Ben Sollee concert to kick off social justice leadership program
Through the release of six studio albums and performances around the globe at venues ranging from the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival to National Public Radio’s “Tiny Desk” concert series, genre-bending cellist Ben Sollee has continued to amass fans of his unique mixture of folk, bluegrass, rhythm and blues, and jazz.
An electrifying performer, Sollee has mastered his instrument, venturing away from the classical tradition to create a unique playing style. His distinctively percussive sounds are the dynamic result of strumming and plucking chords blended with a mixture of bow techniques. This unusual approach to the cello emulates banjo, guitar, fiddle, mandolin and percussion to produce a distinct musical experience featuring complicated, yet danceable, contrasting rhythms.
Sollee will present a special concert to kick off the new Hanover College Social Justice Leadership Program at 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 9, at the historic Ohio Theatre in Madison, Ind. General admission tickets are available for $30 per person. Concert proceeds will fund an endowment in support of arts and internships for Hanover’s social justice leaders. (Please note: Ticket purchases are not tax deductible.)
A native of Lexington, Ky., Sollee is known for merging music, technology and activism. He supports social and environmental causes to protect people and land, aiding organizations that include Oxfam America, The Nature Conservancy and Canopy KY. His 2010 album, “Dear Companion,” produced by My Morning Jacket’s Jim James, drew attention to mountaintop removal coal mining and its impact on the people and heritage of Central Appalachia. He has also traveled by bicycle from show-to-show during a series of “Ditch the Van” tours to promote sustainability and community-oriented music.
In the past two decades, Sollee has performed at numerous musical events, including the Newport Folk Festival, Austin City Limits Festival and Bourbon and Beyond, as well as NPR’s “World Cafe” and “Mountain Stage.” In 2014, he was invited to perform at a Paul Simon tribute concert at Carnegie Hall. He has also performed live with bluegrass stars Bela Fleck, Otis Taylor and Abigail Washburn.
Along with live performances, studio albums and multiple EPs, Sollee has composed long-form instrumental pieces for film, stage, dance ensembles and interactive media. In 2018, he received an Emmy Award for his score for the ABC television special “Base Ballet.” His music has also been featured on the televisions shows “Weeds” and “Parenthood.”
Sollee’s performance is made possible by grants and donations supporting Hanover’s Social Justice Leadership Program. Additional funding has been provided by the Hanover Enrichment Series.
