SCREAMING JS

The Screaming J’s is a high-energy acoustic ensemble from Asheville, North Carolina, dedicated to a self-styled genre they call "Southern Fried Boogie Woogie." This high-octane group is centered around the virtuosic piano work and soulful vocals of Jake Hollifield, a self-taught musician with deep country roots and a former member of the influential band The Blue Rags. Alongside Hollifield, the band features the driving, rhythmic presence of Jonathan "JP" Hess on upright bass and vocals.

Together, they create a raucous, foot-stomping sound that draws heavily from New Orleans honky-tonk, bluegrass, gospel, and ragtime. By performing as a piano-focused unit without guitars, they aim to bring the piano back to the forefront of modern cool, earning a reputation for marathon live performances and being staples of the Appalachian festival circuit for over 25 years.