Joel Plaskett facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joel Plaskett
Joel Plaskett performing live in 2007
Background information
Birth name	William Joel MacDonald Plaskett
Also known as	Joel Plaskett
Born	(1975-04-18) April 18, 1975 (age 50) Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada
Origin	Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Genres	Indie rock, Folk rock
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter, record producer
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, bass guitar, drums, mandolin, keyboards
Years active	1992–present
Labels	MapleMusic Recordings, New Scotland Records,
Associated acts	Thrush Hermit, Joel Plaskett Emergency, Neuseiland

Joel Plaskett (born April 18, 1975) is a Canadian musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is known for his rock and folk-rock music. Joel grew up in Nova Scotia, Canada, and often writes songs about his home city, Halifax.

He has played in different bands, including Thrush Hermit and Neuseiland. Today, he is well-known for his solo work and for playing with his band, The Emergency. Joel Plaskett and The Emergency have toured across North America and Europe, performing with other famous bands like The Tragically Hip and Sloan.

Joel Plaskett's Early Life

Joel Plaskett grew up in Lunenburg, a small town in Nova Scotia. His father, Bill Plaskett, is also a musician. Bill helped start the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival, which is a music event.

Joel learned to play the guitar and write songs by listening to many different types of music. He enjoyed artists like Joni Mitchell and Neil Young, as well as rock bands like the Sex Pistols and the Pixies.

When Joel was twelve, his family moved to Halifax. A year later, he started his first band with his friends Rob Benvie and Ian McGettigan. By 1992, their band became a group of four called Thrush Hermit.

Joel Plaskett's Music Career

Starting with Thrush Hermit

Joel Plaskett was the lead singer and guitarist for the band Thrush Hermit. The band released their first full album, Sweet Homewrecker, in 1997. They later released another album called Clayton Park. Thrush Hermit stopped playing together in 1999.

Exploring Music with Neuseiland

After Thrush Hermit, Joel Plaskett formed a new band called Neuseiland in 1998. The band's name came from a Dutch children's book. Neuseiland wanted to mix regular song structures with experimental sounds. They released one album, Neuseiland, in 2000. The band broke up in 2005. Later, in 2014, they released a collection of old songs and recordings called Rarae Aves.

Solo Work and The Emergency

After his bands broke up, Joel Plaskett started his solo career. His first solo album was In Need of Medical Attention. In 2001, he released Down at the Khyber, which became very popular. For this album, Joel formed a new band called The Emergency, with Dave Marsh on drums and Tim Brennan on bass. They called themselves Joel Plaskett Emergency. This album earned Joel a Juno Award nomination.

Their next album, Truthfully Truthfully, came out in 2003. This album was a big success for Joel. It included the popular song "Come On, Teacher," which became a hit in Canada. The album also won an East Coast Music Award for best rock recording.

In 2005, Joel released another solo album called La De Da. He played most of the instruments on this album himself. La De Da won two East Coast Music Awards in 2006. Joel was named Male Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year for his song "Happen Now."

In 2006, Joel Plaskett Emergency released their first DVD, Make a Little Noise. The song "Nowhere with You" from this release became very popular on the radio. It even appeared in a TV commercial! Make a Little Noise won three East Coast Music Awards in 2007.

The band's album Ashtray Rock was released in 2007. This album tells a story about high school love and challenges. It was considered for the 2007 Polaris Music Prize, a major Canadian music award.

In 2009, Joel released a unique solo album called Three. It had three discs, with nine songs on each, making a total of 27 songs! This triple album was also nominated for the 2009 Polaris Music Prize. Three won the Adult Alternative Album of the Year at the 2010 Junos.

In 2012, Joel Plaskett Emergency released Scrappy Happiness. For this album, Joel and his band recorded one song each week for ten weeks. They released each song online as soon as it was finished, and then put them all together as a full album.

Joel released The Park Avenue Sobriety Test in 2015. In 2017, he released Solidarity, which was a special collaboration with his father, Bill Plaskett.

On April 17, 2020, Joel released a huge album called 44. It has 44 songs spread across four different records, each with its own theme. Joel worked with 33 other musicians on this project over four years. His newest album, One Real Reveal, was announced in May 2024.

Other Projects and Collaborations

Joel Plaskett has also worked as a record producer, helping other artists create their music. He has produced albums for musicians like David Myles and Mo Kenney.

In 2004, Joel appeared on a TV show called Rock Camp, where he helped coach young rock musicians. He also appeared as a street musician in the movie One Week. In 2012, Joel even worked with CBC Kids to create a fun music video for his song "Fashionable People," changing it into a song about dressing up.

Joel Plaskett's Discography

Thrush Hermit Albums

• 1994: Smart Bomb, EP
• 1995: The Great Pacific Ocean, EP
• 1997: Rock and Roll Detective, EP
• 1997: Sweet Homewrecker
• 1999: Clayton Park

Neuseiland Albums

• 1999: Neuseiland

Solo Albums

• 1999: In Need of Medical Attention
• 2005: La De Da
• 2009: Three
• 2009: Three More (EP)
• 2010: Three to One (UK)
• 2015: The Park Avenue Sobriety Test
• 2017: Solidarity (with Bill Plaskett)
• 2020: 44
• 2022: The Window Inn Sessions
• 2024: One Real Reveal

Joel Plaskett Emergency Albums

• 2001: Down at the Khyber
• 2003: Truthfully Truthfully
• 2006: Make a Little Noise (DVD/EP)
• 2007: Ashtray Rock
• 2011: EMERGENCYs, false alarms, shipwrecks, castaways, fragile creatures, special features, demons and demonstrations
• 2012: Scrappy Happiness
• 2021: Twenty Years Gone: The Joel Plaskett Emergency Revisits Down at the Khyber

Singles

Awards and Achievements

Joel Plaskett has won many awards for his music and songwriting. Here are some of his achievements:

• 2018
  • Won "Best Songwriter," "Best Solo Artist," and "Best Producer" from The Coast (a local newspaper).
  • Won ECMA (East Coast Music Award) for Songwriter of the Year.
• 2017
  • Won Music Nova Scotia Award for Folk Recording of the Year for Solidarity with Bill Plaskett.
• 2016
  • Won "Best Songwriter," "Best Producer," and "Best Male Solo Artist" from The Coast.
  • Won ECMA Award for Producer of the Year.
• 2015
  • His album The Park Avenue Sobriety Test was named one of CBC's "50 Best Canadian Albums of 2015."
  • Won Music Nova Scotia Award for Entertainer of the Year and Producer of the Year.
  • Won "Best Songwriter" and "Best Producer" from The Coast.
  • Won ECMA Award for Producer of the Year.
• 2013
  • Won ECMA Award for Rock Recording of the Year for Scrappy Happiness.
• 2012
  • Won CBC Radio 3 Bucky Award for The Golden Bucky for "Lightning Bolt."
  • Won Music Nova Scotia Award for SOCAN Songwriter of the Year for "You're Mine."
  • Received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
• 2010
  • Won Juno Award for Adult Alternative Album of the Year for Three.
  • Won CMW Indie Award for Favourite Solo Artist.
  • Won multiple ECMA Awards, including Male Solo Recording of the Year, Entertainer of the Year, and Single of the Year for "Through & Through & Through."
• 2009
  • Won Canadian Folk Music Award for Contemporary Album of the Year for Three.
  • Won Canadian Folk Music Award for Producer of the Year.
  • Won ECMA Award for Entertainer of the Year.
  • Won multiple Music Nova Scotia Awards, including Album of the Year and Male Solo Artist of the Year for Three.
• 2008
  • Won multiple ECMA Awards, including Recording of the Year, Rock Recording of the Year, and Single of the Year for "Fashionable People."
• 2007
  • Won multiple ECMA Awards, including SOCAN Songwriter of the Year and Single of the Year for "Nowhere With You."
  • Won multiple Music Nova Scotia Awards, including Album of the Year and Entertainer of the Year.
• 2006
  • Won ECMA Award for Male Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year for "Happen Now."
• 2005
  • Won MIANS Award for Male Artist of the Year and Album of the Year for La De Da.
  • Won ECMA Award for Rock Recording of the Year.
• 2004
  • Won MIANS Award for Group of the Year and Entertainer of the Year for Truthfully, Truthfully.
• 2002
  • Nominated for a Juno Award for Best Alternative Album of the Year for Down at The Khyber.

See Also

• Music of Canada
• Canadian rock
• List of Canadian musicians