Ben Calvert
Ben writes and plays what he describes as ‘Lo-Fi Post-Folk musings’. He grew up on a diet of folk, 60’s Psychedelia and Brit-pop which makes for a sound that appeals to those that own and treasure 7 inch records.
Ben’s song Leeds For The Winter was played by John Peel on his Radio One show, and songs from his autumnal debut The Leafy Underground have been play-listed and played on national and Independent radio stations on all continents. His latest album The Broken Family DaySaver was released last year to critical acclaim.
He’s played support slots for Kris Drever, Hamell on Trial, Jeremy Warmsley, and Jim Bob, amongst others. He’s appeared onstage with Guillemots at Birmingham Academy and with Bentley Rhythm Ace at Hammersmith Apollo. He’s the local support choice of both NYC Anti-Folk originator Lach, and political folk-rocker Chris T-T.
September 2009 marked Ben’s 4th consecutive appearance at the Moseley Folk Festival, where he opened for St Etienne.
“Finely crafted songwriting”
Metro
“Resurrects the mad ghosts of Nico and Nick Drake”
Virtual Festivals
The Broken Family DaySaver-Out now on Bohemian Jukebox through Bearos Records.
Available on CD in Digipack with original photos via myspace.com/bencalvertmusic, our shop, on itunes, and from independent record shops.
“Haunting, heart-bruising tales bitterly stumble into each other as if played by a meth-ed up, homeless Johnny Marr. The dark humour and stark honesty of Ben Calvert is paralysing, and charmingly so.”
The Fly
“A booty bag of avid odes to poppers, kids and wonderboys; he’s an understated emancipator of lyrical wisdom.”
Plan-B
“Although Ben Calvert has a folk heart, it is a folk heart which has been broken on indie dancefloors to the sounds of Blur and The Smiths. An accomplished piece of art.”
Indie mp3.co.uk
“The world of Ben Calvert is one of family, sex, drugs and psychedelic folk soul where city doldrums, insalubrious corners, glue-sniffers and cynical grey tile skies are redeemed and lined with silver by the innocence of ‘Kids’. The Broken Family Day Saver is the very type of English modern day troubadour album which would be perfectly aplomb in any Shane Meadows film, and sees a return to the form which previously heralded radio play and endorsement from John Peel. An unexamined life is not worth living.”
Redbricks Magazine.
