About Joy Louise

Award-winning multi-instrumentalist Joy Louise, whose guitar playing has been praised by critics as both “...heartfelt and technically immaculate,” enjoys an active career as a collaborative band member and soloist. She made her solo debut at the age of three, often singing in front of large audiences in the American Southwest. Joy is a prodigious songwriter and teacher, as well as a busy studio musician. Even as a teen, Joy Louise won many flatpicking guitar contests, often competing against seasoned players two or three times her age.

Joy performs with her own band “Joy Louise Band” and is in high demand as a session musician in Los Angeles. She is also an active member of Spectrum Bluegrass Band, which has opened for musical icons such as Stephen Stills and Neil Young. She recently made her national debut as part of a duo with GRAMMY-nominated fiddler and vocalist Laura Orshaw at IBMA. She’s toured as a guitar duo act alongside renowned guitarist and National Flatpicking Champion Tyler Grant.

An experienced instructor, Joy has taught at top national workshops and music camps across the country, including Augusta Heritage Bluegrass Week (Elkins, WV), Puget Sound Guitar Workshop (Seattle, WA), CBA’s Summer Camp (Grass Valley, CA), Idaho Bluegrass Camp (Weiser, ID), and Walker Creek Music Camp (Petaluma, CA), just to name a few. Joy is also the acting director of the Parkfield Bluegrass Festival’s Kids Music Program in California. With many years of private teaching experience, Joy is dedicated to sharing the art and emotional impact of traditional music with audiences and students of all ages around the world.