Jackero is an old-time and folk project composed of sisters Ellie and Annie Davis. While rooted in Appalachian old-time music tradition, the duo explores the intersection of traditional music and original songwriting, blending a reverence for the past with a contemporary, song-driven approach through a combination of fiddle, banjo, guitar, and close vocal harmonies. Annie and Ellie grew up in a thriving old-time music community in Olympia, Washington. They began fiddle lessons at the age of four and have been playing, singing, and performing together ever since. The Davis’ first project was a trio called The Sassafras Sisters, which performed throughout the Pacific Northwest and helped shape their shared musicianship at a young age. Now based in Upper East Tennessee, both sisters have studied old-time music academically at East Tennessee State University. The sisters have shared the stage with artists such as Molly Tuttle, Amythyst Kiah, Bruce Molsky, and Foghorn Stringband, and can also be found touring with the indie project Elias Hix. 

"Jackero" is a reference to a traditional folk ballad that dates back centuries and originates in Europe, taking on many forms as it made its way to Southern Appalachia. It most often is spelled as "Jackaro" and it can be found under numerous titles, including "Jack-A-Roe," "Jackaroo," "Jack Monroe." The lyrics describe a young woman who disguises herself as a man, and under the name Jack-a-Roe, convinces the captain to allow her to board a ship in search of her lover, who has gone off to war. She sails to the war in Germany, and finds him gravely injured from battle. Jack-A-Roe carries her love's body to a physician and his life is saved. The story of Jack-A-Roe and her cleverness, wit, and strength are shared by many characters in songs that we keep in our repertoire-- we tend to gravitate towards stories that challenge expectations and prescribed roles.  We discovered the ballad through Jean and Edna Ritchie, famous old-time ballad singers from Perry County, KY. Beyond the Ritchies, "Jackero" has been performed and recorded by many of our heroes, such as Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia & David Grisman, and others.