Artists:Ben Bedford

Hailing from Springfield, Illinois (the true home of the Simpsons in my book) Ben Bedford’s sound is rich like the historical area that surrounds him. Blessed with a natural voice for storytelling and a way with a melody he makes a lasting impression. Tales of ordinary people doing extraordinary things populate his songs. He doesn’t really sound like anyone else and yet it’s a comfortable fit from the first listen. The songs remind me of photographs come to life.

Ben's music is a mixture of traditional americana and more modern folk. He has simple but beautiful melodies woven with lyrics more complicated than they may first appear. His sparse arrangements give the listener a direct link to the heart of the song.

Ben is now promoting his studio album, Lincoln's Man. The album was recorded in September in Nashville, Tennessee and produced by former Nanci Griffith guitar/Dobro player, Chas Williams. With a degree in history from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Bedford's narrative songs transcend time and place while illuminating universal truths.

In the title track, “Lincoln's Man,” Bedford illustrates the struggle of a southern boy who joins the Union Army against the wishes of his family. Among “gentlemen and rakes,” the soldier wrestles with loneliness, pride, fear and stoic acceptance of his duty. All the while, the young man knows, “the devil's out there pickin' bones along the timberline.” In “Migrant Mother,” Bedford brings to life the mysterious figure in Dorothea Lange's photograph by the same name. With reverence, Bedford serenades the woman whose “wearied look and worried way” succinctly encapsulated the sacrifice and suffering of the Great Depression.

Recently, he has been touring the Midwestern U.S., toting his unique songs to intimate audiences in such cities as Madison, Wisconsin, Columbia, Missouri, and Champaign, Illinois.

In May of 2007, Ben served as one of the invited professional writers at the Listening Room International Songwriting Retreat in Gotland, Sweden. Following the retreat, he completed his first tour of Sweden and Denmark.

Some of Bedford's musical influences include Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, Gordon Lightfoot, Richard Shindell, and Patty Griffin.

"Beautiful and unusual story songs that take the listener to the heart of the matter". Diana Jones Singer-Songwriter Nashville, Tennessee

"Like Richard Shindell and others before him, Ben Bedford is to be congratulated for writing in the female voice as well as the male...FolkWax score 9 out of 10 for the album 'Lincoln's Man'." Arthur Wood FolkWax

"Bedford's sound is rich like the historical area that surrounds him. Blessed with a natural voice for storytelling and a way with a melody he makes a lasting impression. Tales of ordinary people doing extraordinary things populate his songs. He doesn't really sound like anyone else and yet it's a compfortable fit from the first listen. The songs remind me of phtographs come to life." Bill Lavery Village Records

“Somehow Ben's songs work the same way (for me) as, say, Steinbeck's Travels With Charlie did. We're experiencing the landscape of Americana. He somehow brings these long-lost images and issues direct to the modern-day heart .” Jeff Wiens Singer-Songwriter Littleton, Colorado

“If you like acoustic sounds served up with taste, Ben brings it to the table. “ Gary Gordon of The Gordons Sparta, Illinois

“Captivating songs, one after another.” Ray Pieters Rootstime Radio Belgium

“You might even learn a thing or two from his songs.” The Illinois State Journal-Register

“Bedford's songs carry a host of regional influences which paint musical portraits of the country while capturing simple storytelling moments.” The Columbia Daily Tribune.