ben prestage
beale street
Downhome, Backwoods, Mississippi Country Blues, Delta Blues, Swamp Blues, guitar, dobro, diddley bow, foot drums, soaked in muddy water...
My Grandaddy was a sharecropper/ farmer from Mississippi so I've heard and loved this music my whole life. Since teaching myself to play guitar as a schoolboy, I've been blessed enough to perform from California to the Carolinas to the Keys in Florida, in large festivals, all kinds of bars, and sometimes sidewalks.
I recorded "Beale Street" while living in Memphis, TN, where I made a living as a street performer, when I wasn't on the road. I used to share a space on the sidewalk in front of the New Daisy Theatre on (historic) Beale Street, with Robert Belfour (Fat Possum Records), and Richard Johnston (2001 International Blues Competition Winner.) After he won the IBC I did some touring with Richard.
Busking on Beale is where I added drums to my show. I have 4 pedals that I can manipulate with the heels and fronts of my feet to play a drumkit. I also picked up an intrument made out of a cigar box (crafted by Memphian/ musician, John Lowe) that has regular guitar strings and bass guitar strings that can be played independently, at the same time. It may sound funny in a description, but live or on c.d. the sound will get people dancing.
Track # 2 on "Beale Street", "The Giver" is one song where I play the Cigar Box Guitar (bass and guitar), foot drums and sing at the same time. Check out a sound clip!
Blues: Delta Style