Forbidden Joe

Part of Forbidden Joes National Tour.

Folk trio Forbidden Joe are packing their bags with their unique collection of sea shanties, celtic reels and gypsy songs and taking them on the road for their Summer 09 tour.

A far-cry from stereotypical ‘folkies’ with beards and sandals, Forbidden Joe comprises three young performers with diverse musical backgrounds. They cast a wide net in their influences - spicing up the sound of folk with elements of jazz, Celtic, soul and European music. The unusual composition of instruments – cello (Emily Giles), banjo/trombone (Alex Borwick) and vocals/concertina (Frances Dickinson), adds to the band’s distinctiveness.

The tour follows the successful release of their debut EP Oh what a queer sensation in November last year. Featuring an eclectic repertoire of traditional and original folk songs, the band was delighted with the reception it received from music reviewers. “Inventive arrangements of old folk songs... evocative, fresh, and a bit theatrical… it's five tracks just whet the appetite for a larger serving,” said Nick Bollinger on Radio New Zealand’s The Sampler.