At just 18, a few guitar chords and harmonica lessons from a friend sparked a passion that grew quietly in her childhood bedroom, nurtured by her father’s classic rock collection and the timeless voice of Marlene Dietrich.

In 2002, she left her hometown and family behind and moved to Ireland, where she worked as an au pair before enrolling full-time at a college in Kinsale, County Cork, to study Theatre and Shakespearean performance.

That’s why people often don’t realize I’m German,’ she says with a laugh. ‘My accent has picked up a touch of Irish along the way.’

Her partner was also a musician and often played alongside other performers. ‘My favourite part,’ she recalls with a smile, ‘was after closing time, when a few musician friends would come back to our house for a late-night jam session. The guitars would come out, the wine would flow, and we’d play until dawn - those were some of the best times in my life.’

Musical journey

Her musical journey began at school, where her homeroom teacher would play the guitar before every lesson, sparking her fascination with music. At 18, her best friend taught her a few chords on the guitar and showed her how to play the harmonica. Despite her growing passion, her parents offered little encouragement, leaving her to sit alone in her room, singing and practicing late into the night. She did, however, enjoy listening to her father’s classic rock CD collection.

Her move to Portugal was inspired by her ex-husband, a fellow musician who shared her love of music. She had also been learning to play a saxophone but had to sell it to help pay for the move.

In Silves, they ran a bar where she occasionally doubled as a “singing waitress,” entertaining customers between orders.

When she and her husband separated, she kept working in the bar until the final split was inevitable. By then, her voice was strong, her guitar skills had sharpened, and local venues began to take notice. Soon, she was landing regular gigs in nearby restaurants and bars, quickly making a name for herself on the local music scene. Occasionally, she plays with her band “The Boogie Tones”.

Her earliest musical influences ranged from the pop energy of the Swedish group, Roxette and the iconic sound of Michael Jackson to the storytelling of Bob Dylan and the soulful traditions of Irish music.

Song writing

She also writes her own songs, often sparked by personal experiences and then her imagination takes over. One of her proudest moments came when her Christmas single, “Flying Home for Christmas”, was played on Kiss FM and streamed on Spotify. ‘Every penny it earns goes to charity,’ she says with a reassuring smile. A while ago, she wrote a duet called “Dreams” and recorded it with Nuno Ess in August 2025. This led to an interview on KISS FM. It is now available on all online platforms like Spotify, YouTube as well as Bandcamp.

‘If I had the money, I would love to have my own recording studio. I have so many songs waiting to be recorded. However, I don’t mind spending money on recording my songs. Some people spend it playing golf - I spend it on my passion,’ she says with a shrug and a smile.

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Taking the stage

When she takes the stage, she dreams of sharing songs that set her apart from other local musicians - fresh choices that challenge her and surprise the audience. But in the end, the crowd often has the final say. ‘People want the classics,’ she admits. ‘They love songs they know, the ones they can sing along to. And honestly, seeing them join in and light up the room… that’s its own kind of magic.’

For the past seven years, Jackie has been hosting the Sunny Sunday Sunshine Sessions, a regular gathering usually in Silves, where musicians come together to play, collaborate, and share new material - sparking not only great music but also lasting friendships.

Jackie Meadows has a wonderful, lively personality on stage; however, at her countryside home, she sheds her public persona and simply becomes herself, totally relaxed in casual clothes and makeup-free, surrounded by her partner, their daughter, three dogs and two cats.

If Jackie weren’t a musician, she would be involved in theatre. In Ireland, she did a few small parts but her accent prevented her from being cast in major roles. However, her talent did not go to waste. She went on to form a theatre group called “Silver Mask” in Silves, where she and her team staged full-length plays, wrote and performed original sketches, and even entertained crowds at the Silves Medieval Festival and a lively dinner show at the Holiday Inn.

Where to see her?

She can be seen on Wednesdays at Albufeira Camping. Thursdays at Restaurante O Rafaiol in Carvoeiro. Saturdays with The Boogie Tones at Restaurante Campos in Alcantarilha Gare. Once a month at Havana Bar in Carvoeiro, Outdoor Cinestar Events (Outdoor Cinema with inflatable screens. Private locations, hotels, vineyards. The ticket includes 40 min concert and the movie and popcorn. At vineyards, there is sometimes cheese and wine. However, venues change all the time, so best to check on her social media.

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