International Folk Alliance "Album of the Year"
Joe is bringing his fiddle and slide guitar and his passion for finding beauty in this crazy world. This will be an amazing night of musical magic. You'll laugh, you'll sing along, and you'll leave with a renewed sense of what's possible. You'll be glad you came. Promise.
At every festival I hope to find the gift of one artist whose songwriting and performance stand out. Joe Crookston was that gift for me this year at the Philadelphia Folk Festival. Stunning performance, great songs, and not a word wasted! I LOVE That! — David Francey- Songwriter Ontario
"This is not reviewers hype…this guy is flat out good." — Rodger Nichols of The Dalles Oregon Chronicle
"With all the performers out there, an artist has to go beyond good… and Joe does." — Sing Out! Magazine
"Joe Crookston is decidedly one of today's standout troubadours." — Roots Music Examiner
Notably, Crookston's no newcomer, and so it's no surprise that his music sounds savvy and assured, lacking any hint of pretense or needless redundancy. He sings and strums like he's been at it forever… This is wonderful, engaging and gorgeous music, borne from an artist who fully deserves a boatload of acclamation. — Lee Zimmerman, Lee's Listening Stack No Depression
Joe Crookston … From Ithaca, NY…
Artist, writer, guitar picker, painter, claw hammer guitar player, eco-village member and believer in all things possible. You'll be pulled in by the magic and musical world that he creates and you'll end up in the moment, celebrating together with the rest of the audience. He'll sing to you ~ You'll sing with him…His music embraces the universal, connects us, is masterful and downright fun.
Come to a show. You'll travel with him along mystical, historical, and humorous roads, and twist through personal stories along the way. Amber eyes, Oklahoma towns, rattlesnake tails, Grandmother Moons and silver crowns. At the end of the night, you'll likely leave inspired, taking home a renewed sense of what's possible. In Irish culture, there is phrase called the "The Long Note" ~ "The Long Note" is that place of resonance and transcendence where the music, the voices, the instruments, and the community ALL come together and unite…There IS a "Long Note" and Joe is courting it and always reaching for it.
From the first strum of his 1948 Gibson, through stories of ruby red dresses, Tinian Island, Dylan Thomas, Taoist parables and drunken roosters you'll be drawn in and deeply moved by his music. It happens every time. Watch a YouTube video. It's good, but it's not the same. You gotta come to the show.
Through his spirit and playfulness and his unwavering courage to be himself, you will be moved in ways you didn't expect. He is literate, poignant and funny as hell.
No doubt you'll be glad you came.
In April 2014 Joe released his fourth recording, "Georgia I'm Here." 12 songs, beautifully crafted sonic sculptures and landscapes. As a listener you are not just an observer, you are IN the song. You ARE the window washer on the 42nd floor. Joe believes in creating the world we want, and he is reaching towards the sublime, both cruel and beautiful. Georgia I'm Here was the 6th most played recording in 2014 and Joe's song Riding the Train was the 6th most played song in 2014 on the Folk DJ charts.
Joe's song "Blue Tattoo" is the inspiration for "Blue Tattoo," a documentary film that relates how Crookston and Holocaust survivor Dina Jacobson of Elmira, NY came together to form a unique friendship with a common sense of purpose. The documentary recently premiered at the Buffalo International Jewish Film Festival.
The new upcoming volume of Rise Up Singing will include three of Joe's songs. Fall Down as the Rain, Good Luck John and Bird by Bird, along with 1200 other songs, will be printed and become part of the canon of American Folk Music.
Joe's CD, "Able Baker Charlie & Dog" received the most airplay of any folk acoustic recording and was awarded:
"Album of the Year" by the International Folk Alliance in Memphis, TN.
He recently signed to Tamulevich Artist Management with fellow songwriters, John Gorka, Red Horse, and Peter Yarrow.
He received a year-long songwriting grant from the Rockefeller Foundation to travel throughout New York State, collect stories, and write original songs.
Joe made the Top 10 Artists of 2014 list on the Folk DJ charts, along with Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, John McCutcheon, John Gorka and the Stray Birds.
