Jackson and the Janks

Jackson and the Janks, formed in New Orleans, now based in Brooklyn, have seen their music streamed over 1 million times. The band's second album Write It Down will come out June 27 via Jalopy Records. The unique arrangements of Janks have deep roots in the Crescent City, too, with Jackson Lynch (who lived in NOLA for years) on guitar and vocals, Matt Bell (Esther Rose) on lap steel, Craig Flory (Tuba Skinny) on bass saxophone and Sam Doores (The Deslondes) sharing backing vocals while trading-off on drums and keys. All but two songs were recorded in New Orleans to vintage tape by Jon Atkinson (Kim Wilson, Nora Brown, Henry Gray, Jontavious Willis, Martha Spencer, Bill and the Belles).

On the heels of packed sets at SXSW, in Brooklyn and Nashville, spotlights from Magnet, Wide Open Country, and Holler.Country, an Edmonton, AB festival play, the release of a solo Jackson session from Gems on VHS, Jackson & The Janks shared new single "Let's Leave Here" and confirmed concerts in Brooklyn and Nashville as well as a national July tour

Of "Let's Leave Here," the singer said, " People like to wait to see what will happen, even when things are going to shit. But I heard a line said in a movie -- 'let’s leave here, before something happens' -- and I thought it was funny. It was silly people fighting over silly shit. I wrote this song during quarantine, looking out the window, witness to a city turned into a ghost town. Going crazy, I was wondering whether to pack it up and get out, or to wait and see what will happen."

Jackson and the Janks have performed at the Brooklyn Folk Fest, Blackpot Festival (Louisiana), and Oldtone Festival (New York) and did a video session for tastemaker series GemsOnVHS and Jackson did solo sessions for Paste and Western AF. This year has already seen the band play at SXSW as well as two nights at the Nashville, TN branch of Skinny Dennis on bills with the Deslondes. They are confirmed to perform at September's Oldtone Festival in the Hudson Valley.

Jackson spent years living in New Orleans, busking on Royal Street to pay rent and feed himself, alongside folks who later came to prominence, like Sierra Ferrell and Tuba Skinny. In the process, he learned how sing and to project his voice. The band started out covering gospel songs before Lynch picked up his pen. Born and raised in Ireland, Lynch started on guitar then learned his first fiddle tunes from his grandfather, a traditional Irish fiddler. Lynch discovered roots music via his dad’s wide-ranging record collection, which had everything from old-time to New Orleans rhythm & blues. His dad is a musician, radio DJ, and tarot-reader. Lynch and his mom moved to the Lower East Side in NYC when he was eight years old and he joined the Jalopy Theatre scene at 16 years old. Lynch is also a member of the old-time string band trio Down Hill Strugglers on vocals and fiddle. He sometimes also sits in with Nora Brown in concert and appears on Brown’s 2021 album Sidetrack My Engine.

Jackson is inspired by classic New Orleans music like Bobby Charles, Irma Thomas, Smiley Lewis, James Booker, but also by his friends ’projects like Tuba Skinny, The Deslondes, The Loftiness, Esther Rose, and Chris Acker. Unlike the debut album, all but one song on the album are Jackson Lynch originals, inspired by his time living and playing music in the Crescent City. The first single was “The Kick,” calling back to a time when a song could just be about a dance. It is an actual dance that Lynch learned over a Thanksgiving dinner among musicians in New Orleans. “Let’s Leave Here,” which hits May 28, took shape during the eerie, deserted days of COVID lockdowns in NYC. “Beats Me” recalls Jackie Wilson. “I Don’t Give Any” kicks off with a striking horn riff before lumbering into a Bo Diddley beat and “Lament,” a cover of a 1959 single by Mamie Perry, brings to mind Screamin ’Jay Hawkins, in the Janks ’reading. “Riding on a Smile” brings some tenderness. "Windowsill,” which came out as a single in April, is a tongue-in- cheek ballad about devotion to one's partner.

Brooklyn Folk Fest founding producer Eli Smith said, “It’s amazing how steeped he is in American folk music, I mean in in a major way, more than almost anyone, Blues, gospel, old- time songs and ballads, traditional Irish music. He plays the fiddle, guitar and banjo. He is well- versed in the canon of American folk music from field recordings, 78s, and archival sources.” 

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