Ben Reel - The Irish Troubadour

Thursday, 18th June - 7.30pm (Doors 6.30pm) - Tickets £19.50

Irish troubadour Ben Reel returns in 2026 with his twelfth studio album, Spirit’s Not Broken. In a world marked by war, division, and uncertainty, the record carries a timeless message: hope, resilience, and above all, love. The album opens with raw rock energy before flowing into soulful, R&B-infused grooves, echoing the spirit of Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, Van Morrison and Sting. It’s a journey that blends grit with grace, reinforcing Ben’s reputation as one of Ireland’s most versatile and enduring songwriters.
Since launching his solo career in 1999 with This Is the Movie, Ben has carved a distinctive path through rock, folk, soul, and Americana. Critics have compared him to John Hiatt, Roy Orbison, even dubbing him “the Irish Springsteen,” yet his sound remains unmistakably his own.

Across a solo career spanning more than 30 years, Ben has released a string of acclaimed albums.       One of the highlights "The Nashville Calling" (2020), produced by Will Kimbrough & Tommy Womack and featuring E Street Band’s bassist Garry W. Tallent. The album topped topped the Euro Americana Chart.

 
Ben has performed on BBC, RTÉ, Dutch NPO Radio, toured internationally, and shared stages with artists like Jools Holland, The Cranberries, Nanci Griffith, Hal Ketchum, David Olney and Eric Andersen. From Nashville’s Bluebird Café to European festivals, his reputation as a committed live performer continues to grow.

With Spirit’s Not Broken, Ben Reel delivers not just an album, but a soulful call to resilience in challenging times and cements his reputation as a fearless and ever-evolving artist.