JOE CROOKSTON      As an artist, Joe Crookston is a force of nature.   He is a vulnerable and powerful fiddler, slide guitar player, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter. He communes with his audience and welcomes them into his magic…every time.   With Joe, it’s not just a concert, it’s a COMPASSIONATE STORY REVOLUTION.   Gordon Lightfoot personally invited Joe to tour with him and open concerts on his last US tour.    From headlining The Kerrville Folk Fest, Philadelphia Folk Fest, Black Bear Americana Fest In the US, as well as major Canadian festivals, receiving Folk Alliance International "Album of the Year," releasing NINE BECOMES ONE (2025) to being named Folk Alliance International Artist-in- Resident, Joe is a creative force for good.       He's played with Suzanne Vega, Dar Williams, David Francey, John McCutcheon, John Gorka, Judy Collins and 100's more. His songs have been made into award winning films.   In concert, he is funny as hell one moment and transcendent the next.     HE BELIEVES IN STORIES.  Come to a show.  Visual, artful and surprising.   Brooklyn in July, Oklahoma towns, rattlesnake tails, turbary thieves, meter maids and drunk roosters. At the end of the night, you'll leave inspired.     "The Long Note" is a phrase in Irish culture. "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 & JOE IS REACHING FOR IT Whether he's weaving through lap slide songs or fiddling an American Southern tune, he'll draw you in.  It happens every time.     Watch a YouTube video...it's fine, but it’s not the same. You gotta go to a show.   With unwavering courage to be himself, he is literate, poignant and funny as hell.    He lives in Ithaca NY, and tours regularly in the US, Ireland and Canada.   WWW.JOECROOKSTON.COM (http://www.joecrookston.com/)