Folk Bands and Artists
Joe Danks
Joe Danks is a percussionist, guitarist and singer from Nottingham. Joe began playing drum kit from the age of 11, achieving Grade 8 with merit at age 16, and has played in bands since he was a teenager. He started songwriting at the age of 16 and after performing at the 2013 New Roots showcase toured folk clubs and festivals in the UK. He had his music played regularly on BBC Radio Nottingham, and on Tom Robinson´s BBC 6 Music show.
Joe began employment with Nottingham Music Hub (2013/15), teaching orchestral and world percussion and completing a cultural apprenticeship in community arts. It was during this time that Joe developed his Music In Healthcare Practice (completing a year long training programme with OPUS Music CIC), and began working as a workshop facilitator. His education work has seen him lead the Pulp Friction Choir in Nottingham for 2 years (2015/17), and his list of past employers includes Cecil Sharp House, Hammersmith Irish Cultural Centre and The London Symphony Orchestra. In 2015 Joe relocated to London to launch a new Music In Healthcare organisation, Pulse Arts CIC, in partnership with Gamelan Specialist David McKenny. Pulse Arts now delivers 3 regular programmes across hospitals in London and East Anglia.
Joe is best known as a world-class Bodhrán player and has travelled to the Craiceann Summerschool (with a bursary from The Nottingham Education Trust), and Junior Davey´s Bodhran Academy. Joe was invited to Craiceann´s prestigious masterclass in 2016 and has studied under great bodhran players including Kieran Leonard, Colm Phelan, John Joe Kelly and Donál Lunny. Joe was thrilled to be awarded ‘International Bodhran Soloist of The Year’ in 2016. Joe has performed in 3 productions at Shakespeare´s Globe Theatre on Bodhrán/Guitar: The Taming Of The Shrew (2016), and King Henry IV pt 1&2 (2019).
In August 2016 Joe joined established contemporary folk band Ranagri, following appearances with the band at Harpes Au Max and Purbeck Valley Folk Festivals. The band went on to tour the UK and Germany with legendary UK singer Tony Christie in support of their album Voices. In 2018 Joe completed his first album with the band ‘Playing For Luck’ (Stockfisch Records) and toured extensively across the UK, Germany and Ireland. Joe also fronts a function band with his parents, The Uke Box, who play at weddings and venues across the UK.
In 2018 Joe was selected to be Musician in Residence at Greenwich’s The National Maritime Museum as part of the EFDSS ‘Musicians in Museums’ programme. He devised and delivered a 10 track album ‘Seaspeak’, released in November 2019. The album was previewed in a celebration concert aboard The Cutty Sark, and features some of the UK’s finest folk musicians. You can find out more about Seaspeak in the dedicated section of Joe’s website.
When not touring with bands or working elsewhere Joe can be found enjoying a pale ale at Irish sessions in London and Nottingham or Morris Dancing with Makeney Morris - based in Belper, Derbyshire.
Genre: Alt Folk,Contemporary folk
