Musician • Storyteller • Speaker

Joel West is a singer-songwriter and storyteller from Burns Lake, British Columbia. His music carries the grit of blues, the soul of rock and country, and the heartbeat of his culture.

Raised in a home where music was survival as much as joy, Joel learned his first song from his uncle Jimmy and grew up jamming with his father, Alec West Sr., and brother, Junior. Those early songs became his lifeline, through addiction, grief, and the long road to healing.

Sober since 2013, Joel speaks openly about what he’s lived: the weight of intergenerational trauma, the medicine of ceremony, and the choice to keep showing up. Whether he’s on a festival stage or sitting in circle with friends, his deep, gritty voice and honest presence create spaces where people feel seen and connected.

With performances across Turtle Island, Joel has opened for artists like Crystal Shawanda and Ernest Monias, and played major events including the Canada Winter Games and Surrey Canada Day. But what sets him apart isn’t just the music—it’s how he makes you feel: like you’re not alone.