Joe West & Friends Christmas Barn Dance

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But it is his music that has found a greater audience around the globe.
 
Quirky, offbeat and melodic, his award-winning “theatrical folk music” is a singular mix of country and rock, which he has been recording and releasing on cassettes, CDs and vinyl records since the mid eighties.  He has toured extensively throughout the States and Europe, opening and sharing the stage with the likes of Peter Rowan, The Violent Femmes, Arlo and Sara Lee Guthrie, Mojo Nixon and James McMurtry. 
 
Over the last few years Joe has created a rock opera, produced music for film and television, originated a conceptual radio show, created a film festival and founded a theater company that performs his dark horror-comedies with original live music. 
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Recently, with support from a grant, Joe has been collaborating with writer Andrew Wice on a full length historical folk/rock musical based on the events surrounding Billy the Kid and the Lincoln County Wars. 
 
Joe lives on his family homestead south of Santa Fe where he spends his free hours gardening and tending to a flock of chickens.