BEN RICE

For the last eight years or so, Ben Rice has been impressing audiences around the Northwest and winning awards for his vocals and guitar playing. With original music that blends Delta blues, soul, rockabilly, jazz and funk into a rootsy stew, Rice stunned audiences at the 2014 International Blues Challenge with his raw, emotional delivery of his version of “Key To The Highway.” On his second consecutive trip to the IBC, he made the finals in the solo/duo category and was awarded the St. Blues Guitarist award for best guitarist.

Rice began investigating the blues and its history at an early age. Starting with B.B. King and going through the various regions and time periods, he is inspired and influenced by historical figures like Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson and Big Bill Broonzy. Rice was also influenced heavily by his parents’ record collection, from Al Green to Alice Cooper, Teddy Pendergrass to Marshall Tucker. He spent his college years studying Jazz Guitar at the University of Oregon as well as classical music while also playing in the Celtic Folk ensemble and Mariachi group on campus. His experience with and knowledge of numerous disparate musical styles contributes mightily to the unique sound of his originals, and his eclectic arsenal includes resophonic and homemade cigar box guitars.

His international stage debut in 2014 was a huge step forward in his career from being a regional act in the northwest U.S. to a national and international touring artist. It came between the release of his 2011