"From the brilliance of the playing and arranging to the magnificence of Reel's voice - this is heaven all the way." - Andrew Hobbs, Hi-Fi Magazine

"Reel's songs and the playing are really impressive, an earthy mix of rock, roots and blues, all mixed lovingly together with soulful vocals. His song writing shows maturity and progression which comes through with repeated plays... a major talent who needs further investigation."
- Chris Field, Birmingham Post

"Ben Reel stands at the threshold of true greatness as an artist."
- Pat Cunnane, Radio Kerry

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BEN REEL plays rock with a touch of blues and roots garnished with soulful vocals. A native of Silverbridge, South Armagh now residing in Castleblayney Co. Monaghan, Ireland he started his musical career performing & songwriting with Trim the Velvet before going solo in the late nineties.

TIME TO GET REAL will mark Reel’s 5th album in 10 years and is due to be released in October 2009. It promises to be his definitive album and also marks 20 years since he formed his first band, Trim The Velvet, as a teenager back in 1989. After the break up of TTV, Ben took somewhat of a sabbatical from the music scene which allowed for clarity and perspective; it was not long then before he came back with his debut album "This is the Movie." Since then each album has went from strength to strength covering different styles of music along the way from Rock, Soul, Roots to Reggae to Funk. Now, with this new record, his music has evolved into an honest, earthy, soulful sound that has matured like a fine wine.



RTE Radio 1 recently recorded a full live Ben Reel gig which was broadcasted in Feb ‘08 as part of their In Concert series. Also in October ’08, his band performed four songs on Blas Ceoil, a programme on BBC2 N. Ireland, and on 1st April ‘09 the band appeared on Dave Fanning's, “The 11th Hour” programme on RTE2. In May ’09, U People – a now infamous collaboration between Ben and Rainbow George - was playlisted for 2 weeks on Today FM with a live performance on Ray Darcy’s show and has been featured on Tony Fenton’s download of the day.

Gerry Anderson, of BBC Radio Ulster, when referring to Reel's last album New Horizon said it was “the best album I've heard in years”. Andrew Hobbs of Hi Fi Magazine wrote, "

Put simply and aptly, New Horizon is all killer, no filler! Rarely have I heard an album so complete and so fully realised. From the brilliance of the playing and arranging to the magnificence of Reel's voice – this is heaven all the way."



In the last 2 years Ben Reel has enjoyed successful tours in Holland, Belgium and Germany, receiving rave reviews in which he has a growing fan base. Ben has supported celebrated names like Jools Holland, Alabama 3, The Cranberries and Michael Ball; he has performed U People with the legendary Blockheads; and has recorded the song with award winning saxophonist Gilard Atzman, he has played with some of the finest musicians in Ireland as his backing band; and along the way, has built a loyal underground following that has made for innumerable friends and contacts through his art. He has been described as an artist lying beneath the radar for way too long, but this simmering pot is about to boil!