Ben Caplan & The Casual Smokers w/ Zachary Lucky: September 17
Ben Caplan & The Casual Smokers: Saturday, September 17: 9:00.$15 door. $10 artists/students. Rugged, raspy,
and roaring with charisma, former Hamiltonian, now Halifax’s Ben Caplan delivers it all from poetic ballads to frenetic gypsy anthems. There is a depth and musicianship to the songs. Expressive percussion, upright bass, violin, sax, clarinet, flute, and terrific use of call and response sing-along choruses all help Caplan & The Casual Smokers stand out from the masses.
In pace with gypsy-inspired strings, amid the sultry tones of clarinet and saxophone, Caplan has marked his place in the Canadian music landscape with a growling spirit similar to that of Tom Waits. His tours have extended throughout the Commonwealth, the energy of his live show an elegant cacophony gaining attention around the world. Breaking between guitar, banjo, piano, and melodica, Caplan’s stage show is reminiscent of a burly and bearded Freddy Mercury; a raging, strong, and exploratory songwriter, it’s the blues in his soul, pounding with the heart in your chest that makes Ben Caplan & The Casual Smokers an unmissable act. www.bencaplan.ca
This Just In! Zachary Lucky will be joining Ben. “Lucky’s music is a fresh take on traditional folk; a melodic 
and usually acoustic affair, with an accent on storytelling and a sparse, folky atmosphere. This all combines to create an often minimal soundscape that evokes homespun imagery and the realism of emotion….” – Craig Silliphant
“Lucky’s music is as mature as his attitude — an easy on the ear, soft-spoken affair with a lyrical emphasis on storytelling, offered up through an understated vocal delivery that meshes well with his softly acoustic playing style.” – Planet S Magazine http://www.myspace.com/zacharylucky
