Ben Eppard
Percussive finger style guitar and distinctively weathered vocals characterize the sound of Ben Eppard, Virginia folk singer. Eppard draws strongly on his agrarian roots and local history. “Momma was a farm girl. Dad’s family was from the mountains – part of which is now the Shenandoah National Park,” he says. “I’d like to think those two things shaped my sense of place. And that place shapes my writing.”
Part of the burgeoning Charlottesville songwriter scene, Eppard recorded his debut album “A Hollow Note” in an old house in Virginia, using his grandfather’s 60s Yamaha guitar and a field recorder. His message was simple: Life isn’t flawless. Why should music be?
On the contrary, Eppard has intentionally carved out a reputation as a steward of “real” music. “Eppard is all about the genuine, raw side of folk music,” wrote the Cavalier Daily. Acoustic Highway named “A Hollow Note” to their Best of 2014 list.
In 2014, he embarked on tour in support of “A Hollow Note,” relying solely on hitchhiking. Eppard traveled more than 4,400 miles by thumb, ending the year with his follow-up release – WORK, a collection of songs about agrarian life.
At times stark, Eppard’s songs feel lived-in and honest. He crafts performances sure to be enjoyed by those who value the primitive and authentic side of American music. As he says, “the best music sounds like life.”