Benjamin Francis Leftwich

'Singer-songwriter' is not a term embraced by many musicians. Too often the phrase is used to denote generic clichés, excessive emotional angst or middle-of-the-road blandness. But 21-year-old Benjamin Francis Leftwich feels it's far from insulting; 'My songs are personal and acoustic guitar based so why not? I am a singer-song-writer.' With influences including Elliot Smith, The Beatles, Kate Bush, Ryan Adams, Sigur Ros and Bruce Springsteen, his floaty, melancholic vocals and deft finger-picking lie somewhere between Jose Gonzales and Iron and Wine.

A self-taught guitarist, Leftwich has had plenty of time to perfect his craft; he began playing at the age of ten and realised early on that song-writing was a natural means of expression to him. 'I like the way a song can grab you for a couple of minutes and take you somewhere, and how the different elements in a track can make you feel.' Growing up on a diet of The Rolling Stones and Nina Simone, Leftwich discovered Placebo, Bob Dylan and Elliot Smith in his teens and quickly began playing out on the York music scene.

His debut EP 'A Million Miles Out' was released on October 25th 2010 , produced by Ian Grimble (Mumford & Sons, Manic Street Preachers, Siouxsie & The Banshees), followed by a further EP 'Pictures' on March 6th 2012 and full LP 'Last Smoke Before The Snowstorm' on 4th July which went top 40 in the UK album charts 2011. A 10 and 28 date sold out UK tour followed, the latter culminating in a sold out UK tour at Union chapel, London.

Official Bio