Ben Traverse has been a gentle steward of tradition for over a decade.

Their voice rises like mist from Michigan’s northern woods, carrying echoes of working-class ballads long etched into the earth. As a folksinger, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter, Traverse embodies tradition, threading the past into the present. Traverse roves across the Great Lakes Basin and beyond purveying the finest sea shanties, bluegrass, Celtic, and old time music and sharing the history from which they came.

A proud member of the Earthwork Music Collective, Ben is part of a vibrant community of culture creators devoted to community healing through collective musicianship. Alongside Earthwork, their music becomes a tool for growth, teaching, and resilience. Whether facilitating intergenerational programs at libraries or performing at festivals with support from the Little River Stringband, Traverse offers their voice and instruments in service to something far greater than the self.

Ben’s passion for music education and cultural preservation is as boundless as the Great Lakes sky. They’ve made it their mission to collect, teach, and breathe new life into traditional song, ensuring these cultural heirlooms don’t gather dust. Through community outreach, rollicking performances and intimate house concerts, Ben brings people closer to their roots.

Photo by Liz Tiffany