BEN BEDFORD: Since Ben Bedford released his debut album, Lincoln’s Man, to the unsuspecting folk music world, acclamation came fast, friendly and fortunately. On the strength of radio airplay, each of his first three records have scored extremely well on folk-based, singer-songwriter, roots-related charts, including the Folk DJ and Roots Rock listings in the U.S. and the Euro-American charts in Europe.
Ben 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.
In May 2018 Bedford was named one of the winners of the prestigious Kerrville New Folk competition. Thus joining the ranks of Robert Earl Keen, James McMurtry, Diana Jones, Anais Mitchell, Danny Schmidt, Jonathan Byrd, John Gorka and Pierce Pettis.
Portraits is Ben Bedford’s latest album release and was included in many a critic’s ‘Best of 2020’ list.
“..something truly special..” 5 stars out of 5 – Rock ‘n Reel
“Like a gallery exhibition, ‘Portraits’ showcases exceptional examples of the Illinois-born artist’s vivid renderings of people, places and events in poignant settings of emotional resonance in the tradition of Pete Seeger, Townes Van Zandt, John Hartford and Lyle Lovett” Songlines
“Bedford is a boon of a storyteller, a true heir to the classic US folk singers” AmericanaUK 8 /10
“He’s a gifted storyteller of vivid and engaging tales” ( from Roots in August by David Pearson)
“It’s PORTRAITS all round from album cover to each of the potential masterpieces waiting to be gazed upon” threechordsandthetruthuk
“His expressive vocals and exquisite guitar work underpin a series of thought provoking character studies which rank amongst the finest examples of understated Americana that you’ll be likely to hear in this or any other year.” Kevin Bryan-Messenger Newspapers and. 90 other regional newspapers
