Simon RushworthFebruary sees Lynne Jackaman kickstart a critically acclaimed career steeped in affecting rock and soul. But before things really get going in 2026, she reveals why One Shot‘s getting one final shot…
Rushonrock: Welcome back… but where on earth have you been?
Lynne Jackaman: Don’t worry, I’ve kept myself busy behind the scenes during the last few years! Lockdown opened my eyes to the power of podcasts and Patreon — the world might have opened up again but that’s still a really popular platform for me. That’s where people can get a full breakdown of One Shot, check out our ‘live from home’ shows and dig into a plethora of content. It’s all there. I’m sharing behind-the-scenes stuff and giving people a glimpse into what’s been going on in the studio. Believe me, we’ve been hard at work!
Rushonrock: But it’s been a while since you’ve hit the road…
LJ: True. After lockdown there was a bit of a bottleneck in terms of artists wanting to play live and I suppose the bigger names got going first. I’m not Taylor Swift! But I’d also started working in the wellness sector during the pandemic and I was still involved with that. It’s a real passion of mine. But look, I can’t wait to play these four shows in February and finally give One Shot the platform it deserves.
Rushonrock: It’s five-and-a-half years since you released that record. Why will these live shows focus on that album and not your new music?
LJ: For various reasons I never got to realise One Shot’s potential in the live arena. Its release was delayed due to the collapse of Pledge Music and by the time it did come out we were in the middle of a global pandemic. Even though I felt a massive sense of relief that people could finally hear One Shot, I also struggled with the fact that I couldn’t tour. I love the live experience. I leave nothing out there. It’s where I built my reputation and where I’ll always put that reputation on the line. One Shot has never been centre stage in front of the fans. It’s time to put that right.
Rushonrock: Just how difficult was it to bounce back from the double blow of losing your music distributor and then coping with the pandemic?
LJ: During lockdown I was my own label, my own distributor and my own manager. I coordinated every touchpoint even down to the manufacturing of One Shot. But that experience only made me stronger and even more determined. It was difficult but other people had it a lot tougher than me.
Rushonrock: You’re going back to the future at the four February headline shows but it looks like 2026 is all about what’s next…
LJ: It feels like I’m on the precipice of something special again. It felt exactly the same before we upped sticks and headed to Muscle Shoals to record One Shot. There are new songs, there’s a new band and everything feels bright and shiny again. This isn’t my first rodeo but it does feel like a fresh start. I’m as excited as I was when I first began and it feels, in a way, like a reset and a new beginning. I can use everything I’ve learned and every challenge I’ve faced to approach the future with confidence. Who knows what that future might hold? What works this week might not work next week — the music industry’s a scarily unpredictable place. But you’ve got to be in it to win it!
Rushonrock: Surely you’ll be tempted to tease fans with a taste of new music alongside the best of One Shot?
LJ: I’ve always road tested new material in front of the fans. It’s always been part of the process. I’m not ruling anything in or out right now! The live band is the same band that will be recording new songs. I’m keen that there’s a collective consciousness at the heart of what comes next. We’ll take it from rehearsals to pre-production and from production to the actual shows. It’s about slowly building that fire. The music comes first. It’s that simple. You can’t press play on something that’s supposed to excite people if the people who are playing it aren’t excited! You’ve got to give it time. Like anything, new music needs to be nurtured. It needs investment. So we’re busy behind the scenes experimenting and unlocking new things every day.
Rushonrock: You’ve announced four shows to kick off the year and three are in the north. A brave move from a Londoner?
LJ: When you’re only doing a few dates after some time away it’s essentially a litmus test for the future. It’s a chance to gauge fans’ reaction without it being too full on and that’s the idea with these shows. I did strategically pick the places we’re playing. I lived in West Yorkshire for about five years — in a place called Holmfirth just outside Huddersfield — and so I can’t wait to play at Amped. It’s run by the same guys who have the Parish and that’s always been one of my favourite places. Sheffield and The Greystones isn’t too far away and it’s another city where I have lots of friends and happy memories. I’ve never played The Cluny in Newcastle but, again, I have some very good friends up there. I’ve got a huge love for the north and it just feels right to be doing these shows in those places at this time. But I’m a London girl and I can’t deny that the gig at The Grace is going to be special.
Rushonrock: So what’s the Jackaman plan post-February?
LJ: Because I haven’t gigged for a while I just want to get the conversation going again. When I do drop something new I want people to be able to go back to these live dates, check out some footage and understand where I’m coming from. I see the four gigs as a new beginning even though we’ll be primarily focusing on the past. Honestly, I have around three albums’ worth of new stuff and it would take no time to get it all down in the studio after the February gigs. Those are discussions that are happening but my focus, for now, is on One Shot and I won’t be rushing into anything.
Lynne Jackaman plays Newcastle, Sheffield, Huddersfield and London in February. Check out her website for ticket details.
Find out more about Lynne on Patreon
Read the Rushonrock review of One Shot here
