Joe Fournier is the real deal.
He simply plays American roots music - funky, country soul, folk, rockabilly and blues -with stories that will make you laugh, cry and cringe, sometimes all in the same verse. You’ll find elements of John Fogerty, Bruce Springteen, Kris Kristofferson, John Hiatt, Shel Silverstein, Fred Eaglesmith - all covered in southern fried swamp rockin' blues and a good dose of Bakersfield twang. Joe records in the "Eight Track Shack" studio he built himself from old gear and found parts. He plays most of the instruments and produces as well.

Joe grew up stealing songs and stories from the many road-worn acts that rolled through the local beer joint his family ran in northern Canada. Every night he'd fall asleep to the sound of country music filtering up through the floorboards and every morning a new Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash or Creedence tune would be stuck in his head. It's bound to have an effect on a kid.

His first appearance, at age 12, was filling in for the hired act who was too drunk to play the matinee at his folk's hotel. The people ate it up - plus it paid 25 bucks and all the soda he could handle. Joe was hooked. He soon found himself making good money playing traditional and then current (late 70's)country and rock in local bands every weekend. The next 25 years were spent on and off the road. Punk, pop, rockabilly, polka, blues, new country, old country, whatever - he played it all. Sometimes it was guitar, sometimes it was bass or drums. He met his first wife while playing the part of Ringo in a Beatles tribute band! All the while Joe was learning about songs - how to write 'em and to record 'em.

His first release, Raw Sugar Shed (2002) received rave reviews. In no time flat he was fielding calls from publishers and managers from Nashville to Europe and beyond. The next two years were spent touring around Canada, England and Scandinavia to enthusiastic crowds. In Nova Scotia he received three MIANS nominations for best songwriter, best male vocalist and best country/roots album. Joe also appeared at Canada's National Arts Centre and was featured twice on CBC radio in concert. He’s shared stages with the likes of Fred Eaglesmith, Willie P. Bennett, Tom Russell Robbie Fulks, Josh Ritter, and Alabama 3 to name a few. Since then, he's released four more critically acclaimed discs - Whiskey Stars (2003), Three Chord MacGyver (2005), Dirt Road Joyride (2007) and Truth & Twang (2009).

This summer Joe will be on tour throughout Europe, appearing on his own and with his band at various festivals and roots music clubs. If you're a fan of great songwriting with lyrics as sharp as a broken beer bottle and swamp rockin' country that's slightly cock-eyed with the rough edges intact, then come out and sing along with Joe - even while his stories are breaking your heart.