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.

• 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)

• Featured by The Bluegrass Situation

• Praised by Bluegrass Today and Holler Country

• Opened for Ron Pope, Emily Scott Robinson and Dar Williams

• Upcoming 2026 album produced by Ron Pope and features Chris Eldridge, Justin Moses, Wes Corbett, Christian Sedelmeyer, Jeff Picker and Shaun Richardson

“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 IS FOCUSED ON THE PRESENT — AND ALL OF THE EMOTIONS IT BRINGS WITH IT — IN HIS NEW SONG "THE RESERVOIR"...OVER A SIMPLE ACOUSTIC GUITAR AND FINGER-PICKED STRINGS, BARE-BONES PERCUSSION AND A GRADUALLY GROWING FIDDLE LINE, CLIFFORD SETS A PEACEFUL NIGHTTIME SCENE..." - THE BOOT

“KICK THE“J.M. CLIFFORD DELIVERS MUSIC THAT IS MOVING ON SEVERAL LEVELS — LYRICALLY, SONICALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY. THIS SONG IS A PRIME EXAMPLE.” - AMERICANA HIGHWAYS

“THIS FIRST SINGLE, DAMN SHAME, ALLOWED HIM TO PROCESS THE PAIN OF HIS MARRIAGE DISSOLVING…CAN’T WAIT TO HEAR MORE FROM THIS TALENTED WRITER. THERE’S ALWAYS ROOM FOR A NEW VOICE IN BLUEGRASS MUSIC.” - BLUEGRASS TODAY