Russell Joe Thompson
BIO
West Texas singer-songwriter Russell Joe Thompson is a shot of honky-tonk followed by a 90s grunge chaser. Just off the waters of Lake Arrowhead, Russell Joe grew up with guitar in one hand and a fishing pole in the other. At the rowdy age of thirteen, Russell Joe traversed into the world of songwriting and soon found himself entertaining his hometown residents in an alternative rock band blasting his original music. What started as a teenage dirtbag passion project in the early 2000s ended up paving the way for a fifteen-year musical career traversing across the star-spangled skies of Texas to the concrete jungle of New York City.
Russell Joe has been a finalist in 2019 and 2021 The Blue Light Live Singer-Songwriter Competition; a featured performer in the 2022, 2023, and 2024 Lubbock Live Festival; and competitor in the 2024 South Plains College Singer-Songwriter Competition. Russell Joe released his first album, Between Teeth, in 2023 with Amusement Park Recording Studio. Russell Joe describes Between Teeth as a window in time where beautiful poetry mixes with unforgettable rock melodies, and listeners are swept into a moody, emotional narrative showcasing Russell Joe’s storytelling capabilities. Russell Joe performed the album in its entirety during his showcase with the Lubbock Listening Room in the fall of 2023.
Russell Joe can be found performing across the West Texas area and the Land of Enchantment, frequenting local Lubbock favorite venues with his poetic, moody, melodic originals and favorite 90s covers.
Music
Russell Joe’s style doesn’t resonate with the cowboy folklore of his surroundings. Rather, he evokes the emotive power of the singer-songwriters from an era gone by, as if their souls found a new home beneath the sprawling West Texas skies. So, if you’re craving an emotional journey wrapped in moody chords and haunting vocals, look no further. Russell’s got your angsty, soul-searching soundtrack right here.
