Photo by Joe Conway

Joe Noel is a young singer/songwriter originally based in Gloucestershire and now found between the South West and South East writing catchy, melodic songs about dreams, drives and impulses. Previously in the Rhetoric, he decided to try his own thing when his song writing tastes developed further. The latest collection of songs on Victoria's Place still features the characteristic syncopated acoustic guitar alongside gentle picked arpeggios familiar to those who have seen him perform live on his own, but offers a depth in new band arrangements of previous songs that give an extra punch, drive and, most importantly, groove. The live show with or without a band is exciting, inviting and full of wit...

"His voice is high pitched and his style is untraceable. His jerky head and dancing knees carry an air of unassuming showmanship. Joe's exquisite guitar playing assumes the plucking, box tapping and string dampening techniques of the flamenco tradition. This is not a man who is afraid of improvisation." Miriam - BBC Gloucestershire

"It is a basic, stripped down sound that brings a beautiful simplicity to the music...Joe Noel proves that it is possible to produce songs that are both thoughtful and joyful and to mix them with the more traditional melancholy when the need arises...His voice rings out with purity, over accompaniments whose apparent tender simplicity conceal a complexity beneath the surface. Expect more from Joe Noel. This singer has talent by the bucket load" Stephen Morris - BBC Gloucestershire

"Like many of us, Joe Noel is happy to mix at home, but has used a local studio to track his upbeat acoustic pop/rock. The results are brash, in-your-face and mostly effective...The tracks that feature a full band, especially the ska-influenced 'Running Out Of Time', are definite highlights" Sam Inglis - Sound on Sound