In 2017, it seemed like Santa Margarita native Jade Jackson—who’d been writing songs since she was 13 and playing locally as a teen—was finally poised for national success. She was signed to the Anti- label, Epitaph’s Americana arm; Social Distortion frontman Mike Ness produced her first album, Gilded; and she was the opening act for Social D concerts that year. Rolling Stone featured her on its list of “10 New Country Artists You Need to Know.”
Two years later, Anti- released her sophomore record, Wilderness, and she later connected via Instagram with singer-songwriter Aubrie Sellers, collaborating on the 2021 Anti- album Breaking Point as Jackson + Sellers. Then COVID hit, and things began to fall apart.
“After moving to Nashville, I had a tour fall through that was meant to promote my collaboration record with Aubrie Sellers, and after that fell through, I went into the studio to record a third [solo] record [for Anti-], and I ended up getting dropped by my label,” she explained during a recent phone interview. “It was after the first day [of recording]. I was in the studio, and I got home that night, and they hadn’t even heard the music yet, but they were like, ‘We didn’t see this coming, but we’ve got to let you go.'”
COVID sent the entire music industry into a tailspin, and Jackson was part of the collateral damage. A lot of U.S. and European venues she’d played during previous tours were also shut down.
“It was a more difficult time for labels to support artists like me in the tier that I’m in, so after that happened, it took me a while to get back on my feet,” she admitted.
She was understandably hurt and discouraged. She’d been working toward national success her entire adult life, and she was so close.
“I planned to move out to Nashville to hustle that collaboration record I did with Aubrie for a year and then move home. We had six months of touring lined up, and I had another record ready to go with the label. I thought I was going out to Nashville to make a bunch of things happen and then come home all victorious, but then because of how things actually happened, I decided to stay out here because I didn’t want to come home with my tail between my legs, I guess,” she said with a laugh.
She grew up waitressing in her parents’ restaurant, The Range, and her family didn’t have a TV in the house. Jackson is as grounded a person as you’re likely to meet. Resilient too, but Nashville has a way of grinding people up.
“Nashville crushes so many artists. It’s crazy out here. You hear it time and time again, people’s dreams. … I feel like I need to stay out here so my story is different,” she said defiantly. “Looking back, it will have happened for a reason, but it’s really been a solid two-and-a-half or three years of me trying to figure out how to get back on my feet.
“I’ve taken a lot of different paths. There’s been a lot of dead-end roads, but I haven’t stopped trying.”
It helped that she met a love interest in Nashville—classic country singer-songwriter Josh Wolfe, who played with Jade and local music legend Don Lampson in a concert in the round about two months ago in The Range.
“Everything happens for a reason,” Jackson said. “I didn’t come out here for a boyfriend, but it’s definitely a positive bonus. It’s great to be with someone, and what we do for fun is play music.”
Jackson continues to be tenacious, trying to make new things happen.
“I’m out here trying different things and at this point makeshifting my own career, kind of going back to the grassroots thing.”
She saved up money and is back in the studio recording a record on her own.
“It’s going to come out this year, Lord willing, and my next step is trying to get a management team in place. Other than that, I’ve been learning to do everything myself. It’s been encouraging.”
Jackson is now 33 years old, and she’s been writing songs—literally hundreds of them—for two decades.
“My songwriting has changed just as gradually as I’ve changed,” she explained. “I write about how I’m feeling and what’s going on. When I first started writing, I was more into heartbreak and sorrow and just being a teenager and all the angst. I wrote a lot of sad and depressing stuff. My songwriting is still on the sadder side. I look up to Emmy Lou Harris and writers like that. I love sad songs.”
Lately, however, she’s found herself writing some happy songs, “which is rare,” she laughed. “I found a safe relationship, and that’s given me a safe place to land.”
Getting dropped by Anti- and stymied by COVID were setbacks, but they won’t stop Jackson from pursuing her dreams.
“This record I’m recording now, I’m really thrilled because none of these songs are about breakups. When I was 13, 14, 15, it was all about lost love, and now it’s about different things, different curiosities. I always thought if I wasn’t sad or in a bad relationship, I’d lose songwriting, but I actually found the songs I’m writing now are a little more important, in my opinion.
“I’m definitely excited for my new record.”
SLO Brew Live presents an evening in song featuring Jade Jackson, Shawn Clark, and Two Paper Squares in Rod & Hammer Rock this Saturday, April 5 (doors at 7 p.m.; all ages; $12.56 presale at my805tix.com or $15 day of show).
Xerxes and Ray
Numbskull and Good Medicine are bringing back a couple of super entertaining acts this week, starting with North Carolina-based singer-songwriter Jake Xerxes Fussell at Club Car Bar on Saturday, April 5 (7:30 p.m.; all ages; $24.41 at goodmedicinepresents.com). The talented guitarist and composer draws from traditional music, and according to Ann Powers of NPR, he’s “maybe the leading interpreter of American folk music right now.” His fifth album, When I’m Called, was released to critical acclaim by Fat Possum Records last summer.
Joshua Ray Walker returns on Thursday, April 10, to The Siren (7 p.m.; 21-and-older; $24.93 at goodmedicinepresents.com), with Nate Bergman opening. The Dallas native manages to sound like both traditional and alt-country and sings, dresses, and looks like he follows the beat of his own drummer, baby. He’s touring in support of his newest, Thank You For Listening, “a self-declared love letter to his fans and supporters” consisting of “a compilation of acoustic renditions from his critically acclaimed trio of albums, Wish You Were Here, Glad You Made It, and See You Next Time,” according to press materials.
Reggae innovators
When Third World formed in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1973, they were influenced by the sounds coming out of the U.S.—soul, funk, and disco. Now, more than five decades later, the band still features founding members Stephen “Cat” Coore and Richard Daley. With hits like “96 Degrees in the Shade,” “Now That We’ve Found Love,” “Forbidden Love,” “Committed,” “Try Jah Love,” and many more, they’ve continued to be a relevant and positive voice in reggae music. Third World plays The Siren on Saturday, April 5 (8 p.m.; 21-and-older; $30.12 at tixr.com), with Hijinx opening.
Also this week at The Siren, see Amy Winehouse tribute act The Winehouse Experience on Friday, April 4 (7:30 p.m.; 21-and-older; $26.42 at tixr.com).
Latin, pop, and R&B violinist Patrick Contreras returns with his Violin on Fire show on Sunday, April 6 (2 p.m.; 21-and-older; $18.48 at tixr.com). If you like Hendrix and Santana, imagine hearing them coming out of a violin.
A salad of sound
If you didn’t grow up in the South or the Midwest, there’s a good chance you’ve never consumed ambrosia, a dessert salad consisting of fruits, marshmallows, and a creamy base (often Cool Whip, sometimes sour cream if you come from a family of complete animals). The word “ambrosia” comes from Greek mythology and means “nectar of the gods” or “immortality.”
What does this have to do with music? Seventies prog rock, soft rock, jazz fusion, and blue-eyed soul act Ambrosia plays the Fremont Theater on Saturday, April 5 (doors at 7, show at 8 p.m.; all ages; $38.60 to $56.62 at prekindle.com).
The five-time Grammy nominees had a slew of hits early on starting with “How Much I Feel” from 1978, which was on heavy rotation on Top 40 radio. “You’re the Only Woman (You & I),” “Biggest Part of Me,” “Art Beware,” “Apothecary,” “Life Beyond L.A.,” “Holdin’ On To Yesterday,” “Nice, Nice, Very Nice”—all iconic hits!
If a mad scientist found a way to combine Steely Dan, Queen, Toto, The Beatles, Boz Scaggs, and Emerson, Lake, & Palmer, Ambrosia would emerge.
Also this week at Fremont, see the Battle of the Bands 2025 on Friday, April 4 (doors at 7, show at 8 p.m.; all ages; $20.57 at prekindle.com). Bands will compete for $1,000 and a chance to play the Shabang Live Music & Arts Festival, on Friday and Saturday, May 2 and 3, at Dairy Creek Golf Course. On the bill are Avalynn, Big Sierra, Toad, Skipping Breakfast, and Tiny Plastic Everything.
Classic combo
Cal Poly Arts presents Conrad Tao and Caleb Teicher—Counterpoint in the Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, April 8 (7:30 p.m.; 5-and-older; $38 to $65 at calpolyarts.org). According to Cal Poly Arts, “Counterpoint is a collaboration between pianist and composer Conrad Tao and choreographer and dancer Caleb Teicher. The duo explores the dichotomy of their different perspectives and artistic practices, expanding their individual expressive capacity through a collective experience.”
Coming of age … 21!
Has it really been 21 years since ex-FBI agent Ed Miller gathered some friends and decided to dedicate his retirement to playing the best rock, pop, and soul of the ’60s? Yes, it has! To celebrate, Unfinished Business will return to one of their favorite Central Coast venues, Blacklake Golf Resort in Nipomo, this Sunday, April 6 (1 to 4 p.m.; all ages; free).
“The nostalgia, the dancing, and the singing along always bring out good vibes and smiles, as well as the urge to dance,” Miller said. “Our core material remains songs by The Beatles, Beach Boys, Rolling Stones, Creedence, and Motown, but we are still bringing out ‘new’ songs for our shows, with recent adds of songs by The Lovin’ Spoonful, Gary Lewis and The Playboys, Herman’s Hermits, and The Turtles.”
Jazz church
A Jazz Vespers Concert returns to SLO’s First Presbyterian Church on Sunday, April 6 (4 p.m.; all ages; free but donations appreciated), with the Rick Helzer Quartet and vocalist Joyce Brewer presenting “Come Sunday,” the sacred concert music of Duke Ellington, which he called “the most important thing I have ever done.” Δ
Contact Arts Editor Glen Starkey at gstarkey@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in Apr 3-13, 2025.