JACKO HOOPER

Zen-ing, gigging, recording, cooking, drinking, attending, working, playing, all the good stuff. (at Brighton and Hove) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWoeq7-s9nx/?utm_medium=tumblr

Happy Gotcha Day to my sweet gargoyle queen 👸 She is very complicated but has taught me so much and I’m very proud of her for being such a tough cookie having had such a rubbish start to life. 3 years! 🖤🐱 (at Brighton and Hove) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWDKb8jMxj8/?utm_medium=tumblr

It’s been an absolute TIME recently 🖤 (at Brighton and Hove) https://www.instagram.com/p/CV-xGq1sn4S/?utm_medium=tumblr

Living my best life at the mo 🎃 Some incredible shows recently at @thefolklorerooms, good fun on the radio with @jackcmcnally, one of the best shows I’ve ever seen in @architects, jumping around with @francisofdelirium, hangs with my child and even getting caught in the rain can’t dampen the spirits 🖤 (at Brighton and Hove) https://www.instagram.com/p/CVspuPRMVVc/?utm_medium=tumblr

Thanks for the patience on my album. These things take time… The whole album process has been quite an intense experience as I’m visiting parts of myself both musically and personally that I haven’t before with my art form. I hope it will be worthwhile and those that hear the record are able to take something from it, I know I certainly have. Speak soon, J x 📷 = Luke Archer https://www.instagram.com/p/CVLZF6JjJgC/?utm_medium=tumblr

Thought it was probably time I play a show myself… Delighted to be performing with Keywest on November 12th in Brighton 🖤 Tickets are available now, hope to see some of you there as i try out some of these new songs from the album… J x (at The Brunswick Live) https://www.instagram.com/p/CU7tNsBDFw2/?utm_medium=tumblr

People often ask how and why I became a Newcastle United fan when geographically, I probably couldn’t live further away from the place in the UK. That and the fact, that, well, we’re not very good so what am I getting from this arrangement? The answer is simple, my Grandad was a Geordie - And anyone that knows anything about Newcastle knows that if it’s in your blood, there is NO getting away from it! Since I was old enough to remember I’ve support the Toon and it was my Granddads passion and energy for the city and the club that he loved so much that got me hooked. This was the early 90s and Shearer was captain of England and Newcastle and we had a great team, it was fun to watch and the romance of the family affiliation was magic to a 5 year old. Since he passed away my passion for the toon has only grown stronger and I see it as something that I carry on in his name. Well, something that I suffer through in his name. Couldn’t have been from Manchester or Liverpool could he?! 

So as the club enters a new era I wanted to take this moment to give a shout out to one of my favourite people, he would be absolutely delighted. He spent a long time working in the Middle East as well, as you can see from one of these photos so maybe he knew something before we did with regards to the takeover. He was one of my biggest cheerleaders for music too, whenever we went to see him he would have had his little portable DVD player out and he would have been watching DVDs of me performing. Whenever I left his house he would tell me to ‘remember to keep playing your Banjo’ and he would say it every time like it was the first time he had made the joke. Needless to say I have carried on with the Banjo (guitar). https://www.instagram.com/p/CUz46u5jdJ5/?utm_medium=tumblr

Transitioning from one season to the next via friends, family and music. Work on the album is ongoing, still a while until news on that front but rest assured I’m squeezing it in where I can. J x (at Brighton and Hove) https://www.instagram.com/p/CUaQV7Xjn-c/?utm_medium=tumblr

Not long now until I hit the stage for @mutationsfestival 🖤 The line up for this years festival is incredible and you can catch me Thursday 4th at @chalk_venue alongside @thisisthekit, @billryderjones, @roziplain, @wwilly.masonn and more 🖤 J x (at Chalk Venue Brighton) https://www.instagram.com/p/CUXSLZ0j1jE/?utm_medium=tumblr

By night, a preacher of Folk to the local towns people. But by day… (at The Folklore Rooms) https://www.instagram.com/p/CUKkhg8M88T/?utm_medium=tumblr

@albamartintattoo strikes again! 🖤 Big thanks to her for my latest ink, really happy with this one and the detail she gets in her designs is absolutely stunning. Little hat tilt to all things @folkloresessions and music in general. Splendid. (at Brighton and Hove) https://www.instagram.com/p/CT9cWK2syos/?utm_medium=tumblr

Life has been seriously full on recently. I’ve squeezed in some deep chats with Oti, seen some of my nearest and dearest friends move into their new homes, seen live music, performed shows myself, recorded new tracks for the album and was even in the local paper! It’s been a wonderful adventure the last couple of months, feel lucky to have those beside me to be a part of it all. Onwards we march! Hope you’re all doing well, thanks for sticking with me whilst I work on the album, these things take time and I’m in no rush. I want to get this one right… J x (at Brighton and Hove) https://www.instagram.com/p/CT0FtzNsR6e/?utm_medium=tumblr

Back in the driving seat. Work on the album continues. (at Brighton and Hove) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTh_kg3DUxe/?utm_medium=tumblr

Will be good to do this again… Few bits to finish first. J x (at Brighton and Hove) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTcc1SHj8L6/?utm_medium=tumblr

Feeling grateful. 📷 Luke Archer (at Brighton and Hove) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTScD26DGEv/?utm_medium=tumblr

So. Much. Gratitude. Last night I got to share the stage with my friends again. The first time I’ve played live since February 2020. We launched @thefolklorerooms in style this week and to have @bessatwell and @passengermusic there to celebrate its birth with me meant more than words I can find. More photos and videos from the night will be out properly soon, I just couldn’t help myself in getting a few out early! Photos taken by my good friend and folklore family member @mattdamb 🤝 For everyone who supports my endeavours, thank you. We have a fucking venue?!? As I said to Rebecca at the show the other night “this has all got well out of hand”. J x (at The Folklore Rooms) https://www.instagram.com/p/CS7cfjzD754/?utm_medium=tumblr

I’ve had worse nights. So grateful to have such talented, inspiring and most importantly good fucking people in the Folklore community. Last nights soft launch for @thefolklorerooms was one for the ages. Grateful, and now terribly ill 🤧 (at The Folklore Rooms) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSuctVGDsw3/?utm_medium=tumblr