ABOUT
With a deep-rooted passion for both the harmonica and the rich traditions of Irish music, Joel has dedicated his life to mastering this unique combination. His extensive knowledge, unmatched skill, and heartfelt interpretation of Irish tunes on the harmonica have earned him a well-deserved reputation in the genre.
Born in Piteå, a small town close to the Arctic Circle in the north of Sweden, Joel Andersson got his first harmonica at the age of 2, and began playing professionally at the age of 13. Growing up with a father who listened to a lot of Irish music, and who always has been playing a variety of instruments, Joel has always had music around him. His dad listened to a wide variety of music (mainly folk music) but the Irish music was the style that touched Joel the most. It wasn't until the age 12 when he heard Rick Epping play an Irish jig on the harmonica that he set out to learn and play traditional Irish music. Today Joel is regarded as one of the finest harmonica players in the world, specialising in Irish music. In 2018, Joel released his debut solo album The Irish Harmonica, which earned him a strong international reputation and introduced his distinctive approach to traditional music.
In 2023, he joined forces with Colm Doyle and John Doyle to record New Ground— an album that showcased a groundbreaking technique he developed for backing songs on the harmonica. Yes, you read that right — the harmonica takes on the accompaniment role!
By 2025, things really took off with the release of The Dark Well, recorded together with the highly acclaimed banjo player Enda Scahill founder of We Banjo 3.
Joel’s teaching has been in such high demand that keeping up became a challenge. With limited time to teach in person, he launched a Patreon channel in 2024, and within just one year, it had already attracted over 700 members!
In an early age his interest for the technical part of harmonicas quickly became bigger and bigger. Today he builds some of the finest harmonicas in the world, cooperating with the leading harmonica brands. More on that subject here: www.jaharmonicas.com
He has won prestigious titles in many music competitions. 3rd place at the Fleadh Cheoil na hEiréann, (World championship in Irish music) 2014 in Sligo, Ireland. And an astonishing 2nd place (only 0,33 points from 1st!) at the 2017 World Harmonica Festival in Trossingen, Germany. Joelhas toured and given harmonica workshops in many countries from the cold and dark north of Finland, Germany, Scandinavia to Greece, Canaries, England and Ireland.
