Ben Willmott with special guest Woody Lissauer July 26, 2007

With the release of his debut six track, full band, studio album, twenty three year old Massachusetts native Ben Willmott is impressing listeners throughout New England. Willmott is noted as being a unique piano pop-rock artist who encompasses elements of Billy Joel, Ben Folds, James Taylor, and Bach, mixing the pop, rock, folk, and classical music styles that he grew up listening to and studying. Following his graduation from Ithaca College in New York, where his performances have been dubbed "flawless" (The Ithacan), Willmott has returned to his home state to perform as often as possible in anticipation of the release of Nowhere To Go But Up. The six-track all original album features Ben on piano, organ, and vocals; local musician Scott Manley on drums; and Nate Christy of CNC Music Productions on bass, electric, and acoustic guitars. Christy also co-produced the songs with Willmott. Described as having a "rich soothing voice, rockin' piano riffs, and songs that we can all relate to" (New Michigan Free Press), Willmott is "a contemporary songwriter with the ability to turn emotions into relatable songs" (Kristi Singer, Music Journalist). Kevin and Laura Griffin of the Cambridge, Massachusetts Lizard Lounge Acoustic Showcase proclaim "no matter what he's singing aboutyou cant help but be engaged." Raised in the rural town of Sherborn, Massachusetts, Willmott would return home every day from high school to practice piano for three hours in addition to taking informal lessons from local teachers. When it came time to go to college though, he was determined to attend a top-notch music school. After auditioning and being accepted to the Ithaca College School of Music, Willmott declared a double major in music and business. There, he studied classical music and the marketing skills that could help take his music career to the next level. Based in Somerville, Massachusetts since September of 2005, Willmott has made remarkable progress for a young musician in such a competitive environment; performing in highly respected venues around the area including Johnny D's, Club Passim, The Burren, and The Lizard Lounge. Now armed with a six track album full of "strong melodies, great storytelling and expressive playing," Ben Willmott is not an artist that you want to miss out on. Opening for Ben will be Woody Lissauer. Over night sensation? Not if you have been listening to Multiplex, Strangelove, The Gordon Michael's Band, Cinematrix, U. S. Bang, Crack the Sky, Living Colour or countless other popular Mid-Atlantic bands. His original band, Cubic Feet (Warner Bros. Pub.) has charted songs from their 4 CDs, and heard them played on countless radio stations all over the U.S. and Canada, their videos even being played on Much Music, Canadas MTV. "My father played wonderful old folk songs for us and at age six I made him teach me how and I've never stopped." Woody played in a popular virtuosic classical rock band and while still a teenager played with Steppenwolf. Then a BA in music comp at T U and post grad with the late, great guitarist Larry Wooldridge (Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald etc.), graduated into a full-time life on the road. Jazz, New Wave, Prog-rock, Folk, Fusion and more featured his dazzling guitar playing. Out of TU Woody immediately joined the popular Gordon Michael's band (A&M records) where his sophisticated musicianship, multiple instruments and dynamic stage presence made him an instant favorite with the crowds. He played in various bands and styles during the years like Cinematrix w/Laura Hunter (Chrysalis Records), Crack the Sky (Lifesong Records), U.S. Bang (teaming up with Aerosmith's Joe Perry, Kix etc.), Multiplex - the first band to take the 'New Wave' music full-time in the Mid-Atlantic. Touring up and down the East US and Caribbean continued with Strangelove, Zanzibar, and even Maryland's 1988 #1 country band The Alamo Band. On keyboards Woody played with Pebbles & the Bam Bam Boys, once in front of 80,000 people. All the while he was writing and working on the CDs of his original group, Cubic Feet. Produced by the famous Peter Solley (The Romantics, Peter Frampton, Oingo Boingo etc.), and engineered by Shelly Yakus (Tom Petty, Stevie Nicks etc.) they've received international airplay, cracked the top 100 at a mainstream radio station, reached the top ten on several college stations, even to number one! As a producer, Woody has made recordings for dozens of artists in many styles and learned to work the intricate modern studio like an instrument. Woody's voice is also like many instruments, sometimes growling sometimes soaring, always emotional. He has been compared to Joseph Arthur, David Grey, Beck, Bowie, and Peter Gabriel. Find out why his CDs have been called "Music you must hear" by Music Monthly Magazine! In addition, Woody is just a very funny person who truly loves people. This reaches the audience who have adored his new all acoustic show, featuring folk and classical guitars, banjo, dulcimer and other interesting instruments.

Event submitted by Eventful.com on behalf of MochaMayas.