Blues Blast 2019 Rising Star Recipient, Guitarist Ben Rice, And Band Embark On Spring 2020 United States Tour

Posted on February 14, 2020 by Joseph Timmons in blues, featured, Featured Artists / Bands, Featured Content, news, Rhythm & Blues // 0 Comments

The Ben Rice Blues Band embark on their Spring 2020 Tour, with a local performance at the Arcadia Blues Club, 16 E. Huntington Drive, Saturday, February 22. Showtime: 9pm. Tickets: $15. (advance), $20. (door). Info: (626) 447-9349 or visit http://arcadiabluesclub.com.

Based in the great Northwest music hot-spot of Portland, Rice was recognized by his peers as the Sean Costello Rising Star Award Winner by Blues Blast Magazine in 2019. The guitarist/vocalist was also a 2019 Blues Music Awards nominee in three categories. The Cascade Blues Association bestowed four awards on Rice last year: “Best Contemporary Act,” “Best Traditional Blues Act,” “Male Vocalist Of The Year,” and “Best Electric Guitar.”

Rice’s music is deeply rooted in traditional blues, yet at the same time fiercely original. His guitar playing earns labels like “fearless,” “inventive” and “powerful,” and he routinely brings audiences to their feet with his stunning and emotionally honest vocal delivery. Ben is as much home fronting his electric blues band as he is captivating a crowd solo with nothing but his voice and his resonator guitar. Rice drops “Out Of The Box,” a Cigar Box Guitar album, this Spring, the follow-up to his most recent album, 2019’s Wish The World Away.

Ben Rice has been leaving huge impressions on audiences around the Northwest and winning awards for his vocals and guitar playing for the last seven years. In 2014 at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee, he left the audience speechless with a raw emotional delivery of his version of “Key To The Highway.” On his second consecutive trip to the International Blues Challenge, he made the finals in the solo/duo category and was awarded the St. Blues Guitarist award for best guitarist.

His debut on the international stage in 2014, was a landmark step forward in his career from being a regional act playing primarily around the NW to a national and international touring artist. Captivating audiences and presenting himself as someone who has a lot of depth in the various sounds-capes of American music, Ben is gaining fans all over the world who love his playing, singing, songs, and stage performance.

His original music blends Soul, Delta-Blues, Rockabilly, Jazz, and Funk into a Roots Stew. Influenced heavily by his parents record collection, from Al Green to Alice Cooper, Teddy Pendergrass to Marshall Tucker, at a young age Ben began investigating Blues and it’s history. Starting with B.B. King and going through the various regions and time periods, he is inspired and influenced by historical figures like Muddy Waters, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Robert Johnson, Big Bill Broonzy, and Skip James to name a few. Ben spent his college years studying Jazz Guitar at the University of Oregon as well as classical music while also playing in the Celtic Folk ensemble and Mariachi group on campus. He is well versed in a lot of musical styles that all contribute to the unique sound of his originals.

As a performer Ben looks to the greats for inspiration and is always striving to connect with the audience through his music and stories. He also has an interesting arsenal of guitars playing resophonic guitars and homemade cigar box guitars. More important than the visual appeal Ben has an amazing way of making these guitars sound, often bringing audiences to tears with his slide playing.

Ben Rice has been a growing talent in the NW, winning awards for his singing, guitar work, writing, and performing. He is stepping into the national and international scene using the vast influences of the American music to fuel his music and performance.