• Plays mandolin, writes songs, and sings with Brother Mule (Brian Wicklund & Eric Thorin), Kane's River the Rockies-based bluegrass/newgrass group and the Growling Old Men - a roots-based folk duo with John Lowell. • Guest on A Prarie Home Companion. • Sits in on mandolin, octave mandolin, old time banjo, vocals, and bass with some of today's best musicians including Tony Furtado, Mike Dowling, Peter Rowan, Sam Bush, Tish Hinojosa, Bryan Bowers, The World Famous Stagecoach Band, Tom Rush, Chuck Pyle, Thomas Sneed, Jalan Crossland, David Grier, Matt Flinner and others • Brother Mule's debut CD, BIG TWANG won the Indie Music Awards Best Americana CD of 2005. •Produces CD's and composes soundtracks in his studio—The Henhouse (which he built in his backyard), working with well-respected artists and organizations from all around the country • Recorded a song for Mike Dowling that WON A GRAMMY in '05 in the "best pop instrumental" category. • Founding member of the popular neo-bluegrass band Loose Ties which toured and recorded between 1986-1996 • Produced and released the award winning Fishing Music CD in 2003 with David Thompson. • Teaches an ever growing body of budding mandolin students at home and at workshops throughout the US, Canada and the U.K. • Established Snake River Records, an independent record label selling and distributing bluegrass and acoustic music, including the Loose Ties catalog and Ben's critically acclaimed solo album, One Shoe Left • Has had his music and soundtracks featured on MTV, ESPN, NPR, Sirius, XM and unusual places from environmental documentries to Car Talk. • Played bass with The Judith Edelman Band from 1997-1999, accompanied by world-class mandolinist Matt Flinner and fiddler extraordinaire Brian Wicklund • Honored with a Performing Arts Fellowship from the Idaho Commission on the Arts in 2003 and 1990 for his contribution to the performing arts in Idaho •Second place in the 1989 National Mandolin Championships and a finalist in the Kerrville Folk Festival's NewFolk songwriting contest • Ben plays hand built mandolins by A. Lawrence Smart, Michael Heiden and Fletcher Brock. • Endorses Elixir Strings.
Contact Box Generated from http://myspacesupport.com
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 2 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): WALKABOUT WITH MY PEN
Once drove an old sedan, up north, From a place in Sydney to Cairns; Then to Kuranda I went forth, By train, to look without set plans.
I browsed through the trendy market, With fresh fruits of tropical kind; Walked to the creek through lush thicket - Nature’s hand giving peace of mind.
I dined in a scenic cafe; Then, outside, as I wrote for yen, Some passing Kooris called-out: “Hey, You go walkabout with your pen.”
Request or question, I don’t know - Assured voices, elderly men. That’s now several years ago, And I’ve seen the world - with my pen.
Hey Ben, see your real busy, hope all is well, I might want to do 1 or 2 dinner jazz style gigs with you around the 17-27 of January. Will you be around your home then? Dorian
Hey Ben! It was nice to have tea with you the other day, glad to finally give you the cd. I hope all is snowy and beautiful in Victor. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
i've been listening to the brother mule record. it sounds great. your playing is killer. looking forward to catching up with you out west next summer....
Thanks a lot for the add Ben!! Great to hear from you on myspace. I heard Brother Mule the other day via CD! Great stuff. I am booking some shows out west, mainly in Colorado so I can pick and ski...What a great combo huh? I hope all is well with you and take care.
Hey Ben, It was great meeting you at Sore Fingers. I'm moving back to the States soon so I hope we meet up somewhere. Neat version of Are You Missing Me!! Brian
Thank God we can finally be friends!
Thanks for getting in touch, man. Sorry to say, it looks like we're gonna miss each other at Targhee. I'll be there w/ Robert Keen on Sunday the 12th. Might y'all still be hanging around after your thing on the 10th?
Say hey to the family.
RB
Online Now!
