Photo Credit: Silvana Macarone
Over the past decade BEN KWELLER has established himself as one of the U.S’s most treasured songwriters. His critically acclaimed albums have surpassed half a million in sales, and earned him a die-hard global fan base to which he remains committedly accessible. His genre jumping blend of Alr Rock, Piano Ballads and Folk Music has captured the hearts of fans and critics alike.

Returning to Australia in 2012, Kweller will be playing gigs along the East Coast as part of the Hi-Fi Shoreline Series – a series of shows across The Hi-Fi venues celebrating the opening of The Hi-Fi Sydney.

He’ll be kicking things off in the new venue, taking the Sydney Hi-Fi stage on Friday 2 March, before playing to a QLD crowd at the Hi-Fi’s Brisbane venue on Sunday 4 March. His last performance on this Aussie trip will see him take on the Melbourne Hi-Fi, Monday 5 March.

In 2012, Kweller re-emerges with the album Go Fly A Kite, a triumphant debut for his own newly formed Austin based label The Noise Company.

“When I signed my first record deal 15 years ago, many artists had little understanding of, or interest in, the contracts that would eventually bind their musical future,” says Kweller. “I was one of those artists. Fortunately, I’ve been lucky to make my music with little interference. I’ve worked with some great people, most of whom I remain friends with today. Unfortunately, we’ve all been operating within an antiquated system that doesn’t work anymore. The Noise Co. is another step in creating my own system. It gives me the opportunity to work directly with people in the industry who were previously ‘off-limits’.”

He laughs, “There’s a lot of geeky stuff involved, but as a die-hard music junkie and record collector, these things get me excited!” He adds, “It’s the real deal, not just an artist self-releasing his music. We have a real staff, real funding, real distribution, and I look forward to eventually helping other artists achieve their goals too.”

From the first crashing symbol into the dynamic electric riff in “Mean To Me” to the closing upbeat declaration of “You Can Count On Me”, Go Fly a Kite encompasses all the many faces and talents of this illustrious artist that has made Ben a worldwide must see live act.

Don’t miss BEN KWELLER in March 2012.

2nd March 2012 – Sydney Hi-Fi
4th March 2012 – Brisbane Hi-Fi
5th March 2012 – Melbourne Hi-Fi
Visit The Hi-Fi for full tour details and tickets.