SWEET JAYNE
“She is a talented virtuoso.”
— Dan Hawkins (The Darkness), Goldmine Magazine
Jayne Pomplas is a fiddle player, vocalist, and composer whose music sits at the intersection of Irish traditional music, roots, folk, and contemporary experimental sound.
Known for her virtuosic playing and distinctive voice, she delivers performances that are both intimate and electrifying, blending folk lyricism with cinematic textures and a fearless creative instinct.
Whether performing solo, leading an ensemble, or accompanying others, she crafts a beguiling sound that places her among a new generation of artists expanding the scope of modern folk music.
A lifelong exponent of the New York–Sligo fiddle tradition, Jayne studied under masters Brian Conway and Tony DeMarco, developing a style marked by agility, ornamentation, and emotional clarity. Her deep connection to regional fiddle styles continues to inform her phrasing and tone, while her improvisational instinct expands those traditions into new, cinematic sound worlds.
Jayne has won multiple Fleadh Cheoil and fiddle competition awards and remains a respected interpreter and teacher of traditional Irish music. Whether leading a full band or performing solo, her sets move seamlessly from fiery reels and plaintive airs to original compositions that explore the borderlands between folk melody and modern harmony.
Her performances fuse intricate fiddle playing with original song and dynamic stage presence — drawing inspiration from folk, jazz, theatre, and improvisation. With a voice described as “sweetly fierce” and arrangements that blur boundaries between genres, she creates live experiences that are both intimate and electrifying.
Jayne has released five studio albums of traditional Irish music including her highly acclaimed album with Luke Deaton and an EP of original songs, showcasing her evolution from tradition-bearer to boundary-breaker.
She has performed and recorded with internationally renowned artists including The Chieftains, Frankie Gavin, Fin Furey, Francesco Turrisi, Liam Ó Maonlaí, Lunatraktors, Dan Hawkins (The Darkness), Mik Pyro (Republic of Loose), Jaz Delorean (Tankus the Henge), Johnny Kalsi, Ron Block, and Aaron Rowe, as well as leading Irish artists such as John Francis Flynn, Méabh McKenna, Zoe Basha, Adrian Crowley, Luke Coffey, Danny Groenland, Stef Murphy, Chris Cole, and Patrick Stefan. She also works with experimental collectives including Acid Granny, and has opened for Vieux Farka Touré. She has toured internationally and performed at major festivals including Glastonbury, Electric Picnic, TradFest, All Together Now, and Body and Soul.
In September 2025 she travelled to Istanbul with Robbie Reilly, Alex Moore, and Jason Macnamara and recorded a body of experimental improvised music, taking live field recordings and integrating them into a modular synthesiser, and improvising with acoustic instruments simultaneously.
Jayne is a writer and interdisciplinary artist as well as a musician. Her latest work, ATHRAITHEOIR | shapeshifter, was performed at Smock Alley Theatre as part of Scene + Heard Festival of New Work 2026, to a sold-out audience.
Jayne is also an experienced violin and fiddle teacher who has taught private lessons and group classes for many years. She works with students of all ages and levels, from beginners picking up the instrument for the first time to advanced musicians developing style, tone, and artistic confidence.Her teaching is grounded in the Suzuki method, focusing on listening, gradual technical development, and confidence building. She draws deeply from the Sligo fiddle tradition, bringing style, ornamentation, and phrasing into her lessons where appropriate. In addition to traditional music, Jayne teaches multiple genres, including classical, folk, improvisation, and contemporary styles, supporting each student in finding the musical path that excites them.She also leads workshops at festivals and music programs, including the Brittany Winter School, where she teaches ornamentation, bowing, repertoire, and stylistic interpretation in Irish traditional music.
