Growling Old Men

Event information

Join us at the Harland Café on Good Friday for a very special event, featuring bluegrass all the way from Montana and Idaho. The Growling Old Men (Ben Winship & John Lowell) will be joined by UK double bass ace Ben Somers, bringing us authentic songs of the American West with gorgeous bluegrass picking and sweet vocal harmonies.

The Growling Old Men don't consider themselves old, nor do they growl very much. What they do do well is play an eclectic mix of music including bluegrass, Americana, folk, swing, and original songs, making fans of their music everywhere they go. Ben Winship (mandolin & vocals) and John Lowell (guitar & vocals) are both veterans of the Northern Rockies’ acoustic music scene in the western US and have been performing and recording together since 1998. Their material is informed equally by the music of the Appalachian hills and the western plains. The Growling Old Men occasionally collaborate with other top bluegrass musicians, including Londoner Ben Somers, who joins them on double bass & vocals for this handful of UK dates.

Ben Winship (mandolin/vocals) is a multi-instrumentalist who also performs with Brother Mule, the Fishing Music Band and a local Dixieland band in his home state of Idaho. In the words of legendary roots musician Tim O’Brien, “Ben is one of the acoustic music scene’s best writers.” In addition to the Growling Old Men and his other bands, Ben runs a well respected recording studio, the Henhouse. His music has been used everywhere from MTV to ESPN and NPR (National Public Radio) – a testament to Winship’s versatility and broad appeal.

John Lowell (guitar/vocals) has been a stalwart of the Montana bluegrass scene for the past 25 years. Fronting two of the region’s finest bluegrass bands, Wheel Hoss and Kane’s River, John has set a standard for rock solid flatpicked guitar playing and great singing. Bluegrass Unlimited describes him as “an engaging vocalist and a great storyteller”.

Ben Somers (double bass/vocals) is involved in many genres of music as a performer, writer and arranger. Son of professional country musician Steve Somers, Ben grew up surrounded by music. He began playing the sax at 16 and studied jazz at Middlesex University. Whilst there, Ben acquired a double bass and immersed himself in bluegrass and folk. In recent years Ben has sung and played with top class UK bluegrass bands in addition to his “day job” playing the saxophone (and other instruments) with big names like Dr John and Seal.

There will also be an early evening workshop.

Please see separate listings for workshop only tickets (£10) or combined workshop and concert tickets (£18).

This listing is for the EVENING CONCERT ONLY.

For more info visit:
http://www.growlingoldmen.com
http://www.ben-somers.com