Joes love for music started with the drums, until he found his real passion for the guitar and self taught himself how to play during the first lockdown in 2020!
Joe is a very keen Newcastle United supporter, and goes to all the home and away matches with his dad Ray. Before every home match Joe would always donate some money to the North East food bank, and often volunteered to collect donations.
At the start of the football season in 2022 Joe asked if he could busk outside St. James Park before the match, to raise money for the food bank and Maggies Newcastle (a charity supporting people living with cancer). This is where his journey started!
Joe has raised a few thousand pounds with his regular match day busking donations to the North East food bank and Maggies Newcastle. He has been recognised by Mark Knopfler who sent Joe a signed vinyl record!
Joe was recently given hospitality tickets by the Newcastle United Foundation as a thank you, and attended the Newcastle Arsenal match, which was amazing! He is now a regular fixture at St.James Park and many people know him.
Joe has continued to busk at every home match before kick off, despite the weather, and has made many friends, some who are very well known (Sir John Hall, Jamie from the K’s, Andrew Cushin and Johnny Blue hat!)
Sam Fenders manager (Niall Horan) has since contacted Joe and asked him busk outside St.James Park on the 9th and 10th June before each concert for a few hours, and will be making a considerable donation to Joes two chosen charities. We already have tickets for the Friday night, and Joe has been given guest tickets for the Saturday night, as a thank you.
Mum says "We are so proud of Joe. He is so kind and caring and using his talent to do something for others at the age of 13 absolutely amazes myself and his dad"
Here are a few photos of Joe over the last season:
