Artist Profile

The Joelenes

Country roots rockers THE JOELENES have been playing their original alt-country music to packed saloons, since forming in 2005. They have a solid Melbourne following, regularly attracting crowds of 80-plus to their weekend beer-garden sessions, and are fresh from a thigh-slappin’ January tour to harmonica player Nina Rousseau's hometown, Tamworth. They played some cracking shows at the Country Music Festival and, along the way, at Canberra, Wagga Wagga, Murrurundi and Newcastle.

Their alt-country sound is shaped by three-part harmonies, acoustic guitars, harmonica licks, rollicking keys, twangy mandolin, stripped-back snare-and-brushes, and slappin’ bass lines – it’s a little bit bluesy, a little bit hootenanny, a little bit rock’n’roll (sometimes a little bit reggae). But mainly it's a whole lotta alt-country.

The five-piece line-up has performed at a swag of prominent Melbourne pubs and venues including the Brunswick Green, Standard Hotel, East Brunswick Club, Wesley Anne and Bender Bar, plus some legendary Tamworth haunts including Joe Maguires, the Longyard and the Locomotive Hotel.

There’s usually a special guest or two (anything from banjo to didgeridoo). And their inspiration comes from masters such as Dolly Parton, Neil Young, Cowboy Junkies, Gillian Welch, Steve Earle, the holy trinity (Jesus, Johnny Cash and Elvis), Willie, Waylon and Bob Dylan.

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