Nicholas Jamerson: Poet & Philanthropist for the People of Eastern Kentucky

Photo Credit: Melissa Stilwell Photography

With a voice that seamlessly transitions from powerful bellow to soft spoken and intimate, he knows when to cut loose and when to be more reserved; like a painter making different strokes of the same color for a different impression.

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Nicholas Jamerson has had quite the journey leading up to his recent release “Floyd County All-Star”, a self released ode to his home region in Eastern Kentucky. A region that he has seen first hand struggle to recover from industry loss and prescription pill abuse, but is still full of beautiful people who have been forgotten by society as a whole. 2010 saw him join longtime friend Kristopher Bentley to form Sundy Best. While mostly a fan favorite throughout Eastern Kentucky and Lexington, they toured the country and even played the Grand Ole Opry stage. Their music was the soundtrack to many days spent tailgating University of Kentucky football games, but four studio albums and one amazing live album later, it was time to go their separate ways. Fast forward to 2017 and the release of “NJ”, Nick’s stunning solo album that is as good as any you will hear. It’s got everything from rockin americana numbers like ”Sleepin in the Woods” and “Rhonda” to some of the most heartfelt songs you’ll hear. “It’s a Long Way to Wheelwright” tells about the nearby town where the Jamerson family made memories that will last a lifetime, but has been on a steady decline that coincided with the coal industry dwindling away, but still holds a special place in his heart. “Ghost” is a man pouring himself out to the listener about missing time at home. It can be lonely on the road, even for those that are born to live the life of a traveling musician. The production is fantastic, but the voice and the passion with which Nick sings these songs about being on the road and the love he has for his home will grip you like a vice and leave you craving more. Making you feel every word, as if you’re experiencing these events right next to them as they happen, is the mark of a great songwriter and he’s got it. He has stayed busy playing shows in Eastern and Central Kentucky, with scattered shows throughout the country, over the past couple of years and has finally blessed us with his newest effort “Floyd County All-Star”. A self released acoustic album that will have you singing along after the first listen. The title track and “Runnin Rebels”, no matter where you’re from, strike up nostalgia for those high school days and the friends you had that you just knew would be there until the end. The album is chock-full of every day life in his Appalachian Mountain town of Prestonsburg, but will effortlessly translate to any rural small town USA, with a little marijuana sprinkled in to help you through those days that last just a little longer than the others. With a knack for writing catchy songs without being bubblegum, he introduces you to characters that hit close to home. With a voice that seamlessly transitions from powerful bellow to soft spoken and intimate, he knows when to cut loose and when to be more reserved; like a painter making different strokes of the same color for a different impression. Beyond music, Nick is involved with AppHarvest, a group of investors that are bringing in sustainable energy farming to Eastern Kentucky in hopes of easing the struggles of lost industry and lack of hope the residents have experienced. The region has a proven track record of being a hard working people, but there just hasn‘t been enough work to go around for every one. Christian Appalachian Project is another group that Jamerson works with that provides many different services for people of all demographics, whether that be through serving their community through manual labor or educating and listening to the people as a whole. These groups are an integral part of keeping the heart, of the one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world, beating. I hope you go listen, enjoy, and find the same satisfaction that I find when I put on a Nicholas Jamerson album. He’s singing for a region that has seen its share of hard times and with the help of people with a voice, who have a heart for what has gone on in the area, we can bring hope and health back to the Appalachian Mountains.

nicholasjamerson.com

appharvest.com

christianapp.org