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.

Five records into his late-starting career Joe Fournier has refined -- if you can actually say "refined" for a guy
who sings with a voice that is as much a holler as it is singing -- his style. The songs on his new disc,
Truth & Twang, are sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking but always rocking.
Joyously sing along with Joe even while his stories are breaking your heart.

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.

Joe's 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 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 three more critically acclaimed discs - Whiskey Stars (2003), Three Chord MacGyver (2005) and Dirt Road Joyride (2008). Whiskey Stars was re-released in a slightly different mix for the US market in 2008
and did very well on alt-country radio. The single, "Almost Got it Made", was covered by many acts including
a blues band, a punk outfit and a swing/gospel group.

Truth & Twang (2009) is the latest batch of tunes. It's a little louder and a little dirtier than the last few have been. Cut at the Eight Track Shack, using lotsa tube and ribbon junk, It's mostly Joe bangin' and hackin' away with a few buddies guesting here and there. Plus there's one written by Steve Ketchen of the Kensington Hillbillys - and a Tom Waits cover, Goin' Out West, kinda swamped up a little. It'll be out on Dusty Records in Europe this September, then later in the year on Reliable Records in Canada and at CD Baby and ITunes worldwide. 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 get with Joe's latest, Truth and Twang!