Ben Bedford & Ember

“American portrait songwriting” meets a magical acoustic Welsh duo -- With the release of his second album, Land of the Shadows, Ben Bedford “...has proven himself to be a truly inspired and talented storyteller...” according to Arthur Wood (FolkWax). In its first month of airplay, Land of the Shadows reached number one on the Folk-DJ charts, with three songs in the top ten.

With an understated intensity, Bedford delivers intriguing sketches of America, its individuals, their victories and their struggles. Poignant, but never sentimental, Bedford's portrait-like songs capture the vitality of his characters and draw the listener deep into the narratives. He refers to his style as “American portrait songwriting.”

After only four years as a full-time artist, Bedford has already played WFMT's “Folkstage” (hosted by Rich Warren) as well as Izzy Young's famed Folklore Centrum in Stockholm, Sweden. In addition, Bedford's music has been played on National Public Radio's “Car Talk,” reached the top ten on the Folk-DJ charts with both his debut and sophomore albums, and was featured in The Sounding Board, the official newsletter of the renowned C.F. Martin Guitar Company.

Since a chance meeting in a hostel in Barcelona in 2000, the unique acoustic magic of Ember has delighted audiences all over the world, from California to Mexico, Ireland to Spain. Now based in Wales, where they have recorded all four of their albums, Ember has recently caused a stir at Broadstairs, Priddy, Glastonbury, Llangollen Fringe, Big Green Gathering, Warwick, Otley, Fishguard Folk Festival and Sesiwn Fawr, amongst other festivals, as well as folk clubs all over the UK.

The simple yet moving music centers around the miraculous blending of two very different voices: that of Welsh songstress Emily Williams, who also sails through the mix with her violin and sets up chunky rhythms with her nylon-strung guitar, and that of Rebecca Sullivan of Utah, who fingerpicks a sparkling steel-string and breaks out the harmonica for a song or two.

You could call it contemporary folk with an edge. Ember has been compared to Indigo Girls, The Be Good Tanyas, Simon and Garfunkel, Tracy Chapman, Michelle Shocked, Rickie Lee Jones, and Dead Can Dance. Engaging and humorous performers, Emily and Rebecca build a natural repartee with the audience in true troubadour style. Hecklers are always welcome!

benbedford.com | embersong.com

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