Bluegrass and Folk artist from Brooklyn, NY.
THINGS THAT WE CAN’T CHANGE
OCTOBER 16, 2026
ABOUT J.M. CLIFFORD
J.M. Clifford is a Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter whose music blends Bluegrass, Folk, and Americana. A rising voice in the scene, he is a 2026 Emerging Artist at the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival and an Official Showcase Artist at the IBMA Business Conference. He has won the grand prize at the Pensacola Beach Songwriter Festival and Solarfest, and was a finalist in the Telluride Troubadour, American Songwriter, and Rocky Mountain songwriting contests. Clifford’s upcoming 2026 album, produced by Ron Pope, builds on momentum from previous releases featured by The Bluegrass Situation and praised by Bluegrass Today and Holler Country. His music has also appeared on major Spotify and Amazon playlists, including Indy Bluegrass, New Grass, Grass Roots and Pickin’ On. He has toured nationally, opening for Ron Pope, Emily Scott Robinson and Dar Williams, with performances at major festivals and venues across the country.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS + PRAISE
2026 Emerging Artist — Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival
Official Showcase Artist — IBMA Business Conference (2023)
Grand Prize Winner — Pensacola Beach Songwriter Festival (2025)
Grand Prize Winner — Solarfest Songwriter Competition (2025)
3rd Place — Telluride Troubadour Songwriting Contest (2025)
Finalist — American Songwriter Contest (2024)
“He has a profound knack for a great song, with a narrative voice that reflects his surroundings” - Bluegrass Today
“It’s a rare example of a socially conscious song that’s not browbeating, but captures the sentiment of the listener well. In the tradition of a classic like “Sam Stone,” may a song like this compel us all to compassion.” - Ear to the Ground
"It’s a song of compassion built around his observations and the idea that no one should be invisible or alone." - The Bluegrass Situation, review of Hard Luck Man
“Getting to the album had been a long time coming for Clifford, who teaches elementary school music. Across a collection of ten songs, he traces pain alongside beauty — how making it through something devastating can reinforce your appreciation for life and all that’s still unlived.” - Holler Country
“On a Saturday Night is a wonderful debut project. While the material is autobiographical in nature, each of the songs is delivered in a compelling manner that any listener can connect to. J.M. Clifford…” - Bluegrass Today
“J.M. Clifford delivers music that is moving on several levels — lyrically, sonically, and emotionally. This song is a prime example.” - Americana Highways
“EMPTY GLASS OF GIN” TOP 10 ON BLUEGRASS TODAY CHART
