Christa Joy is the band leader of the Western Mass based, “Christa Joy and the Honeybees.” Americana with a classic country flair, the group includes Lisa Marie Ellingsen (lead guitar), Tim Bowles (pedal steel), Jason Smith (drums) and Tom LeBeau (bass). The songwriter’s fourth full length collection was released in August 2024 at CitySpace in Easthampton, MA. The self-titled project, Christa Joy and the Honeybees, paints a versatile picture of the group’s talents—ranging from kitschy humorous gems like “God Gave Me Two Babies” and “Omens,” to emotional ballads like “Time and Luck” and the sparser indie flavor of “Again and Again.” Also included on the project, Producer Grant Wicks arranged a countrified cover of Pixies “Here Comes Your Man,” a shout out to local hero Black Francis. Christa Joy is expected to release a solo EP of songs written during the early months of the pandemic in early 2025.