Ben Caplan and the Casual Smokers @ Empire Live Music & Events

A charismatic charmer and a smasher of pianos. A madman and an earnest poet. A strummer ofdelicate chords and a loverof bent and broken melodies. Ben Caplan is not any one thing. As hereleases his second album, he's already gained a following in more than a dozen countries fromAustralia to Europe and across North America. It's no surprise. Caplan is simply unforgettable;with his huge beard and unruly mane, he is as visually striking as he is aurally compelling. Hisrough and textured tones cut through crowded halls; an enormous voice, roaring louder thanraucous crowds. The microphone looks almost superfluous. But looks are deceiving; once hehas your attention, Caplan can croon smoother than a glass of single malt whisky, pouringbeauty into a harsh world.

Inspired in part by Eastern European and Jewish folk traditions, Ben Caplan mixes older musicalsensibilities with his own soul, straight from his hairy heart. Lyrically, you've not heard the likebefore. Often edgy and dark, Caplan holds a mirror up to show us our nasty bits, singing aboutthe ugliness and showing us that this darkness is the root of the sublime. His latest album release, Birds with Broken Wings, explodes with sounds both ancient and modern, with more than 30 musicians and even more instruments, combining acoustic sounds from around the world. It was listed on CBC Radio's 50 Best Canadian Albums of2015, reached #1 on Earshot's National Folk/Roots/Blues chart, and was accepted into the Baker & Taylor NPR Discover Songs library. It's all smoothly blended by the hottest international production team around. It's uncharted territory, and Caplan's leading the way.

https://www.youtube.com/watchv=kfzy08FSdS4&feature=youtu.be

Also performing, Travis Cyr - https://traviscyr.bandcamp.com/