Intriguing new discovery - Benjamin Francis Leftwich is a singer-songwriter of Australian and South African heritage who was born and bred in York.
At just 21-years-old, he is a self-taught guitarist who began playing at the age of 10, growing up listening to The Rolling Stones, Nina Simone, Bob Dylan and Elliott Smith.
Benjamin’s debut EP “A Million Miles Out” was released in October 2010, produced by Ian Grimble (Mumford & Sons, Manic Street Preachers, Siouxsie & The Banshees).
More recently this year, his second EP “Pictures” led to a tour support with Noah & The Whale and he has received enthusiastic backing from BBC Radio One and XFM.
Unassumingly, Benjamin takes to the stage, drinking from a mug - waving “hello” he sets about his task. Opening with “Break The Day Open” and “Pictures”, the first thing you notice about this guy is his hypnotic, breathy voice – it stops you in your tracks.
My immediate thought is to agree with the Jack Johnson comparison that I have read about, perhaps not wholly but certainly the vocal style.
“1904” is the first of a couple of songs played quietly. With his guitar turned down low, Benjamin backs off the microphone, completely exposing his soul during a tale of boats, grandmothers and great journeys. The audience is captivated, absorbed, and they discover - if they were not already aware - that there is nothing ordinary about this startling new talent.
“Butterfly Culture” and “Bottle Baby” continue to understate the fragile elegance of a stunning voice, lyrics strained with emotion and simple inviting guitar lines. Although a furrowed brow and a great deal of concentration highlight that Benjamin’s guitar technique is clearly far from cursory.
“Hole In My Hand” is the only song accompanied by an electric guitar rather than an acoustic, which Benjamin says makes him feel “rock and roll”. The simplicity of this tune and others such as “Maps” which tells the story of an attempt to please a woman who couldn’t be pleased, is nothing more than gentle and intoxicating.
And so continues a very mature performance. “Stole You Away”, “Shine” and the single “Box Of Stones” are all stories from a young man, who sounds like he already has a lifetime of experiences, hopes and shattered dreams invested in each song.
From his debut EP comes “Atlas Hands” followed by the title track from his forthcoming debut album “Last Smoke Before The Snowstorm”, which is due for release on July 4th. Lifting his guitar in appreciation - he walks off to tumultuous applause from the more than 150 strong crowd in The Temple room.
Returning with news that he will be playing in Birmingham again during October, Benjamin’s final song “Is That You On That Plane?” is a new song, written in Sydney, when he was apparently “really high”.
Releasing material and performing under his own full name, Benjamin Francis Leftwich requires no gimmicks or clever pseudonyms.
By the end of summer, many people will stumble upon a new singer-songwriter to believe in, when they are stopped by what can only be described as an astonishingly intimate voice.
This is one to be watched – and definitely listened to.
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