Jungle Jim Smith

Artist Info

Armed with a 3-string cigar box guitar, trusty 6-string, and shed-built foot drums, Jungle Jim Smith is a one-man-blues-band with a rock’n’roll heart. Delivered with a raw croon, he blends dirty blues and swampy boogie that pumps with rockabilly grit, forging a full-band sound uniquely his own. Chugging out tunes from an impressive arsenal of originals, his infectious hooks and riffage finesse beckon to the dancefloor, making fans and friends of music lovers all over the country.
NZ born Smith first picked up a guitar at age 10, lapping up blues rock classics of childhood hero’s Hendrix & Page. A move to Melbourne in the early 2000’s saw him form 3-piece rockers The Jacks, who became a cult staple in the dive bar scene for years. Jungle Jim’s reputation as a charismatic frontman and his knack for lowbrow cartoon art, cemented him as a creative stalwart in the local scene.
In 2021 Jungle Jim began his foray into one-man-bandship and returned to his love of blues and roots music. With songwriting inspired by the sometimes dark, sometimes absurd themes of OG blues legends such as Leadbelly and Blind Willie Johnson, his sets are predominantly upbeat and danceable, interspersed with soulful ballads sometimes wandering into nostalgic yet uncharted jam-lands.
After relocating to the rolling hills of South Gippsland in 2022, Jungle Jim Smith has relentlessly toured the state and beyond, becoming a fast favourite in the Victorian circuit, bringing his up-beat boogie vibes to all kinds of festivals, beer gardens, bars, small halls and big breweries.