After giving up an academic career, he went on the road as half of the folk duo Downes and Beer.
[2] The pair met Bill Zorn, who had just left The Kingston Trio, and formed the Arizona Smoke Revue.
[3] When Zorn returned to the states, Downes toured with Pete Seeger before being asked to sit in on the first Joyce Gang gig.
He still plays with the Joyce Gang and as a solo artist, as well as occasional reunions with Phil Beer and Arizona Smoke Revue.
Downes plays guitar for Ryan's folk opera The Navvy's Wife and they are toured as a duo in 2009.