Updated: 05 January 2007

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Many of you will remember Stephen Bennett’s astonishing performance at his 2001 Black Rose Acoustic Society (BRAS) appearance with the amazing, world-renowned guitarist Tommy Emmanuel. Or perhaps you attended one of his other four BRAS gigs. May 26 will be appearance number six, and your opportunity to get comforting ear balm from Stephen’s beautiful playing of harp guitar, standard guitar and resonator guitar. Since his first-place win of the National Flatpicking Championship competition at Winfield (Walnut Valley Festival), he has become known as a versatile fingerstyle and flatpicking guitarist. He consistently garners critical praise and audience enthusiasm. His stellar musicianship and quick wit make him a must-see attraction. After you have been overwhelmed from hearing  Stephen engage in picking at its best,  you’ll have an opportunity to snag one or more of his dozen magnificent CDs.

The guy is a master of styles, compositions and guitar. And he sings pretty well, too. That kind of talent has landed him on “A Prairie Home Companion,” many Winfield performances and, of course, multiple appearances for BRAS. What about Stephen’s style? Breadth is probably the best descriptor. His influences range from Scott Joplin to George Gershwin to Merle Travis, and from bluegrass to rock and roll. Through it all, you can feel true beauty in his rich harmonies, steel-string resonance and delicate touch. Maybe Bennett’s skills were best described in a 2003 review by Black Rose editor Charlie Hall: “When he plays ‘Balcony Boogie,’ he digs a groove so deep you can’t get out. He has blistering speed but uses it judiciously and only when the music calls for it.” Not that he doesn’t perform the mellow stuff too, mind you.  And it is magnificent mellow. It is the kind of mellow that flows from more then three musically delicious decades of playing the guitar for adoring audiences. 

Charlie Vervalin