Joy Adams – Cello Meets Clawhammer

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Dr. Joy Adams is a genre-blending cellist, banjoist, and vocalist known for her dynamic role in the all-female acoustic powerhouse, Big Richard. With a background in classical performance and a doctorate from the University of Miami, Joy has shared stages with legends like Bruce Hornsby and Bobby McFerrin and contributed to soundtracks for The Queen’s Gambit and Godless. Raised on a farm in Washington, she now channels her roots and range into boundary-pushing performances that fuse bluegrass, folk, and old-time traditions. With Big Richard, she brings the cello front and center—alongside the occasional clawhammer banjo. Joy plays a custom half-fretless Possum she had commissioned in 2013.

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