The Barley Jacks

The Barley Jacks are members of a small, elite group of musicians in the Midwest who make their living playing bluegrass, roots and Americana.

They perform original vocals and jaw-dropping instrumentals in a spirit of excitement and fun. These masters of the fiddle, guitar, bass and drum meld their divergent backgrounds of blues and bluegrass, classical and Celtic, R & B and bebop and inspire each other to create something entirely new. Frontman, fiddler and mandolinist Brian Wicklund is joined by Mike Cramer–on guitar, Nick Benish–on bass, and Joel Arpin–on percussion. Their recordings, Either Side of Night and The Lighthouse, have been met with great praise by reviewers.

Virtuosity, magic and a little danger combine to make every performance unique. Audiences are struck by how much fun the Barley Jacks have when they perform. These Minnesota-based veterans of years in the musical trenches enjoy making music together so much that they sometimes giggle like little kids.