Ben Bedford performs at 6OTS Friday
OXFORD – The weather can be quite iffy this time of year, but there’s one thing for sure … fine entertainment at 6 On The Square (6OTS). This Friday, at 7:30 p.m., 6OTS welcomes singer-songwriter Ben Bedford. There’s nothing iffy about Bedford’s compositions, his songs are rich in sensory detail with a strong sense of time and place. Ben’s music has been called “American Portrait Songwriting;” come and be drawn deeply into his narratives.
It’s easy to see that the music Ben creates today is the sum of his life’s influences. While growing up, he listened to the music of the Beatles, Gordon Lightfoot, Johnny Cash and B.B. King. He started playing guitar at fourteen, with a focus on the blues. In college, he discovered the music of Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt and then later Richard Shindell and Patty Griffin. Ben graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in History. He worked for the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency summers and winters during college and then for one-year full-time upon graduation.
Of his compositions, Ben stated, “I have always loved a well told story and history is full of great ones.”
Bedford’s ballads are poignant, but never sentimental. He delivers intriguing sketches of America, its individuals, their victories and their struggles. Bedford’s portrait-like songs tackle scenarios including homelessness, the aerial triumphs of Amelia Earhart, the life of Jack London, and the murder of Emmett Till. Especially timely, with the Sesquicentennial of the U.S. Civil War just starting, is Ben’s song, “Fisher’s Hill” which tells of the plight of a Confederate Civil War soldier’s wife.
With the release of his second album, Land of the Shadows, Ben Bedford “...has proven himself to be a truly inspired and talented storyteller...” said Arthur Wood (FolkWax).
Bedford’s music has been played on National Public Radio’s Car Talk, and reached the top ten on the Folk-DJ charts. In July of 2010, he was named one of the “50 most significant Folk singer-songwriters of the past 50 years” by Rich Warren of WFMT Chicago. After only five years as a full-time artist, this young, fresh talent is on the rise.
The show begins at 7:30. Tickets are $12 until the day of the show; $15 the day of the show. Ticket price for students is always $2; call to make a student reservation.
Upcoming musical performances: The Kennedys on April 30; Garnet Rogers May 14; and North Sea Gas on May 21. All three shows are at 7:30, with doors opening at 6:30. Visit the website at www.6onthesquare.org for tickets and future event information.
While at 6OTS -or before the show- be sure to view Oxford artist, Charity Gipp’s beautiful tempera nature paintings, which will be on exhibit at 6OTS through May 1.
The next Open Mic night, every third Thursday night, is April 21, at 7:30 p.m. and the next Drumming Circle is April 26 at 7 p.m..
6OTS is located at 6 LaFayette Park in downtown Oxford. Phone: (607) 843-OTS6 (6876).
It’s easy to see that the music Ben creates today is the sum of his life’s influences. While growing up, he listened to the music of the Beatles, Gordon Lightfoot, Johnny Cash and B.B. King. He started playing guitar at fourteen, with a focus on the blues. In college, he discovered the music of Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt and then later Richard Shindell and Patty Griffin. Ben graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in History. He worked for the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency summers and winters during college and then for one-year full-time upon graduation.
Of his compositions, Ben stated, “I have always loved a well told story and history is full of great ones.”
Bedford’s ballads are poignant, but never sentimental. He delivers intriguing sketches of America, its individuals, their victories and their struggles. Bedford’s portrait-like songs tackle scenarios including homelessness, the aerial triumphs of Amelia Earhart, the life of Jack London, and the murder of Emmett Till. Especially timely, with the Sesquicentennial of the U.S. Civil War just starting, is Ben’s song, “Fisher’s Hill” which tells of the plight of a Confederate Civil War soldier’s wife.
With the release of his second album, Land of the Shadows, Ben Bedford “...has proven himself to be a truly inspired and talented storyteller...” said Arthur Wood (FolkWax).
Bedford’s music has been played on National Public Radio’s Car Talk, and reached the top ten on the Folk-DJ charts. In July of 2010, he was named one of the “50 most significant Folk singer-songwriters of the past 50 years” by Rich Warren of WFMT Chicago. After only five years as a full-time artist, this young, fresh talent is on the rise.
The show begins at 7:30. Tickets are $12 until the day of the show; $15 the day of the show. Ticket price for students is always $2; call to make a student reservation.
Upcoming musical performances: The Kennedys on April 30; Garnet Rogers May 14; and North Sea Gas on May 21. All three shows are at 7:30, with doors opening at 6:30. Visit the website at www.6onthesquare.org for tickets and future event information.
While at 6OTS -or before the show- be sure to view Oxford artist, Charity Gipp’s beautiful tempera nature paintings, which will be on exhibit at 6OTS through May 1.
The next Open Mic night, every third Thursday night, is April 21, at 7:30 p.m. and the next Drumming Circle is April 26 at 7 p.m..
6OTS is located at 6 LaFayette Park in downtown Oxford. Phone: (607) 843-OTS6 (6876).
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