Joel Mabus has split his 35-year career in folk music between the traditional and the original. He last performed here nearly a decade ago, and we welcome the return of his down-to-earth blend of song and instrumental wizardry. Bluegrass, old-timey, country and Celtic styles figure prominently in his repertoire, gained from a lifetime of experience making music with his family and learning licks from top recording artists. He plays both fingerstyle and flatpicking guitar, as well as fiddle, mandolin and banjo. As well as his extraordinary instrumental abilities, he is known for his "straight from the meadow" voice and his mischievous sense of humor which shows in his original material and witty adaptations of traditional songs. His albums have been climbing the folk charts, with the most recent, "Retold," reaching #4 in 2008. As the San Francisco Folknik says, "This guy does it all... with skill and flair: dazzling picking, good singing - just fine music."
Joel Mabus has split his 35-year career in folk music between the traditional and the original. He last performed here nearly a decade ago, and we welcome the return of his down-to-earth blend of song and instrumental wizardry. Bluegrass, old-timey, country and Celtic styles figure prominently in his repertoire, gained from a lifetime of experience making music with his family and learning licks from top recording artists. He plays both fingerstyle and flatpicking guitar, as well as fiddle, mandolin and banjo. As well as his extraordinary instrumental abilities, he is known for his "straight from the meadow" voice and his mischievous sense of humor which shows in his original material and witty adaptations of traditional songs. His albums have been climbing the folk charts, with the most recent, "Retold," reaching #4 in 2008. As the San Francisco Folknik says, "This guy does it all... with skill and flair: dazzling picking, good singing - just fine music."