Jackson Grimm

Jackson Grimm (he/him) is a musician and songwriter who plays guitar, mandolin, banjo, and fiddle. Jackson studied traditional music at Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, North Carolina, and is actively involved in the Western North Carolina music scene. “Living in the mountains where such a rich musical heritage already exists, music serves to create a sense of place and perspective for the place I've called home for the past ten years,” Jackson describes. “Understanding that the way we play songs here is unique to this region and recognizing the cultural and musical vernacular is distinct here, gives an added significance to this music in a historical context. It serves as additional motivation not only to participate in this musical tradition, but to take great care that it is respected and brought forward into the modern era in a way that serves all those involved.”

Jackson is also a music teacher at the Blue Ridge chapter of Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM). He is committed to sharing the unique aesthetics and cultural context of traditional Appalachian music, and to making the music accessible. “Too often, there are barriers in place that prevent new students from participating in the arts,” he explains, “and it is my goal to remove those barriers for anyone who might want to be a part of the traditional music community here in Western North Carolina… As a tradition that predates all of us, it belongs to everyone. Appalachian music has such a wide range of influences, and not a small part of its beauty is in its diversity.”

With his respect for tradition, Jackson still works to put his own spin on music. “Adapting your own creative style to another artist's work is a challenging but rewarding exercise which is undoubtedly led to my growth as a musician,” he says. He also writes his own songs, inspired by the subject matter and melodies of the traditional tunes he loves.

Jackson will use his Emerging Traditional Artists Program award to attend music education events like the Swannanoa Gathering in North Carolina and Bryan Sutton’s Blue Ridge Guitar Camp.