Ben Edge began writing and performing music at the age of 15 when he formed his first band called ‘The Ideots’ with a group of school friends. Later he formed ‘Thee Spivs' who toured Europe extensively and released three full length albums and a handful of singles on Damaged Goods Records before calling it a day in 2013. In 2017 he released an album under the name Ben Edge and the Electric Pencils with the American Brooklyn based label Almost Ready. His debut solo album ‘New Tradition’ is out now on Glass Modern Records on limited edition ‘Burryman Green’ vinyl that you can purchase by clicking on the image below.
New Tradition is the debut Solo Album by Ben Edge, who's past musical projects include Thee Spivs and Ben Edge and the Electric Pencils.
Ben who is also a painter and visual artist, has undertaken a project over the past four years in which he has obsessively been visiting, filming and painting the folk customs, rituals and ceremonies of the British Isles and this group of songs was inspired by the sights, sounds and folkloric world in which Edge has immersed himself. The cover art is one of Edges paintings and depicts the Garland king of Castleton, Derbyshire.
The album was produced by Matthew Shaw (Shirley Collins, Tex La Homa, Spectral and the Pop Group) who after seeing a video for the song 'Green and Mutilated land" in which Ben had overlaid some of his footage of the Druid order from various equinox and solstice ceremonies, encouraged Ben to gather up all the songs he had and to record his debut solo album. Edge and Shaw initially met and struck up a friendship at a Spring equinox ceremony on Tower Hill.
“The songs on New Tradition by Ben Edge are living things, songs that have grown out of Ben’s travels around the UK. Songs as alive as the folk traditions he documents and interprets in his art and music. It was my pleasure to produce this debut album for Ben and to play on some of this album as well.” Matthew Shaw
You can also hear some of Edge’s musical influences and personal favourite songs in his ‘Music I paint to’ series of playlists that you can find by visiting the Radio section of the website.
