ABOUT
After 15 years living and touring in Germany and Europe, singer-songwriter and guitarist, Joel Havea, has returned to his hometown of Melbourne, bringing his unique South-Sea Soul to Australian audiences. Inspired by the rhythms of his Tongan and Dutch heritage, and a multi-generational family songwriting tradition spanning more than 100 years, Joel’s lyrics and music are a journey in storytelling and blending of cultural influences.
Performing globally, his solo and band performances have graced over 900 stages in 25 countries. His Hamburg-based band, Joel Havea Trio, is a regular fixture across European festivals, including Reeperbahn Festival (Hamburg), Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland), and Bardentreffen (Nürnberg).
More recently, Joel has continued to perform solo shows alongside a new band project, including performances at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, and the National Folk Festival in Canberra. He has also reunited with his brother Dave, performing together as the Havea Brothers across Melbourne and Australia. Still connected to his European audiences, Joel regularly returns to Germany to play with the Joel Havea Trio. In 2026, the band will complete their long-awaited third album, reflecting the musical evolution of their years together.
Joel is also developing Famili Choir, a new live music project that reimagines ancestral Tongan family songs alongside his own compositions through a contemporary diasporic lens, creating a living conversation between generations.
He has released four albums and three EPs through his independent label, Tastic Records. His latest studio album, Ki ‘a Lavaka (2020), is a tribute to his Tongan roots, featuring the first incarnation of Famili Choir, a project that continues to evolve through new interpretations of multi-generational family songs. In 2023, Joel Havea Trio: Live at Birdland Hamburg marked a final chapter of his years based in Germany. In 2026, Joel also released the Mass Formation EP, a collection of songs reflecting on the social and psychological climate of the early 2020s.
Joel continues to evolve as an artist, blending his rich experiences of life, love, and fatherhood into his songwriting and live performances.