Joe Waters & Piper and The Hard Times (2024 IBC Winners)

Joe Waters is a multitalented musician out of Dayton Ohio who plays Blues, Funk, Folk, and Americana music. He writes original music, and he also pays homage to original blues artist by singing old blues standards and deep cuts. His love for playing music started when he was 5 years old after his parents bought him a harmonica from the Cracker Barrel gift shop. Joe dedicated himself to learning not only the harmonica but the guitar, drums, jaw-harp and vocals as well. 

This talented and skilled young man has poured his heart and soul into his music for the past 20+ years, and he has received well-deserved acknowledgment for his hard work and dedication.  He has taken first place in two major Blues Music Contests:

Joe Waters won 1st place in the 2024 International Blues Challenge held in Memphis Tennessee.  

He also won 1st place in the 2022 Telluride Blues Challenge held in Telluride Colorado. 

When you hear Joe perform, it’s no surprise that he has earned both of those first-place titles.  His love and passion for music flows from him when he performs.  He is currently creating music for his next album, which will be his second album as an Independent Artist. His previous album “In The Hot Seat” was recorded by his friend and fellow musician, Anthony ‘Saxtone’ Arrington.  

Joe’s father, Jack Waters, has been a musician for 35+ years and Joe expresses his gratitude for his father starting him in his music career. As a duo, Jack and Joe have performed together for 20 years with 4 albums recorded, they have placed 1st in three local Ohio blues contest, and they were semi-finalist in the International Blues Contest.

Joe is continually deepening his connection to music and allowing music to flow through him.  He knows music has the power to heal the heart and unite the people, and he hopes to keep creating songs that do just that.

Piper & the Hard Times delivers intense, eclectic and rhythmically dynamic blues-based music flavored with R&B, soul and rock. The band has an instrumental prowess that enables them to improvise with flair, while still creating music that has a melodic appeal that can immediately connect with audiences who want both a high degree of musical competence and songs with strong grooves and catchy hooks. In January 2024 they took top honors in the band division at the prestigious International Blues Challenge held in Memphis, Tennessee. The core of the band, Al “Piper” Green, Steve Eagon, and Dave Colella have been playing and writing together for over 20 years. Over the course of three days in February 2024, Nashville-based Piper & the Hard Times held court in the legendary Ronnie’s Place at Soundstage Studios in Nashville to record Revelation. The album features a collection of 12 original songs deeply anchored in the blues from the New Orleans-flavored groove of “Trouble Man” to the Texas shuffle “The Hard Times”, the funk-rock “Heart for Sale”, and the slow ache and emotion of “Twenty Long Years.”

One of America’s premier blues-roots artists, Piper & the Hard Times has been delighting audiences across the South for nearly 20 years.. When you listen to their new album, you’ll hear poignant, inspired “from the soul” music from these talented players who love making music together. You can hear that energy and vitality in Revelation which debuted at #1 on the Billboard chart the week of August 27th, 2014.

Piper states, “I’ve never been prouder of anything we’ve ever done. The new album captured us in every way imaginable.”

“Piper & the Hard Times combine the sensibility and flair of vintage blues bands with the entertainment savvy and edge of modern rockers … one of America’s premier new blues groups.” (Ron Wynn/Nashville Scene)

Food & Bar: Our full food and drink menu will be available before and during the show.