The Jakeys

A nine-piece acoustic Celtic rock band formed in December of 2007 in Denton, Texas, the Jakeys represent an eclectic mix of convergent musical influences—from traditional and folk to modern and metal—played out on such instruments as the concertina, mandolin, banjo, autoharp, whistles, harmonica, fiddle, guitar, bass, and bodhran and kick drum. The result of a collaboration matured out of the members’ collective years of experience in existing and former bands, the Jakeys’ original songs primarily address but are not limited to Celtic themes and have the diversity yet focus and depth of nine complementary songwriters. As several members are vocalists, the performance aspect of the band is heightened by the dynamics of multiple singers and the multitude of unique voices, all of which culminate into rich, complex harmonies and the contrast of dominant voices. With original love songs, drinking songs, murder ballads, and historically-influenced songs—and with the capacity to cover traditional songs like “Wild Rover” and “Whiskey in the Jar” as well as Husker Du’s “Diane” and Iron Maiden’s “Run to the Hills”—The Jakeys are a band equally adept at appealing to and conforming appropriately to any occasion, from a family-oriented audience to a raucous bar crowd.