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" One of a kind Bluesman with the electrifying energy of Classic Rockers! "
BIO
Jo Hell is a charismatic artist that always delivers a one-of-a-kind live music performance,
a bold stage act made for real lovers of Blues and Rock.
Born and raised in Montreal Jo Hell began his career at 16 years old playing local clubs and festivals across Quebec, jamming and learning from many like Bob Harrisson, Jean Milaire, Zim Zellers, Carl Tremblay or Bob Walsh until he got his first invitation to play the Montreal International Jazz Festival in July 2001 with his newly formed band - the Red Roosters. In 2006, with hundreds of shows already under his belt and a first album recorded at the renowned Victor Studio in Montreal - South Side (2000) - Jo Hell and the band drive south to explore the legendary blues music venues, traditional juke joints along the route and eventually end up playing Austin's SXSW Festival in 2006.
Fascinated by the local music scene of the Live Music Capital of the World, home town to Steve Ray Vaughan and many of their favourite blues-men, Jo Hell & The Red Roosters decided to stay and soon became the house band at the blues club Nuno's on 6th. While hosting there they not only shared the stage with several blues legends such as Pine Top Perkins, Hubert Sumlin', Buddy Miles, Gary Clark Jr. or Gary Busey to name a few, but also got invited to feature in local festivals, namely, the Red, White & Blues Festival at Waterloo Park. During this period in the USA, Jo Hell would have his music feature in radio, perform on local TV and in famous venues like Antone's, in Austin or Buddy Guy's Legends club in Chicago. Hitting the road frequently to perform on several stages around Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee and California, Jo hell would perfect his high energy performances and get recognized for his guitar playing and raunchy voice, while getting to experience first hand the true deep-south blues scene that has always sparked in him enormous inspiration and joy.
On one of the trips to Montreal the power trio returns to Victor Studio for a second album - self-titled Jo Hell - released in 2008. In 2009, the Jo Hell Band performs for the first time in Europe, when invited to headline the Pjeireblues Festival, in Belgium. The show is live recorded and turned into their third album. On their way back to north America, they perform for the third time at the Montreal International Jazz Festival. When back in the USA, Jo Hell released several albums namely Rockin' Land - recorded at the Boiler Room Studio - Still Alive recorded live at Rumi's Tavern - and the movie soundtrack project entitled Shotgun Love with the single Bullet Back - recorded at the Perfect Pitch Studio in Austin and made in collaboration with local musicians. Until 2018 Jo Hell remained based in Texas, playing the local circuit and performing several venues across USA.
He has since 2019 moved back to his hometown Montreal and released his first ever french rock & blues album entitled Retour aux Racines, produced independently. During recent years Jo Hell has had the pleasure of sharing the stage and playing with great blues and rock musicians such as Frank Hannon, Martin Deschamps, among many others. Along the years Jo Hell's signature performances and high energy Blues Rock music have become a proven formula that always gets audiences engaged and captivates fans from all over the globe.
Currently Jo Hell plays in Montreal and around Quebec, while preparing new album material and a Europe tour. We are very glad to share with you a bit of the band's history and eager to see you at the next shows.
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