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Twig and I are excited to host Ben Balmer, who is a relatively recent transplant to Asheville from Austin. We discovered him last year at Asheville Guitar Bar, jamming with Mr. Jimmy. See the end of this for event details.
The son of a classical pianist mother and a harmonica playing father, music has been a
constant for Ben Balmer. He started playing harmonica at 13 in his hometown of
Ypsilanti, Michigan, and by 16 was playing guitar and performing club gigs across the
region.
Balmer’s early listening was as eclectic as it gets. It included everything from Bela
Bartok to The J. Geils Band. He’d play along to his dad’s blues records, especially
Sonnyboy Williamson and Paul Butterfield. Following his dad’s lead, Balmer took
harmonica lessons from Grammy Award-winning player Peter “Madcat” Ruth. Over
time, his musical influences expanded to include Fiona Apple, Taj Mahal, and Tom
Waits. A fervent reader, Balmer’s work is colored by that of Cormac McCarthy, Mikhail
Bulgakov, Neil Gaiman, and C.S. Lewis.
Balmer made the decision to leave Michigan in 2008, and traveled the country living
out of his 1990 Toyota Camry. He busked for the better part of a year, earning just
enough to feed himself and keep the Camry running, putting in the time to become an
effective solo performer. By the close of 2008, he found himself in Austin, Texas, which
would be his home for the next 14 years. There he connected with bassist Josh
Flowers (Jamie Lin Wilson, Motenko, Jeff Lofton) and drummer Aaron Parks (Paul
Klemperer, Andre Hayward, Mente Clara), both of whom he still plays with today.
Balmer has released three albums to date. Dug In (2012), was recorded at Rivertone
Studios in Martindale, Texas, and features Flowers and Parks. Loose Lips, Sunk Ships,
Bruised Hips, and Booze Sips (2016) is the album that solidifies Balmer’s voice as a
songwriter. It again features Flowers and Parks with guest performances by Jeff
Plankenhorn, Grace Park, and Vivienne Wilder.
Balmer’s latest release, Honky-Tonk Macbeth (2021), recorded at King Electric Studios
and engineered by Justin Douglas, was released to much acclaim. It’s been hailed as
“...one of those pleasant oddities that pops up now and then, an effort that brims with
clever ideas matched with top musicianship” (Darryl Smyers, Texas Music Magazine).
“This album oozes with coolness. Balmer is a superb lyricist and one heck of a
storyteller, and the players on this record are equally as gifted, moving effortlessly from
one musical genre into another” (Jane Ponte, Houston Music Review). Album personnel
includes Flowers and Parks alongside Austin aces Cat Clemons on lead guitar (Cat
Clemons Corporation, Wild Child, White Denim, Motenko), and Eddie Dickerson on fiddle (Curtis
Grimes, Fog and Bone, Kathryn Legendre).
Balmer was commissioned by the University of Michigan to write and perform the
music for an original theatre production at the Chekhov International Theatre Festival in
(2007). He has done months-long stints in Japan (2010) and the UK (2016, and played over
50 shows over the course of a month at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe (2016). In 2018
he was invited by the City of Austin to represent the city in Saltillo, Mexico for Austin
Sister Cities International (ASCI). He has played in every US state except Alaska and
Hawaii as well as throughout Canada.
Balmer moved to Asheville, North Carolina in 2022 and is soaking up the bountiful
talent and musical heritage that the Blue Ridge Mountain area offers, in addition to touring regularly.
As usual, the gates are at 6pm and the music starts about 7pm and typically ends about 10pm. Tickets are at the door and are $30 (all monies go to the artists) via cash (preferred) or Venmo or Zelle. These shows are in our backyard, so please bring a chair or blanket, and a picnic w/ BYOB (bring a cooler if you can). OH! and be sure to bring your dancin' shoes and cash for tips and merch!
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
169 Virginia Ave, Asheville, NC 28806-3217, United States
