Ben Paley

about

Born in London, Ben Paley was surrounded by traditional music from the outset: his father (Tom Paley, one of the great figures of the American folk revival), mother (singer Claudia Gould) and step-father (Ron Gould, writer on jazz, country and folk music) were all enormous influences. At 6 years old, Ben began playing the fiddle, taking formal violin lessons as well as learning traditional tunes and taking his place in the musical life of his family. When he was 9, they moved to Morganton, North Carolina, where Ben began to learn about harmony, improvisation, and playing nicely with others; and where he had the enormous privilege of studying with renowned Nashville session musician Jim Buchanan (who's played with everyone from Jim And Jesse to The Doors). Three years later Ben and his family returned to England, and he discovered Swedish fiddle music and Punk Rock. Some years later he washed up in Brighton: hanging out at Irish sessions; busking; touring the UK, US and Europe; playing recording sessions, festivals and folk-clubs; and playing for more bands than he can possibly remember, including buskers Anton the Aardvark's Hot Knives and Cyril the Squirrel's Sock Suspenders, and the infamous death-metal-bluegrass outfit and festival favourites The Wild Turkey Brothers. Ben wrote Swedish Fiddle Music: An Anthology, which has become the standard work on the subject in English: "The best tune book and recording of Scandinavian fiddling" says Carl Rahkonen. He also found tim

top songs

albums

▥

evolving tradition 2

▥

Paley & Son

▥

Evolving Tradition, Vol. 2: A Fresh New Generation of Britfolk Performers

▥

Swedish Fiddle Music: An Anthology

▥

The Wedding Day

Homunculus Mellitus

Notes From The Skirting Board

▥

Evolving Traditions, Vol. 2

▥

The Bedroom Tapes

▥

Swedish Fiddle Music - An Anthology

▥

Svenska Låtar

▥

Oratrix

similar artists