BENJAMIN FRANCIS LEFTWICH- PICTURES (BalconyTV)

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PRESENTED BY LEAH HOBBS

Inspired by the likes of Ryan Adams, Bruce Springsteen, Arcade Fire and Sigur Ros, Benjamin took his time creating a sound that is truly his, that reveals a little more of himself with every single breath and moment. It's a sound that gives him the confidence to label himself simply, unpretentiously, as a singer-songwriter, untroubled by the confusingly negative connotations the term now seems associated with. "That's what I am," he shrugs. "I don't think I'm folk, nor am I straight indie. I write songs and I play guitar and I think it's varied on the album and it will be in the future. That's what I feel like I'm making. The title singer-songwriter is appropriate. The term is usually applied to people like James Morrison and James Blunt, but really they play down-the-line pop. It's people like Elliot Smith, Bob Dylan and John Lennon that can be considered true singer-songwriters." Unsurprisingly then, it made sense that Benjamin would release his material under his own full name. No gimmicks, no clever pseudonyms. This is him. Pure and simple. "A couple of people seem to have an issue with it but it doesn't bother me.There was one journalist who spent the whole interview expecting me to be an army major with a monocle because of my name. Obviously, I'm not."

Leftwich begins his gargantuan 30 date headline tour of the UK in October, the largest consecutive running tour announced in the UK in 2012. This tour will commence on October 1, 2012 and run the entire month of October with the last couple of dates rounding out the first week of November.

There is at least one thing that seems certain . By the end of year, many, many more people will stumble upon a new singer-songwriter to believe in when they're stopped in their tracks by Benjamin's startlingly intimate voice. The unmistakeable sound of this year's most intriguing new talent. Be sure to pick up his new album "Last Smoke Before the Snow Storm" today on itunes.

http://www.benjaminfrancisleftwich.com/

http://www.facebook.com/benjaminfrancisleftwich

https://twitter.com/benleftwich

Cindi Avnet: Producer / Talent Booker

Brandon Wade: Editor

Andrew Sliwoski: Cinematographer

Audio: Wes Gaither

Mixed By: Karla Barrera

Atara Gottschalk: Co-Producer / Talent Booker

Lauren Gardiner: Production Assistant / Photographer

Leah Hobbs: Associate Producer / Host

Courtney Arwin: Balcony Location

We'll see you next time!