A unique blend of story and song.
A folksinger in every sense of the word.
Select Recordings:
Ben Traverse is a traditional folk singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and member of the Earthwork Music Collective with deep roots in Michigan.
Traverse has spent the better part of a decade cutting his teeth with many prominent forces in Michigan’s folk scene. He’s found his passion steeping himself in the rich history of traditional folk music. Drawing inspiration from Pete Seeger, Alan Lomax, and countless others, Traverse brings a unique, youthful enthusiasm to an rich and storied musical tradition.
With a 200+ song repertoire played solo on both guitar and clawhammer banjo or with a band, Traverse can mold his set for just about any occasion:
- Traditional Irish music / St. Patrick’s Day Party
- Sea Shanties
- Traditional children’s music
- Educational sets focusing on the history of the songs, the cultures that inspired them, and how they relate to us today
- Old time/ bluegrass gospel and spirituals
- Facilitated bluegrass or folk song jams
Notable Venues:
| The Alluvion, Traverse City* | Goshen Brewing Co., Goshen, IN |
| Ludington Area Center for the Arts | Midtown, Grand Rapids |
| Ramsdell Theatre, Manistee | White Horse, Black Mountain, NC |
| 20 Front Street, Lake Orion |
*w/ the Earthwork Collective
Notable Festivals:
| Earthwork Harvest Gathering | Emerald Isle Irish Feile (Headlining) |
| Hoxeyville Music Festival (w/ Seth Bernard) | Smiling Acres Music Festival |
| Spirit of the Woods Folk Festival |
Some Artists I’ve Shared the Stage With:
| The Accidentals | The Crane Wives | Good Morning Bedlam |
| Joshua Davis | Mark Lavengood | May Erlewine |
| The Ragbirds | Seth Bernard | The Wildwoods |
The Band:
The Ben Traverse Band is a rotating cast of characters of friends, partners, and peers. These are some of the folks that accompany me.
- Josh Holcomb, fiddle (Dede & the Dreamers, West MI Symphony)
- Vince Russo, washboard (Appleseed Collective, Desmond Jones, Fay Burns)
- Michael Dause, guitar & drums (Moss Manor, Treeskin, Shantyland)
- Keala Venema, fiddle (Whorled, Pocket Watch)
- Elijah Russ, upright
- Kyle Pitcher, upright (The Founding)
- Carsten Forester, mandolin, guitar, upright (Grand Industrial String Band)
- Noah Cameron, drums & bodhrán (Forest Trail Music Festival)
Activism:
- 2022 Volunteered for The Pines of Arcadia’s “Together for Ukraine” concert for Razom for Ukraine
- 2022 World Water Day Shantyland fundraising mini-tour for The Clean Water Campaign for Michigan
- 2018 Rock the Vote concert at Grand Rapids Community College w/ the Michigan League of Conservation Voters
Accolades:
- 2019 2nd best musical act in Manistee County – News Advocate Readers’ Choice Awards
Testimonials:
- “Ben is the modern day Pete Seeger. He’s a musical archeologist who writes songs that sound like they’re from a hundred years ago.” –The Accidentals
- “As a musician, Traverse is rooted in the past, forward thinking, and fully present. His foundation is solid and he cares deeply about music and people.” –Seth Bernard
- “Ben’s passion for music is unmistakable. From the onset of the first note, Traverse creates magic! The future is bright with this one.” –Mark Lavengood
- “This is a well-researched, well-sung collection, from someone who is passionate about ‘preserving musical traditions from years gone by’, and it does exactly what it says on the tin.”
–The Living Tradition, Scotland (Old Time American Music album review)
Discography:
- 2023 – Me Grief and Tears to Smother w/ Nick Veine *RELEASING IN NOVEMBER*
- 2022 – In the Moment EP
- 2022 – Old Time American Music
- 2021 – Songs of the Lakes, Rivers and Seas w/ Michael Dause (Treeskin, Moss Manor)