Jim Sharkey is an Irish/Americana folk musician and singer songwriter. His repertoire ranges from The Clancy Brothers to The Pogues and Woody Guthrie to Old Crow Medicine Show. Jim plays several weekly venues in the southeast accompanying himself on guitar and harmonica. His 4th CD, "A Lovely Day" consists of 14 original songs and was released in 2019. Jim's other CDs are "Black is the Color", "Sweet Anne's Road" and "Misty Morning Rain". "Sweet Anne's Road" and "Misty Morning Rain" are available on his website, iTunes and CD Baby. His song "Nothing in Particular" off the Misty Morning album was chosen along with 11 other songs to be on the "North Carolina Gold" CD that was released in 2019.
20 reviews
Lara W.
May 31, 2026Jim is a very talented musician and was just the right fit for our Irish themed weekend. He has great stories to tell both leading up to his songs, and within the songs themselves. The crowd left the event pleased! We would definitely book him again.
Hired as: Irish / Scottish Entertainment, Singing Guitarist
Mandi C.
August 30, 2022Jim performed poolside for our campground guests. Guests enjoyed listening to him and have asked to have him perform again. He has a great voice and was easy to work with.
Hired as: Singing Guitarist
Regina F.
March 16, 2020Jim was absolutely GREAT!! He absolutely made our St Pattys get together the beat ever. Would definitely have him back!!
Hired as: Folk Singer, Irish / Scottish Entertainment, Singing Guitarist
David P.
February 13, 2020Jim was the songwriting chops, guitar skills and the perfect Irish folk voice. He delivered a great set of original and classic songs. Super personable man. He won the audience over immediately and the taproom crowd have all asked for him to come back. Glad we brought Jim in and will be glad to do so again.
Hired as: Folk Singer, Singer/Songwriter, Singing Guitarist
Gary H.
December 10, 2019We prepared a party for my Irish Wife with flags, banners, Green Flamingos floating in the pool. I truly will say Jim was the Ultimate icing on the cake. Professional, personable & talented beyond belief. Definitely will use again!!!
Hired as: Celtic Music, Singer/Songwriter, Singing Guitarist
Price range: $200 and up
Languages: English
Gig length: 120 - 180 minutes
I play a lot of Irish traditional folk (on guitar, vocals, harmonica, Irish drum) in the style of The Pogues, The Dubliners, and Christy Moore. I also do some originals - 4 to 5 - as I don't want to go overboard with first time audience members who may not have heard my originals before. If I am doing a house concert with people familiar with my music I play more originals. I also play familiar or vaguely familiar Americana such as John Prine, Gordon Lightfoot and others. I also try to establish a friendly and jovial with the audience which I am usually successful at doing. I respect the venues and their needs and am very open towards working to put on the best show possible to meet the venue/booker's obvious business needs.
Singer-songwriter Jim Sharkey is an Irish and Americana folk musician. Jim grew up in County Roscommon, Ireland, and came to the US in 1982 when he joined the US Navy in London, England. He spent five years as a photographer on the USS Dixon in San Diego, California, and ten years working in television and video production in North Carolina and Maine. Later he taught children with special needs but decided to pursue music full-time in 2014. He plays around Virginia, North and South Carolina, Maryland, and Washington DC, accompanying himself on guitar, harmonica, and bodhran (Irish drum). Jim's original songs blend Celtic traditional ballad influences with contemporary issues that are often set in the area he resides.
No technical requirements. Please see equipment needed. Or I can provide my own sound.
Saturday
Camp Event
7:00pm - 10:00pm
•
Exeter, NH
Saturday
Camp Event
1:00pm - 4:00pm
•
Old Orchard Beach, ME
Saturday
House Party
8:00pm - 10:00pm
•
Waxhaw, NC
Wednesday
Restaurant/Bar Event
7:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Madison, NC
Saturday
Birthday Party
5:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Charlotte, NC
Saturday
Wedding Reception
6:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Old Fort, NC
Friday
Holiday Party
6:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Hillsville, VA
Friday
Holiday Party
2:00pm - 2:30pm
•
Winston-Salem, NC
Friday
for schedule please go to (link hidden)
12:00pm - 12:00pm (Sat)
Monday
for schedule please go to (link hidden)
12:00pm - 12:00pm (Tue)
Saturday
Cristina's Cafe
7:00pm - 10:00pm
Friday
Nana's Irish Pub
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Thursday
Flanary's Irish Pub
7:30pm - 10:00pm
Sunday
Free Range Brewing
3:00pm - 5:00pm
Saturday
Villa Appalaccia
1:00pm - 4:00pm
I have a large amount of songs I like to pick and choose depending on the audience and the venue. Here is a list of songs:
ORIGINALS
Sweet Anne's Road
September
Man without a Country
Venus De Milo
The Three Ravens
I Saw from the Beach
Blow the Candle Out
House of Cards
Bought and Sold
Misty Morning Rain
Vignettes
The Enchanted Cap
All the Way from Home
Nothing in Particular
The Bar on the Square
The Champion
The Old Piano
The Christmas Comet
I Have to be Someplace
IRISH FOLK
As I Roved Out
Clare To Here
Crickle Wood
Dear Boss
Dirty Old Town
England's Motorways
Johnny Jump Up
Lament for Brendan Behan
Little Drummer
Marie's Wedding
Navigator
New South Wales
Ordinary Man
Pair Of Brown Eyes
Raglan Road
Sam Hall
Santy Anno
Solid Ground
South Australia
Sullivan's John
Tell Me Ma
The Blacksmith
The Old Triangle
Whiskey Is The Life Of Man
Molly Malone
The Wild Rover
Well Below The Valley
Whiskey In The Jar
The Nightingale
Raggle Taggle Gypsies
Leave Her Johnny
Moonshiner
Quare Bungle Rye
McAlpines Fusiliers
Fields Of Athenry
Haul Away Joe
Fiddler's Green
Star of the County Down
Spanish Lady
Paddy's Green Shamrock
The Parting Glass
Roddy McCorley
General Munroe
Green and Red of Mayo
Town I Loved So Well
Spancil Hill
Go Lassie Go
Leaving of Liverpool
Valley of Knockanure
Whiskey is the Life of Man
Black is the Color
I Know me Love
The Mermaid
Botany Bay
Cod Liver Oil
Crack was Ninety
Waltzing Matilda
Maids when yer Young
AMERICANA
Abraham Martin & John
Alabama Rain
AllAlongWatchtower
And it Stoned Me
Another Saturday Night
Annie's Song
AngelsWannaWear
Alison
Big Yellow Taxi
Before the Deluge
Bitter Green
Blue Umbrella
Big Sandy
Both Sides Now
Bright Side of Road
BrownEyedGirl
Bye, Bye Love
City New Orleans
Colors
Comes a Time
Cotton Jenny
Country Roads
Crazy Love
Can't Help Fallin in Love
Dear Abby
Deeper than Holler
Don'tThink Twice
Early Morn Rain
EdmundFitzgerald
Fish and Whistle
FirstCutDeepest
Fixin' To Die
Folsom Prison
Forever and Ever
ForeverYoung
Forgotten
ForTheGoodTimes
Gaye
GoinToCarolina
HelpMeMakeNight
Helpless
Highway 51
Homeward Bound
If I Had A Boat
IfUCouldReadMind
Illegal Smile
LasThinonMyMind
Leaving Jet Plane
Leroy Brown
Let It Be
LilOldWineDrinker
Lone Star State
Love Minus Zero
Lover's Cross
Me BobbyMcGee
Me&Julio
Mexican Home
Much Too Young
Mull of Kintyre
Mystery Train
NorthCountryGirl
Paradise
Pastures Plenty
Peace Love Understanding
Please Don't Bury Me
Poncho and Lefty
Red Cortina
Redemption Song
Ring of Fire
Share the Darkness
Solid Ground
SongWinterNight
Sound of Silence
Souvenirs
Sunday Morning Coming Down
Sweet Guinevere
SweetBabyJames
Thats Alright Mama
The Boxer
The Dance
The River
The Weight
This Land is your Land
This Drinkin' will Kill Me
Times a-Changin
True Love Knows No Season
Tomorrow is a Long Time
To Win Just Once
TryLittle Kindness
TryLittle Kindness
Tupelo Honey
Victor Jara
Wagon Wheel
Walk Through The Bottomland
Walkin' Back To Georgia
Warm Love
Yesterday
Christy Moore, Van Morrison, John Prine, Paul Brady, Planxty.
Vocal Mic and stand, Guitar Line in, Bodhran mic and stand
Singing Guitarist
