Benjamin Francis Leftwich

Benjamin Francis Leftwich

Performing at Jersey Live in 2011.
Background information
Born (1989-09-04) 4 September 1989
Origin York, England
Genres Indie, Acoustic, Folk
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter
Instruments vocals, guitar, piano
Years active 2006–present
Labels Dirty Hit
Website benjaminfrancisleftwich.com

Benjamin Francis Leftwich (born 4 September 1989) is an English singer-songwriter from York. Leftwich released his first album Last Smoke Before the Snowstorm in 2011 which peaked at #35 on the UK charts. In February 2016 he announced his next album After the Rain on his Facebook page, released on 19 August 2016.

Early life

Leftwich began playing at the age of ten and grew up listening to The Rolling Stones and Nina Simone; later discovering Nick Drake, Bob Dylan, and Elliott Smith. He cites Arcade Fire, Ryan Adams, and Bruce Springsteen as inspirations.[1]

Education

Leftwich was educated at Hempland Primary School, and then at Bootham School.

Life and career

Leftwich's debut album, the Ian Grimble-produced Last Smoke Before The Snowstorm, was released in July 2011. The Fly called it "a majestic debut"[2] The Skinny,[3] while the Sunday Express called it "lovely".[4] Hazel Sheffield, writing in The Guardian, gave it a 3/5 rating,[5] as did David Pollock, writing for The Scotsman, who drew comparisons to Damien Rice and José González.[6] Leftwich's "Shine" was named Spotify's most addictive track of 2014,[7] the most repeat-played song of the year. In 2015, Benjamin Francis Leftwich co-wrote "Grow" with British artist Frances which featured in the Amazon UK TV advert.[8]

Discography

Albums

Title Details Chart positions
UK
Last Smoke Before the Snowstorm 35
After the Rain
  • Released: 19 August 2016
  • Label: Dirty Hit
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download
 53

EPs

Title Details
A Million Miles Out
  • Released: 24 October 2010
  • Label: Dirty Hit
  • Format: Digital download
Pictures
  • Released: 6 March 2011
  • Label: Dirty Hit
  • Format: Digital download
In the Open
  • Released: 19 October 2012
  • Label: Dirty Hit
  • Format: Digital download

Singles[9]

Year Single Peak chart positions Album
UK
[10]
2011 "Box of Stones" 195 Last Smoke Before
the Snowstorm
"Atlas Hands" —
2012 "Pictures" —
2016 "Tilikum" After the Rain
2016 "Mayflies" After the Rain
2016 "Summer" After the Rain
2016 "Groves" After the Rain

References

  1. ↑ "Benjamin Francis Leftwich reveals album inspirations", BBC, 30 June 2011, retrieved 2011-07-06
  2. ↑ http://www.the-fly.co.uk/words/reviews/album-reviews/10217/album-review:-benjamin-francis-leftwich
  3. ↑ Buckle, Chris (2011) "Benjamin Francis Leftwich – Last Smoke Before the Snowstorm", The Skinny, 27 June 2011, retrieved 2011-07-06
  4. ↑ Heathcote, Charlotte (2011) "ALBUM REVIEW - BENJAMIN FRANCIS LEFTWICH: LAST SMOKE BEFORE THE SNOW STORM (DIRTY HIT)", Sunday Express, 3 July 2011, retrieved 2011-07-06
  5. ↑ Sheffield, Hazel (2011) "Benjamin Francis Leftwich: Last Smoke Before the Snowstorm – review", The Guardian, 30 June 2011, retrieved 2011-07-06
  6. ↑ Pollock, David (2011) "Album review: Benjamin Francis Leftwich: Last smoke before the snowstorm", The Scotsman, 5 July 2011, retrieved 2011-07-07
  7. ↑ "Spotify Year In Music". www.spotify-yearinmusic.com. Retrieved 2015-08-21.
  8. ↑ http://www.tvadmusic.co.uk/2015/07/amazon-prime-nursery/
  9. ↑ https://graffitipunctuated.com/2016/08/07/benjamin-francis-leftwich-islington-assembly-hall/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. ↑ http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/110702cluk.txt
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