
Joel Brown
Joel Brown has been DJing events for over 10 years, epitomizing what it means to bring that big DJ energy! He's laid back, and easy to get along with—yet with an outgoing energetic charm that captivates everyone. Just set him loose at any private event or celebration and let the magic happen.
Get To Know Joel
DJ, Event Host
Hometown: Concord, California
Home Away From Home: Muir Beach, CA
High School: Clayton Valley
Top Travel Destination: Thailand
Top Live Music Experience: Kaskade, Coachella 2015
On Repeat Lately: Durand Jones & The Indications
Go-To Karaoke: Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry
Most Likely To Be Found: On The Dance Floor
DJ Crush: Purple Disco Machine, Mark Farina, Justin Martin, A-Trak, and Myself
Interesting Fact: Sang on stage with Foreigner...twice.
2 Truth's & a Lie: Black belt in Taekwondo, I don't like chocolate, and I once did a backflip out of an airplane.
Favorite Job Besides DJing: Train Driver, Clayton Valley Pumpkin Farm
Favorite Quote: "Love the life you live. Live the life you love." - Bob Marley
Cats or Dogs: Dogs!
Drink Of Choice: Old Fashion

Joel's Bio
A mainstay on the event circuit, Joel Brown has had the privilege of collaborating with illustrious clients like Facebook, Google, and Nike. His prowess as an energetic event host extends far beyond just playing tunes; he thrives on the energy of the crowd and is also adept at creating it with his smile and easy-going demeanor. He has an innate understanding of the role that music plays at each event and relishes the opportunity to take control, ensuring that his clients can focus solely on enjoying the party.
Beyond the DJ booth, Joel's passions extend to various adventures and activities. He's summited Mt. Whitney, enjoys riding his bike, and is an avid golfer. His love for attending music festivals and concerts amplifies his deep-rooted connection to the live event and entertainment industry.
Joel got his industry start over a decade ago and quickly established himself as a go-to talent for high-profile private and corporate events throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Over the years, he's honed his craft and developed a unique modern approach to events, placing a strong emphasis on a high energy, modern party vibe. Based in Portland but available for events worldwide, Joel Brown and the team at Higher Ground Entertainment are setting a new standard in the Pacific Northwest.
What They're
Saying About Joel
"Ben and his team really understood the vibe that we were going for. They really helped make our day special!"
Tasha + Zack
"We had a great experience hiring Higher Ground Entertainment for our wedding. They were organized, professional, and had great communication. All of our music and sound went off without a hitch - the vibes were immaculate all day. Our guests had an absolute blast on the dance floor, and to this day will mention how great our DJ Joel was. We highly recommend them for weddings or any other events."
Miles + Melodie
"We chose Higher Ground Entertainment for our Wedding music and entertainment group.
After meeting with Ben we quickly realized we were making the right choice. So kind and focused on making our day special. We had a mix of cultures and ages with requests across music genres. Ben highly recommended we have Mason as our guy for our special day. Their whole group was so friendly and easy to work with.
Mason was a huge part of making our day perfect. The audio for our ceremony was crisp, he was organized and his speaker system was setup perfectly for the venue. The audio balance was amazing, no over driven speakers, volume where it was needed, and no bleeding into areas where people were mingling.
When it comes to mixing and keeping the dancefloor jumping, Mason absolutely delivered. His transitions between songs and genres were so seamless, and not overdone. We came to him with a very wide range of music (edm, rap, latino, mo town, rock, decade classics, and even Croatian music) and he was able to include it all. He had an amazing sense of when to transition and how to keep everyone up and dancing without playing your stereotypical electric slide or cupid shuffle. Mason checked in from time to time, but he quickly gave me the confidence to say "whatever you feel is right".
We cannot recommend this group enough. They are sure to make any event memorable and can cater it to your musical tastes. Picking the right DJ for your wedding is so important, and you can be rest assured that if you choose Higher Ground you will be 110% satisfied."
Toni + Ellen
"You made our wedding! The dance floor never stopped. I was worried that since our venue was more formal that it wouldn't be a party, but Ben brought the party and everyone was on the dance floor the entire night! The music was amazing from the ceremony to cocktail hour to dinner to dancing. Thank you Ben for everything."
Lauren + Tyler
"DJ Freddy was fantastic! All in all, the company was GREAT to work with. They were on top of everything. So professional, accommodating, easy, and affordable. DJ Freddy was kind, polite, fun, and seemed to really understand the crowd. If my work is ever hosting a meeting again in Portland, we will definitely hire someone from HG!"
Association of Social Workers Board
"We can't recommend Higher Ground enough! We hired them for our son's Bar Mitzvah party, and Joel, Mason, and Freddy kept the tweens/teens AND grown-ups on the dance floor all night long! Joel was great at reading the room and playing songs that kept everyone engaged. Mason helped with the lighting planning and was on top of the lighting the whole night. Freddy was a wonderful DJ and kept everyone excited. We had people coming up to us afterwards and tell us it was the best Bar Mitzvah party they had ever been to. Definitely use this company for your wedding/Bar/Bat mitzvah/other event if you want everyone to have a great time!"
Sara S.
"Our wedding was an absolute blast, and we have Ben from Higher Ground Entertainment to thank for it! FUN was our number one goal for our wedding, and we knew the music selection and DJ would play a huge role in creating that atmosphere. Ben's expertise, charisma, and dedication made our special day everything we dreamed of and more.
From the very beginning, Ben's commitment to creating a personalized experience was evident. His chill demeanor made the planning process stress-free, and his professionalism and responsiveness ensured that every detail was taken care of.
Ben's MC skills were exceptional, and his introductions, smooth transitions, and perfect timing made our celebration seamless and stress-free. The way he kept the focus on us and our celebration made the experience feel uniquely "us."
Our guests couldn't stop talking about the amazing time they had at our wedding. The dance floor was packed all night long, thanks to Ben's fantastic music selection and his ability to read the room. In fact, another friend of ours was so impressed that they booked Higher Ground Entertainment for their own wedding next summer!
Ben, your talent, attention to detail, and valuable tips on timing and transitions truly impressed us. Your recommendations for dance floor lighting, like the pole lighting we loved, enhanced the atmosphere and made our guests' experience even more memorable.
Just a little note for future couples:
We can't wait to hit the dance floor with you again at our friends' wedding next year!"
Jessica + Patrick
"Ben and Mason from Higher Ground Entertainment know how to bring the party! Every time we work together, they light up the dance floor and keep the energy high all night long. Their knack for reading the crowd and playing the perfect mix is unmatched. If you want a wedding that’s all about the fun, these are your guys. Can’t wait to party with them again! 🎶🎉"
XO Social Haus
"I booked Ben for a corporate holiday party and he was the best DJ I have ever worked with, we would absolutely book him again. He listened to my goals for the event and was a real partner in delivering the experience we wanted for our employees. Professional, on-time, handled everything thrown at him with grace, and most importantly he played great music!"
Magnusson Klemencic Associates
"Best DJ ever. I didn't leave our wedding dance floor once. Mason was so great to work with and if I ever needed to hire a DJ for an event, I would 100% book w/ Higher Ground again. Thanks team!"
Lizzy + Noah
"Mason did our wedding and we LOVED working with him. From the early planning stages to the last song at the reception, he was super on top of it, took all of our wishes seriously, AND offered incredible advice. This was very much appreciated because we were unsure about a lot of aspects of the wedding (not just music related) and he helped us nail down a lot of the details. The collaborative planning app was super easy to use. Plus, I was able to text him when random songs popped into my head that I thought might be good at the wedding. He checked in periodically during the reception to make sure the atmosphere was to our liking. Which of course it was and that is saying something considering we had several vibes throughout the day. He took us through a Viking celebration, flying with dragons, punk party, and euro pop extravaganza. Thank you so much for making our day everything we wanted it to be!"
Tyler + Marta
"Would highly recommend working with Higher Ground for your DJ needs. We utilized their services for our wedding and couldn't have been happier. They reflected our music preferences fully, were attentive to our needs throughout the night, and looked and acted in a professional manner. We only wish we would have invited them to the after party!"