Picture of Joe Wachter playing guitar

Joe Wachter

Videos

See more videos at YouTube

Shows

Upcoming public shows
Raise Your Glass Beer, Spirit & Wine Tasting
Bartlett Parks Foundation
Bartlett, IL February 20, 2026
7:00pm
Past public shows
Long Grove Strawberry Festival
Fountain Square Stage
Long Grove, IL June 23, 2019
2:00 - 3:30pm
Vander Mill Spring Lake
opening for Old Coyote
Spring Lake, MI September 7, 2019
7:00pm
Long Grove Apple Festival
Fountain Square Stage
Long Grove, IL September 20, 2019
4:00 - 6:00pm
Top of the Park, Ann Arbor Summer Festival (A2SF)
Grove Stage
Ann Arbor, MI June 25, 2022
5:00pm
Willow Stream Park
(w/ the Buffalo Grove Jazz Band)
Buffalo Grove, IL July 28, 2022
5:00pm
Ripple Lowell, MI July 29, 2022
5:00pm
Harper College
(w/ Harper College Jazz Ensemble)
Harper College Performing Arts Center, Palatine, IL December 11, 2023
7:00pm
Raise Your Glass Beer, Spirit & Wine Tasting
Bartlett Parks Foundation
Bartlett, IL February 16, 2024
7:00pm
Elmhurst Jazz Festival
(w/ Harper College Jazz Ensemble)
Elmhurst, IL February 25, 2024
2:00pm
Fulton Street Collective
(w/ Harper College Jazz Ensemble)
Chicago, IL April 2, 2024
7:00pm
Harper College
(w/ Harper College Jazz Ensemble)
Palatine, IL May 1, 2024
7:00pm
Lou's Lounge at The Dole (w/ Groove McSmith ORGANization) Crystal Lake, IL April 11, 2025
7:00pm

Bio

One of the Chicago Suburbs' most sought-after guitarists, Joe started playing guitar at age 12 in Holland, MI. He developed a lifelong love of music and never stopped studying, practicing, and performing.

As a solo guitartist, he is known for his ability to create a relaxing, fun atmosphere for cocktail hours, parties, weddings, and restaurant evenings. Taking inspiration from the best cocktail pianists, Joe plays well-known songs ranging from classic American standards to today's biggest hits, in full arrangments for 6- and 7-string guitar, or sometimes ukulele.

As a sideman, Joe is sought out by other musicians for his sensitive ear, sense of time("Best quarter note in Chicago" - Kirby Fellis), expert sight-reading ability, and commitment to making music sound great in any style. He also doubles on bass, ukulele, banjo, accordion, and piano.

Well-versed in diverse musical styles, Joe has studied privately with accomplished jazz musicians Rodney Whitaker, Jeff Hedberg, Joshua Achiron, and David Baise, and performs regularly with the Harper College Jazz Ensemble, the Groove McSmith ORGANization organ quartet, On Easy Street, and Cowboy Co. The Country Music Show. Joe has performed on stage with jazz greats Kirby Fellis, Lenard Simpson, Harry Allen, Katie Ernst, Clark Sommers, Arman Sangalang, and others.

Contact Joe