Ben Caplan

Ben Caplan is a Canadian folk musician from Halifax, Nova Scotia. He often performs with his band The Casual Smokers, and his first full-length studio album, In the Time of the Great Remembering, was released on October 20, 2011.[1][2] His second record, Birds With Broken Wings, was released September 18, 2015.[3] His third album, Old Stock, was released on June 15, 2018, and his fourth album, recollection (reimagined), was released on October 15, 2021.[4]

Ben Caplan
Background information
OriginHamilton, Ontario, Canada
Genresfolk / roots
Years active2006–present
LabelsCoalition Music (Records)
Websitebencaplan.ca

Career

Early years

Ben Caplan was born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, and now resides in Halifax, Nova Scotia.[5] He started playing the guitar at the age of 13,[6] but it was at the age of 19 that he started his journey as an independent singer-songwriter. Although he studied at the University of King's College, he decided that in order to have a career in music, it would have to become his priority.[7] He participated in the Artist Entrepreneur program through Canada's Music Incubator.[8] He has been a touring musician since 2006[9] and released his first full-length album in 2011.[4]

Touring

In 2011 Caplan toured across Canada, and performed some concerts in Europe as well.[10] In 2012, Ben Caplan & The Casual Smokers toured the east coast of Canada, performed at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, and performed at the East Coast Music Awards (ECMA) Gala.[11]

Caplan performed live at the 2013 Byron Bay Bluesfest that took place from March 30 to April 1.[12]

From April to the end of July in 2013, Caplan played a number of shows that spread across Australia, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Norway, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Among these shows, he performed at Glastonbury Festival (UK), The Hop Farm Festival (UK), and Roots In The Park Music Festival (Netherlands).[13]

In December 2013, Caplan returned to the Netherlands for a weekend tour that consisted of dates in Tilburg, Arnhem, and Haarlem.[14]

From December 28, 2013, to January 10, 2014, Caplan played a series of shows in Australia and participated in the Woodford Folk Festival and Sydney Festival.[15]

From February 21 to April 1, 2015, Caplan toured the United States for the first time. He performed three times during South By Southwest in Austin, Texas, in the middle of the tour.[16]

Between 2015 and 2016 Ben embarked on back to back North American and European Tours [17] While touring Europe Ben has received positive reviews major publications such as Independent UK and The Guardian UK who say "For all the fierceness of the Canadian's appearance, nothing quite prepares for his voice, both spoken and singing."[18] and "From Satanic hoedowns to swaying country heartbreakers, this evening with the larger-than-life Caplan makes for rollicking fun." ranking him – 4/5 stars[19]

Awards
Nova Scotia Music Awards 2012[20]
  • WON Entertainer of the Year
  • Nominated for Digital Artist of the Year
  • Nominated for New Artist of the Year
  • Nominated for Male Artist Recording of the Year—In the Time of the Great Remembering
  • Nominated for Recording of the Year—In the Time of the Great Remembering
  • Nominated for New Artist of the Year
  • Nominated for SOCAN Songwriter of the Year
Hamilton Music Awards 2012[21][22]
  • WON Roots Recording of The Year
East Coast Music Awards 2013[23]
  • WON Rising Star Recording of the Year
  • Nominated for Folk Recording of the Year
Nova Scotia Music Awards 2015[24]
  • Nominated for Entertainer of the Year
East Coast Music Awards 2016[25]
  • Nominated for Album of the Year
  • Nominated for Folk Recording of the Year
  • Nominated for Song of the Year

Discography

Albums
YearTitleRelease DateMembers
2011In the Time of the Great RememberingOctober 20, 2011
  • Ben Caplan: vocals, guitar, banjo, melodica, megaphone, piano
  • Ron Hynes: contrabass
  • Donald MacLennan: violin
  • David Christensen: clarinet, saxophone, flute
  • Matt Gallant: drums, except
  • Brendan Melchin: drums on "Beautiful" and "Rest Your Head"
  • Sasha Muise: vocals on "Seed of Love"
2015Birds With Broken WingsSeptember 18, 2015
  • Ben Caplan: piano, guitar, banjo, vibraphone, vocals
  • Socalled: piano, vibraphone, madness
  • Taryn Kawaja: piano, toy piano, vocals
  • Ronald J. Hynes: contrabass, bass guitar
  • Donald MacLennan: violin
  • Jaron Freeman-Fox: violin, pedals
  • Pemi Paull: violin, viola
  • JC Lizotte: cello
  • Erik Hove: alto saxophone, flute
  • Jean-Nicholas Trottier: trombone
  • Andy King: trumpet
  • Jason Sharp: baritone saxophone
  • Michael Winograd: clarinet
  • Sergiu Popa: accordion
  • Nicolae Margineanu: cymbalom
  • Jennifer Swartz: concert harp
  • Joe Grass: pedal steel, mandolin, pedals
  • Mohamed Raky: darbouka
  • Greg Woolner: drum kit, marching drum
  • Jamie Thompson: drum kit
  • Damien Moynihan: drum kit
  • Phil Bova: drum kit, percussion
  • Sarah Makonnen: backup vocals
  • Judith Little-Daudelin: backup vocals
  • Cyndi Cain: backup vocals, cocktail party
  • Lindsay Alcorn: backup vocals, cocktail party
  • Coco Love Alcorn: backup vocals, cocktail party
  • Sasha Muise: backup vocals, cocktail party
2018 Old Stock June 15, 2018
2021 recollection October 15, 2021

References
  1. Cochrane, Freya (nd). "Ben Caplan – In The Time Of The Great Remembering". Bring The Noise UK. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2016-01-12.
  2. Lee, Darren (2012-11-02). "Ben Caplan & The Casual Smokers – In The Time Of The Great Remembering". musicOMH. Archived from the original on 2013-05-01. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
  3. Murphy, Sarah (2015-09-11). "'Birds with Broken Wings' (album stream)". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on 2015-09-13. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
  4. Caplan, Ben. "Music". Ben Caplan. Archived from the original on 2022-03-15. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  5. "Singer-songwriter Ben Caplan's old soul". CBC News. 2013-01-23. Archived from the original on 2017-03-12. Retrieved 2015-03-20.
  6. Sansalone, Alex (2015-11-08). "A Phone Call with Folk Artist Ben Caplan". That Music Magazine. Archived from the original on 2022-11-21. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
  7. Spence, Rebecca (2010-02-25). "King's Band Strikes Rootsy Chord". The Dalhousie Gazette. Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Archived from the original on 2022-11-21. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
  8. Farrell, David (2015-08-20). "Six Questions With… Ben Caplan". FYI Music News. Archived from the original on 2022-11-21. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
  9. "Ben Caplan". East Coast Music Association. nd. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-20.
  10. Ritchie, Matthew (2012-03-08). "Ben Caplan's towering success". The Coast. Archived from the original on 2012-10-15. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
  11. "Ben Caplan & the Casual Smokers to Perform at SXSW, CMW, ECMA, & TGE – Canadian and European Tour Dates Announced". Audio Blood. 2012-02-29. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  12. "24th Annual Byron Bay Bluesfest". Byron Bay Bluesfest. Archived from the original on 2022-10-26. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
  13. Carroll, Erin (2013-04-02). "Ben Caplan Announces Performance At Glastonbury Festival, West Coast Canadian Tour and A Busy Summer Filled With Festival Apperances [sic]". Audio Blood. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  14. Netherlands Tour: December 2013 Youtube. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  15. The AU Interview: Ben Caplan (Canada) Talks 2014 Tour! The AU Review. Retrieved March 26, 2015
  16. Exclusive: Ben Caplan announces upcoming U.S. tour in new video AXS. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  17. "Ben Caplan, performer of the year".
  18. Pollock, David (2016-01-07). "Ben Caplan & The Casual Smokers, King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow, review: Deserve wider acknowledgement". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2016-01-08.
  19. Virtue, Graeme (2016-01-06). "Ben Caplan review – burlesque folk with a bellowing ringmaster". Archived from the original on 2016-01-11.
  20. Delmar, Sari (2012-11-24). "Ben Caplan Wins Big At Nova Scotia Music Awards". Audio Blood. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  21. "2012 Music Awards". Hamilton Music Awards. Archived from the original on 2013-09-07.
  22. Rockingham, Graham (2013-02-19). "A voice as big as his beard". The Hamilton Spectator. Archived from the original on 2022-11-21. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
  23. "Awards Archive 2013". East Coast Music Association. Archived from the original on 2022-05-28. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
  24. "Molson Canadian Nova Scotia Music Week 2015: Music Nominees". Nova Scotia Music Week. Archived from the original on 2015-11-13. Retrieved 2015-10-08.
  25. "Awards Archive 2016". East Coast Music Association. Archived from the original on 2022-05-28. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
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