Benjamin’s chequered musical upbringing began with an unusual collage of listening to his dad play Morris dance and classical music on the flute, and Jeff Wayne’s The War of The Worlds on vinyl. He spent his early years mistakenly learning piano and failing a law A level before finally picking up his brother’s neglected electric guitar. Ben studied music, playing in a variety of bands (ska punk, blues, indie) before succumbing to the inevitable pull of folk music in Sheffield. He ended up touring in Europe, Australia and America with the Tim Edey Trio, The Albion Band and Frogbelly and Symphony, and in doing so he quickly developed the mutant rock folk guitar stylings that would ultimately find him amongst the ranks of Blackbeard’s Tea Party.

Photo: Robert Mitchell

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