Ben Hammond profile picture

Ben Hammond

Yay! A winner of John Lennon Songwriting Contest!

About Me

NEW CD RELEASED!!!! Click Above to Buy the CD or MP3s

Contact email: meATbenhammondmusicDOTcom Download my 1-sheet press release with bio, contact info, song list, reviews, awards and more. Click here (pdf) .

I am very happy to announce that my new album, entitled "[Reasonably] Honest", is now available to the public. This is my first full length, fully produced album, and features production by award winning producer Reuben Ghose, and an awesome band composed of Toronto studio musicians (Nico Dann - Drums, Gabe Nespoli - Keys, Dan Fortin - Bass) and former bandmates and friends (Jon Lindhorst - Sax, Zach Finkelstein, Kweku Sam Kwofie, Lindsay Hamilton - Vocals, and many more...) The Cd features 10 tracks of all original material, ranging from New Zealand influenced reggae styles through to theremin-tinged Twang-rock. To download a free full quality song and purchase mp3s, please visit my digstation page . If you would prefer purchasing a physical CD copy (with awesome graphics in an eco-friendly digi-pack) you can do so on equally artist-friendly CD-Baby .

Born in the tiny town of Hiram, Maine and graduated in 2006 with a degree in Music Technology from McGill University in Montreal, Ben Hammond has been touring and playing festivals (including the Montreal Jazz Festival, Portland Old Port Fest) and venues (Montreal's Sala Rossa and Metropolis, Town Hall in New York City, many more). Recent appearances and activities have ranged from tours of his home in rural New England to across the world in New Zealand, composing original songs, and most recently completing his full length studio album "[Reasonably] Honest" with full band and Downbeat Magazine award winning mixer Reuben Ghose. On June 10th, Ben and his band played to a sold out crowd (200+ people) at the breathtaking Stone Mountain Arts Center for his hometown CD release. This already-famous venue has hosted Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Leo Kotke and the Indigo Girls, to name a few.
Schooled in jazz, raised on rock, immersed in soul, and fascinated with music the world over, Ben can just as easily be found strumming and singing a ballad as he can live looping an a cappella improvisation of beatboxing and harmonized scatting. When performing his composed material, either as a soloist or with his quartet, the music features Ben's engaging, soulful vocals weaved within a framework of genre-shifting instrumentation which provides a platform for contemplative, understated lyrics.


follow benhammondmusic at http://twitter.com
Upcoming Events by Eventful

"Worst Kind of Perfect" Live on the Radio


"Touch" Live at the Album Release at the Stone Mountain Arts Center with full band.


"When I'm Supposed To" Live at the Album Release at the Stone Mountain Arts Center with full band.


"Lemme Know" Live at the Album Release at the Stone Mountain Arts Center with full band, including my theremin performance.

You can mail order my album from IndieRhythm.com:

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 5/27/2005
Band Website: benhammondmusic.com
Band Members: Recording Band for "[Reasonably] Honest" and Toronto Touring Band:

    Ben Hammond - vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, beatboxing, theremin, SK-1 keyboard, songwriting, co-production Nico Dann - drums, backing vocals, percussion Dan Fortin - bass Gabe Nespoli - hammond b3 organ, grand piano, keys
    Also featuring: Jon Lindhorst - tenor sax Mäike - trumpets Kweku Sam Kwofie - rap, backing vocals Lindsay Hamilton - backing vocals Zach Finkelstein - backing vocals Gabi Epstein - backing vocals Scott McGuffin - bodhran Jeremy Cain - electric guitar Mikael Tobias - electric guitar Mick Mendelsohn - electric guitar Reuben Ghose - co-production, mixing engineer
2008 Touring Band Members:
    Danny Berglund, Nico Dann, Kevin Warren (Drums) Kelly Muse, Dan Fortin, Mick Mendelsohn (Bass) Gabe Nespoli (Keys)
Ben Hammond and The Key Rats (Sarasota Florida):
    Daniel Brock (Bass) Garrett Dawson (Drums) Cort Farris (Steel Pan)
Former Members for the No History Sessions
    Sedgie Ogilvy - vocals, keys Kevin Fallis - basses Jeremy Cain - guitars Paul Lambert - guitars Anita Eccleston - trumpet Jason Sharpe - bari sax Andrea Dawes - violin, viola Jeremy and Jason - violas Jess Billings-White - cello Reuben Ghose - production, recording, guitars, perc, keys

Influences: The Beatles, Wilco, Stevie Wonder, Kurt Elling, Jack Johnson, Ray Charles, DMB, Damien Rice, Fat Freddy's Drop, more to come
Sounds Like: Jeff Buckley, John Mayer Trio, Fat Freddy's Drop, Ray LaMontagne, Bill Withers, Kurt Elling, Amos Lee, Keller Williams.

For a partial list of tunes you might here me play at my cover gigs, click here (pdf) .
Record Label: Peliguin Drop Records
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

« Tampa Recap: WUTT Radio Show and Orpheum Debut »

Last week saw my official Tampa debut (excluding the impromptu throatsinging / beatboxing jam in the airport with Jason and Mark last February). On Monday I was invi...
Posted by Ben Hammond on Tue, 07 Oct 2008 09:23:00 PST

« iTunes Customers Also Bought: »

This is kinda cool... when you click on "Ben Hammond" in the iTunes store it displays a 'listeners also bought' list for people who have purchased tracks from "[Reas...
Posted by Ben Hammond on Tue, 07 Oct 2008 09:22:00 PST

« Fanbridge Rocks! Use it for your band and save the world some SPAM »

Hey all you fellow musicians / promoters.What is the most important thing you have? Your fans. What is an awesome, free way to keep them updated? Email. What sucks a...
Posted by Ben Hammond on Tue, 07 Oct 2008 04:43:00 PST

« Ben Hammond and The Key Rats at the Beach Club for Wednesdays Ladies Nights! »

I mentioned this earlier, but now I have a fancy flyer to post, so here is the info again: I will be playing with a full band every Wednesday at The Beach Club on Si...
Posted by Ben Hammond on Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:34:00 PST

« "Lemme Know" a Winner of the 2008 John Lennon Songwriting Contest! »

I just got word that my song "Lemme Know" from my new album "[Reasonably] Honest" was one of three songs that placed as finalists in the Folk category of the 2008 Jo...
Posted by Ben Hammond on Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:34:00 PST

« "Even Though" featured on a Country Music Station! »

Ok, actually featured on a Roots Americana podcast produced by TripleStrand Productions which also has an internationally syndicated series of radio shows. The DJ ha...
Posted by Ben Hammond on Mon, 01 Sep 2008 08:54:00 PST

« Roadtrip to Florida »

Well, a lot has happened since my last post. I have visited/used the rest stops in 13 states, I have (sortof) relocated from Maine to Florida, and I have cut my hair...
Posted by Ben Hammond on Sat, 30 Aug 2008 02:03:00 PST

« "[Reasonably] Honest" Featured in Discmakers Catalogue »

Just received word from some fans that my new disc "[Reasonably] Honest" has been featured in the Discmakers catalogue and also up on Discmakers.com. Nearly every In...
Posted by Ben Hammond on Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:05:00 PST

« Tour Update: Downeast ME Tour and VT SOLARFEST 2nd Place Finish! »

So I am finally back from another big couple of weeks. First was a last minute mini-tour of Coastal and Downeast Maine, including stops in Portland, Bangor and Bar Harbor (Bah Hahbah fo...
Posted by Ben Hammond on Thu, 24 Jul 2008 06:09:00 PST

« Internet Radio Plays: IndieCan and MusicNotPolitics »

Two more radio spots on cool internet stations you can check out; first on the MusicNotPolitics Podcast (great name, eh?), and secondly on IndieCan Radio, which prom...
Posted by Ben Hammond on Thu, 24 Jul 2008 06:05:00 PST