Local band set to play Grand Ole Opry

A hugely popular local band has described making the prospect of playing at the home of country music – the Grand Ole Opry – in Nashville, Tennessee as a “dream come true”.

Jig Jam, founded by Offaly natives Jamie McKeogh from Durrow and Kilcormac's Daithi Melia, along with Tipperary's Gavin Strappe and Glasgow born Danny Hunter, will take to country music's biggest stage later this month.

“There aren’t enough words to describe how excited we are for this one! We’re absolutely delighted to announce that we will be making our debut on The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee on March 18th! This is an absolute dream come true for us to get to play on Country Music’s biggest stage!,” the bluegrass quartet said of the prospect of playing the 'musical mecca' in a social media post recently.

“This is our most prestigious gig to date as a band and we join a line-up including Lauren Alaina, Morgan Evans, Jameson Rodgers, Clare Cunningham and more to be added on the night,” it added.

Described as ‘The best Irish band in bluegrass’ and ‘sparkling, infectious’ these lads have been hailed as ‘Ireland’s answer to New Grass Revival’, Jig Jam are currently in the midst of tour across North American Spring tour, which is taking in the Canadian cities of Vancouver and Calgary, then it's on to Lincoln in Nebraska, Idaho Falls, Nashville and Evanston in Wyoming. They also recently played the Meadowgrass Music Festival in Colarado Springs.

Bluegrass has its roots in Irish music and Irish immigration, the band says on its website, and iGrass and JigJam is what happens when the Irish find their prodigal son.

Known for foot-stomping shows and top class musicianship, Jig Jam's set features Irish and bluegrass tunes, as well as their own compositions like 'Tullamore to Boston', an ode to Tullamore Dew.

Prior to their departure for Canada and the US, the popular quartet played the Temple Bar TradFest and appeared on The Late Late Show in January.