Joe Craven is a sound farmer, educator, record producer, and former museologist. For over 40 years, he has made a living preserving and playing forward the folk tradition by reimagining it as new music. Joe has recorded and played with Jerry Garcia, David Lindley, David Grisman, Vassar Clements, Rob Ickes, Alison Brown and many other innovative artists. He has produced many recordings of his own, including the critically acclaimed CDs “Camptown,” “Django Latino,” and “Garcia Songbook” and has produced recordings for many other artists.  He has also created music and sound effects for commercials, soundtracks and computer games.

As an educator, Joe is featured in the PBS television series, Music Gone Public and he is the Director of RiverTunes’ bundle of camps, including, JAMboree, Vocáli Voice Camp, and WinterTunes Online Camp. He’s a recipient of the Folk Alliance Far-West Performer of the Year Award and the Swannanoa Gathering’s Master Music Maker Award. Joe has presented at over 500 schools, colleges and universities. He teaches privately online and makes house calls offering community/group based workshops. Joe has also been a Master of Ceremonies at music festivals, including Delfest (15 yrs.), Telluride Bluegrass (40th & 41st), Grand Targhee Bluegrass, High Sierra, Live Oak (25 yrs.), Wintergrass, Rockygrass, Millpond (15 yrs.) and the Hangtown / Sugar Pine Music Festival (9 yrs.). He is also a weekend poet and eulogist. He enjoys hiking, museums and, like Bugs Bunny, crossdressing.