Smith & Brewer

Ben Smith and Jimmy Brewer met at an event organised by Joan Armatrading for the acts she had chosen to support her on her 2015 tour. Although they originally planned to just write together, they soon realised that their playing styles and voices complemented each other and they started playing together after their inaugural gig supporting Joan Armatrading in front of a thousand-strong crowd.

Since then, they have played together all over the UK, notably as the support act to 10cc and Ralph McTell on their 2018 U.K tours, at Fairport’s Cropredy Convention 2018, the 2018 Cambridge Folk Festival and the UK Americana Music Association Showcase in 2017 and 2019, as well as at AmericanaFest in Nashville in 2017. They also contributed backing vocals to Ralph McTell’s new album, which was produced by Tony Visconti.

They have recently finished work on their debut album, Another Shade Of, due for release in autumn 2019. It was recorded at Coltsfoot, a friend’s barn which they converted into a studio for a week. This allowed them to record together live both as an acoustic duo and a full band. The tracks were mixed by Ben and Jimmy and mastered by David Mitson (noted for his work with Michael Jackson, Willie Nelson and more).