ABOUT BEN

• Plays mandolin, writes songs, and sings with Brother Mule , an acoustic power trio with Brian Wicklund and Eric Thorin, as well as with the Growling Old Men, a roots-based folk duo with John Lowell.

• Sits in on mandolin, octave mandolin, old time banjo, vocals, and bass with some of today's best musicians including Tony Furtado, Mike Dowling, Peter Rowan, Sam Bush, Tish Hinojosa, Bryan Bowers, The World Famous Stagecoach Band, Tom Rush, Chuck Pyle, Thomas Sneed, Jalan Crossland, David Grier, Matt Flinner and others

•Produces CD's and composes soundtracks in his studio—The Henhouse (which he built in his backyard), working with well-respected artists and organizations from all around the country

• Recorded a song for Mike Dowling that WON A GRAMMY in '05 in the "best pop instrumental" category.

• Founding member of the popular neo-bluegrass band Loose Ties which toured and recorded between 1986-1996

• Produced and released the award winning Fishing Music CD in 2003 with David Thompson.

• Teaches an ever growing body of budding mandolin students at home and at workshops throughout the US, Canada and the U.K.

• Established Snake River Records, an independent record label selling and distributing bluegrass and acoustic music, including the Loose Ties catalog and Ben's critically acclaimed solo album, One Shoe Left

• Has had his music and soundtracks featured on MTV, ESPN, NPR, Sirius, XM and unusual places from environmental documentries to Car Talk.

• Played bass with The Judith Edelman Band from 1997-1999, accompanied by world-class mandolinist Matt Flinner and fiddler extraordinaire Brian Wicklund

• Honored with a Performing Arts Fellowship from the Idaho Commission on the Arts in 2003 and 1990 for his contribution to the performing arts in Idaho

•Second place in the 1989 National Mandolin Championships and a finalist in the Kerrville Folk Festival's NewFolk songwriting contest