Jakals

Jakals are a Boston-based, indie-folk band fronted by Katie Solomon (vocals) and Jack Lewis (guitar). Jack and Katie began working together in the summer of 2013. What started as a haphazard pairing of two college musicians transformed into a meaningful musical duo when the pair realized that their friendship - and, as a result, their musical partnership - was unusually effortless. This ease allowed them the freedom to dive fully into their musical collaborations, and every day for a full month that summer, the duo practiced and performed cover songs to an empty campus in the residence halls and grassy quads of Wesleyan University. As their college years drew to a close, the pair perfected a repertoire of original songs, released their first full-length album, "Quiet Pleas", under the name Jack & Katie, and eventually landed in Boston to dive fully into their music career in late 2015. The duo slowly morphed into an indie-folk band, changing their name to Jakals in December 2016.

Jakals have become a pillar of the Boston music scene, captivating audiences at favorite local spots like The Burren, The Middle East and Thunder Road. Combining gritty melodies and strong, lifting vocals with intricate guitar accompaniments, Jakals' evocative performances are honest and fearless, engaging with the challenging emotions that make people feel isolated in the modern age. Using music as an all-encompassing language for conveying the pain and disconnection that accompanies daily life, Jakals free audiences by allowing them the space to connect with the feelings that makes them human.

“I have never heard an act as refreshingly vulnerable as Jakals,” explains Hailey Magee of Talisman Music Group. “Their music is brutally, searingly honest. It strips away illusion and facade until all you're left with is the raw poetry of their lyrics and the deep, rhythmic pulse of their accompaniments. Jakals' music gives audiences the gift of being fully present as they dive headfirst into the challenging emotional landscape that has been gracefully constructed for them. If you're searching for a meaningful musical experience, look no further than Jakals.”

Jakals have received numerous accolades from members of the New England music community. In September 2016, Jakals captivated listeners in Cambridge and were selected as the winner of the Lizard Lounge Open Mic Challenge. Bill Manley, Board Member of Folk New England, described their performance at Make Music Harvard Square: “I am astonished by the richness of Katie’s vocals – pure and clear with a touch of melancholy that transcends her years; Jack’s accompaniment is a perfect match – sophisticated yet simple – providing the right ambiance for their heartfelt compositions."

Jakals are currently in the process of recording their new, full-length album, "Keep Mother Sane", with Boston-based producer Nico Rivers. The album is set to release in May 2017 and will be accompanied by a group of mini-tours across the New England region.

We can provide our own sound (we have our own mics and amplification system). We have no requirements for lighting or staging. We are happy to work with the event coordinators to create an atmosphere that is right for the event.