Banjo Joe and Danielle are Joe McCamish on banjo and lead vocals and Danielle Hartline on upright bass and vocal harmonies. They are a touring act with 18 years combined experience as professional musicians, songwriters, and players of mountain music. Their instrumentation and style produce an impressively full sound for a duo. Formed in 2021, the duo has made it their life to travel and make music. After the first year of gigs around their home range in southern Illinois, they converted a school bus into a tour bus and hit the road in late 2023. They spent 2024 and 2025 touring Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah performing at various venues including festivals, breweries and bars.
Banjo Joe:
In the early 2000’s Joe became captivated by old time and bluegrass music. Originally inspired by street performers in New Orleans, he picked up the banjo in 2005 and taught himself to play in the old fashion two finger style (two finger thumb lead). He learned to play on an old Epiphone banjo his grandpa had and gave to him. Major influences on his sound include Uncle Dave Macon, David “Stringbean” Akeman and Grandpa Jones.
In 2007 he formed a band called Whistle Pigs and toured extensively across 31 states with multiple booking agents and a small record deal with Mudstomp Records. Whistle Pigs produced two albums, both written by Joe McCamish. It was during these years that he acquired the nick name, Banjo Joe.
It was at a Whistle Pigs show in 2011 that Joe and Danielle were introduced. They became entwined almost instantly.
Danielle Hartline:
Growing up in a musical family, Danielle has been a singer and performer her entire life. Inspired by her sweetheart’s musical talents and the thriving local bluegrass/americana music scene Danielle started playing guitar and songwriting around 2013. Though she had played several instruments, she dreamed of full-time touring and performing professionally in a bluegrass duo on upright bass with her sweetheart on banjo. Finding a used bass from a backwoods church in Missouri in July ’21 she taught herself how to lay down the low end and sing those high lonesome harmonies and played her first show in October ’21 as the bass player in Banjo Joe and Danielle.
Career Highlights:
2021 – Performed first show together
2023 – Performed at Shawnee Cave Amphitheater for “Weekend at the Cave”
2024-2025 – Performed across American southwest including the Sedona Red Dirt Concert Series and the White Water Festival in Cañon City, Colorado.
August 8th, 2025 – Celebrated our 200th show together and also continuously on the road touring for 20 months straight.
October 2025 – Performed at Raddle the Bottoms Bluegrass Fest, The Little Grassy Get Down and Vulture Fest in Illinois.
December 8, 2025 – Two years on the road living full time in their bus!
Visit Banjo Joe & Danielle’s Website!