SEARCHING FOR THE STRANGER
ABOUT BEN
““timeless songs with a dash of Laurel Canyon feeling and West Coast flair”
-Searching For The Stranger”
““A melodically holistic effort. Kunder’s evolving artistry is comfortably evident, making his latest effor a strong and worthy listen for fans of intimate indie rock with an atmospheric twist””
Occupying a rare but accessible musical space between folk, pop, and Cali-style Americana, Toronto singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ben Kunder chronicles the ordinary and the extraordinary in luminous detail. With three highly acclaimed studio albums (2019’s Searching For the Stranger, 2018’s Better Human, and 2015’s Golden) and multiple international tours and festival appearances achieved to date, Kunder has amassed a devoted following while establishing himself as a sought-after collaborator and electrifying live performer. A committed social justice advocate, father to two young kiddos and compassionate member of the human race, Kunder consistently yields exquisite musical insights.
SHOWS
upcoming tour dates 2020
CANADA 2019
DEC 10 Toronto ON // the baby g
FEB 13-17 Montreal QC // Folk Alliance International
JAN 8/15/22/29 Toronto ON // Cameron House Residency
USA 2019
MAY 31 Chicago IL // Elbo Room
JUN 1 Cambridge IL // Galva House Concert Series
JUN 6 Boston MA // City Winery - Haymarket Lounge
JUN 8 New York NY // Rockwood Music Hall
JUN 9 Philadelphia PA // Philadelphia Folksong Society
JUL 29 Toronto ON // Indie Friday’s - Play The Parks
AUG 1-4 Appleton WI // Mile Of Music Festival
SEP 20 London ON // Aeolian Hall
BETTER HUMAN ALBUM RELEASE TOUR 2018
AUG 30 Montreal QC // Rocket Science Room
SEP 1 Fredericton NB // Grimross Brewing Co.
SEP 2 Moncton NB // Plan B
SEP 5 Halifax NS // Carleton
SEP 7 Iona Heights Cape Breton // Iona Heights Inn
SEP 8 Charlottetown PEI // Back Alley Music Record Shop
SEP 9 Mt. Stewart PEI // Trailside Inn & Cafe
SEP 11 Canning NS // Ross Creek Centre for the Arts
SEP 13 Kingston ON // Musiikki Cafe
SEP 15 Collingwood ON // Crow Bar
SEP 18 Barrie ON // The Songwriter Series
SEP 20 Toronto ON // 18 Waits
OCT 5 Red Deer AB // The Krossing
OCT 7 Sundre AB // Chez Petervine House Concerts
OCT 8 Edmonton AB // The Aviary
OCT 11 Kelowna BC // Snedden House Concert Series
OCT 12 Vancouver BC // The Heatley
OCT 13 Duncan BC // Providence Farm Chapel
OCT 14 Victoria BC // Copper Owl
OCT 15 Port Alberni BC // Char's Landing
OCT 21 Sheffield UK // Cafe #9
OCT 22 Birmingham UK // Kitchen Garden Cafe
OCT 23 Edinburgh UK // Scottish Arts Club
OCT 24 Glasgow UK // Doublet Bar
OCT 25 London UK // Green Note
OCT 26 Norwich UK // Shoe Factory Social Club
OCT 28 Sligo IRL // Sligo Live Festival
NOV 1 Dublin IRL // The Sound House
NOV 2 Ballydehob IRL // Levis Corner House
NOV 3 Cork IRL // Crane Lane Theatre
NOV 4 Ballybofey IRL // Balor Arts Centre
NOV 6 Kiel DE // Prinz Willy
NOV 10 Berlin DE // Studio Gezett
MUSIC
Searching For The Stranger
Searching For The Stranger (2020, independent) was co-produced with long-time collaborator Aaron Goldstein and with Chris Stringer at Baldwin Street Sound and Union Sound Company, respectively, and featuring multiple returning marquee guests including singer Carleigh Aikins, Wintersleep drummer Loel Campbell, and Arkells keyboardist Anthony Carone, Searching For the Stranger finds Kunder boldly probing the outer limits of his creativity.
Better Human
Better Human (2018, independent) was produced alongside Aaron Goldstein at Baldwin Street Sound. Guests include Oh Susanna, Jim Guthrie, Paper Bird/Bahamas singer Carleigh Aikins, Sarah McDougall, Ladies of the Canyon’s Maia Davies and Anna Ruddick, Arkells drummer Tim Oxford and keyboardist Anthony Carone, violinist Drew Jurecka, and Wintersleep drummer Loel Campbell, among others.
Better Human has received accolades from press and radio in Canada, the UK and Europe; including a 9/10 review on Exclaim!, an interview and live session on Ireland’s most listened to radio show, “Today with Sean O’Rourke,” on RTE1, a live performance on CBC’s q with Tom Power, and much more. Better Human has charted in the Top 30 for 16 weeks at 7 college radio stations Canada-wide and the single ‘Hard Line’ had its premiere on ‘The House of Strombo’. where George Stromboulopoulos rated the song #2 on his Magnificent 7.
Golden
Golden (2015, independent) co-produced by Kunder and John Dinsmore (NQ Arbuckle, Kathleen Edwards, Strumbellas) at the latter’s Lincoln County Social Club studio. Nine original songs with Kunder on vocals, guitar and piano alongside marquee guests Brian Murphy (Alvvays) on guitar/piano/Wurlitzer, Rich Knox (Dustin Bentall, Danko Jones) on drums/vocals, Anna Ruddick (Ladies of the Canyon, Randy Bachman) on bass/vocals and Aaron Goldstein (Cowboy Junkies, Daniel Romano) on pedal steel. John Connolly, Kirty and Ladies of the Canyon’s Maia Davies and Jasmine Bleile also contribute vocals.
Golden charted on college radio Canada-wide and received airplay from many respected international radio programs in Spain, the Netherlands, Germany and Italy, along with airplay and interviews at BBC1 and BBC2 in the UK and at RTE in Ireland. Single ‘Half Moon’ was the #2 song of CBC Music: Sonica’s Top 50 Songs of 2015.
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Contact
MANAGEMENT
Comino Music
Allan Wells / allan@cominoproductions.com
Sarah Erickson / sarah@cominoproductions.com
PUBLICITY (UK/EUROPE) Geraint Jones / gpromo@btinternet.com
PUBLICITY (CANADA) Jen Cymek / jen@listenharder.com
AUTEUR RESEARCH Adam Bentley / adam@auteurresearch.com
