Joe O’Connor

Joe O’Connor started playing the melodeon 5 years ago through a Folkworks project in his school in Cumbria. In 2003 he joined Folkestra and as a member of the band, performed at Towersey village festival 2004 and more recently took part in the Road to the North tour. Joe plays in several ceilidh bands in his local area including Karafolkie and Natterjack.  In December 2005 he was a finalist of the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award. 

Another encounter with the BBC in May 2007 saw Joe’s band Last Orders walk away with that award. By the time they reach Fylde they will have a string of prestigious festival dates behind them, with a great future ahead.

Joe plays all kinds of folk music from Iraqi tunes to Northumbrian tunes and French-Canadian reels to slow airs. As well as working in several bands, Joe also passes on his hard-won melodeon skills by tutoring others in a workshop setting.