Ben Sures

Rank #11 Edmonton, AB, CA Folk / Roots Music / Americana

About

Members: Ben plays with different musicians across Canada

Sounds Like: Greg Brown, John Gorka, Eliza Gilkyson, Peter Case, Rickie Lee Jones

Label: The Caribean Queen made me the man I am records

Manager: Andra Louie

Bio: Who is Ben Sures? He’s the kid you hung out with during recess at grade school – or wanted to. Because he was hilarious. Not in the traditional funnyman role – but as unconventional as all get out. He made life fun with his quirky observations on all things ridiculous – targeting those things th... See Full Bio

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Status

: Q is the most popular show on radio because the platform has changed not cause the host is good, dullest Conrad Black interview ever.

Press

“NOW’s Top 10 Albums of 2011 “Filled with female backup vocals and guitar hooks, this album by Edmonton’s Sures (recorded in Toronto by Don Kerr) begs for repeated listens. There are lyrics about Latin America, revolutionaries and working on cruise ships, but he also touches on discovering the Kinks in high school and the complexities of love.” 4 out of 5 stars” -- NOW Magazine “Ben Sures is my modern day Paul Simon” -- Caroline Brooks (from Juno Award Winners The Good Lovelies)”

— Lisa Weitz, eventful.com

“The Best Albums of 2011”

— Sarah Greene, Now Magazine

“There’s a freshness to award-winning songwriter Ben Sures’s new album that belies his 20 years of making records. The Edmonton-based singer/guitarist sounds like he’s discovering new things on these simple, inviting songs about revolutionaries, American shantytowns, cruise ship work and residential school survival.”

— Sarah Greene, Now Magazine

“Sures remains a fresh, invigorating voice within the crowded Canadian folk market and is very deserving of the accolades that are sent his way. What is most notable about Sures is that he isn’t just a whiny folk singer with a guitar (not that there is anything wrong with that!). The production values of Gone to Bolivia are high and the instrumental accompaniment provided is substantial. With wonderful, fully realized songs of depth and with lyrical gems hidden throughout, Gone to Bolivia is an early favourite for Canadian folk album of the year. It will receive serious consideration for a place on my Polaris Music Prize ballot next month. Thanks for visiting Fervor Coulee. Donald ”

— Donald, Fervour Coulee

“ nails everything that makes Sures such a superb artist – great lyrics, first-rate production and smooth, stylish guitars seamlessly flow together.”

— Mark Weber, Red Deer Express

“ Peel off the veneer of crafted folk singer melancholy and you get the barely contained horror of Martin Sheen drunkenly inspecting the mirror in Hanoi. ”

— Tom Murray, Penguin Eggs

“Ben Sures would like people to know that he is not some angry protest singer, though he still wants to spread an important message: ‘We are all in this together.” This obvious but often forgotten truth could be the theme of his new album Gone to Bolivia – the CD release tonight at the TransAlta Arts Barns – which was created by a singer-songwriter who’s part journalist, part humanitarian, part activist and just happens to love Woody Guthrie (Ben was born the year Woody died. Coincidence? Yes). Whether he likes it or not, Ben Sures – recent recipient of an Edmonton Arts Council grant (story here) – is turning into a political folk singer. Don’t believe it? Consider the lyrical evidence:”

— Mike Ross, Gig City

“stival Boréal, Sures said he likes performing at private homes because he can interact with the audience more and get them involved in the show. He said he even gets people involved in “folkarobics,” which he believes is “like playtime for grown ups.” Sures' visit to Sudbury is part of an Ontario tour. He said before he releases an album, he likes to take the songs from it to the road. So far, he's released four, if you don't count the cassette he made in his bathroom. The quirky Edmonton resident was also the winner of a number of song writing contests. He won the John Lennon songwriting contest's folk category for his song, Any Precious Girl. ”

— Jenny Jelen, Northern Life

“Most easily described as the best of Tom Waits combined with the best of Woodpigeon, Ben Sures is just as musically talented as he is a dynamic songwriter. And he is a wonderfully dynamic songwriter. ”

— Vue Weekly

“Sures may want to sing of loneliness, and he's got the instrumentation and arrangements to do it if he wants, but his voice always betrays a child-like adventurousness that sees him tackling love and its emotions as if he's on a field trip, not on a downward spiral.”

— Star Phoenix

“Thanks to Sures and his golden pen, we have a new song (Winnipeg) that can finally replace that ubiquitous Weakerthan’s track on the same subject. 4 stars”

— Jeff Monk, Winnipeg Free Press

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Songs

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Used to Have a Rayg…

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Everybody Matters

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Rambling Bones

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Gone to Bolivia

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High School Steps

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Videos

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Shows

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Sat
Jun 1

Mountain View Arts Fest…
Didsbury, AB, CA | 8:00pm
Mountain View Arts Festival
Didsbury, AB, CA
Sat Jun 01 8:00pm
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Opening set
Fri
Jun 7

The Blue Chair
Edmonton, AB, CA | 8:00pm
The Blue Chair
Edmonton, AB, CA
Fri Jun 07 8:00pm
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With Shantel Koenig and Stephanie Suchy
Fri
Jun 28

Carter-Ryan Gallery
Canmore, AB, CA | 8:00pm
Carter-Ryan Gallery
Canmore, AB, CA
Fri Jun 28 8:00pm
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Cd release
Sat
Jun 29

The Ironwood, Calgary, …
Calgary, AB, CA | 9:00pm
The Ironwood, Calgary, AB
Calgary, AB, CA
Sat Jun 29 9:00pm
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Cd release
Wed
Aug 7

House concert
Protection Island, BC, CA | 8:00pm
Private Show: House concert
Protection Island, BC, CA
Wed Aug 07 8:00pm
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Private Show: Contact info@bensures.com for tix

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Comments

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The Acid Reflex
hey bud just stopped by wanted to say more to you cause the introduction only allowed me so many letters.your work reminds me a lot of "the flaming lips" your voice is a lo...
Gabrielle Christopherson
Really enjoy your songs - hope to catch you in Edmonton very soon.
Koreen Perry
Love your voice, Ben. And great tunes!jo
Donnie Stovall
Great lyrics,great songs,,,,,,,,,
The Fat Sparrows
Great stuff! You really stand out in this sea of reverb blah!
Christopher Morse, S...
Great songs! But I bet you'd forsake them all to get the ray gun back.