmerising collection of original fiddle tunes. Each track is named for its time and place of composition, tracing Jackson’s journey from New Zealand to ten years spent touring and performing in Australia, and onward to his new life in the USA. The album features numerous renowned young American roots musicians (including Andrew Small from Bill and the Belles, Mandolin Orange’s Andrew Marlin and Hoot & Holler’s Mark Kilianski). The extravagantly talented touring line-up includes clawhammer banjoist Brad Kolodner (Charm City Junction), double bassist/vocalist Hasee Ciaccio (Molly Tuttle, Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands, Sister Sadie) and gifted young guitarist Reed Stutz alongside Jackson. With a live set that includes some classic bluegrass songs as well as barnstorming tunes, this quartet is sure to get festival crowds dancing and seated audiences tapping their feet!
“These tunes sit effortlessly alongside old-time classics while being steeped in Jackson’s own personality” – Songlines Magazine
The original music on Time and Place is already catching the imagination of old time, bluegrass and folk fans across the world, with Jackson’s super-catchy tune Dorrigo going viral with over a hundred different versions posted online in the so-called “Dorrigo challenge”. Just last week another track, Chapel Hill Deer Stalk, took first place in the Mike Auldridge Instrumental Composition contest. The George Jackson Band was an official showcase artist at the International Bluegrass Music Association’s big World of Bluegrass festival and conference in North Carolina this autumn, and we were knocked out by their high-octane performances. We can’t wait to welcome this rising star of roots music and his band to the UK for their debut tour!