Tipperary man Gavin Strappe and Jigjam rock the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville
Bluegrass band goes down a storm at Irish festival in Tennessee
A Tipperary man is a member of a highly-rated bluegrass band that met famous country music star Garth Brooks and received a standing ovation when they performed at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee last month.
Gavin Strappe from Drangan has been a member of Jigjam for the last seven years and the band were delighted to secure a slot at the Music City Irish Festival, an annual festival that celebrates Irish music every year around St Patrick’s Day.
Gavin was joined by his parents Tom and Susan and brother Jamie for the trip to Nashville and their appearance on March 18 at the Grand Ole Opry, the world-famous home of country music and a venue that has played host to legends such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Chet Atkins and Taylor Swift.
Jigjam went down a storm and were delighted with the reaction they received.
Above: The Strappe family from Drangan at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, during Jigjam’s appearance at the Music City Irish Festival. From left, Tom, Jamie, Gavin and Susan Strappe
He has been playing banjo mandolin since the age of 11 and his mother Susan, brother Jamie and father Tom are all musicians.
In 2016 he joined the founding members from Offaly, Jamie McKeogh (lead singer and guitar) and Daithi Melia (five string banjo and dobro) in the Jigjam line-up.
They became a four-piece when they recruited fiddle player Danny Hunter from Glasgow.
The band were delighted with the bonus of meeting country music star Garth Brooks and his wife, country singer Trisha Yearwood, as well as another country star, singer/songwriter Steve Earle, during their trip to Nashville.
Jigjam have played to sold-out audiences around the country, including at Brú Ború in Cashel and Clonacody House, near Fethard.
According to Irish American News, they are “The best Irish group in bluegrass so far,” while Midwest Records describe them as “an Irish band that’s going to impact the world as hard as the Clancy Brothers or U2 if they get only half a chance”.