Every year we run a special event, the "Gems in the Rough contest". We're running it right now, in fact ( • #GemsInTheRough2023 Co... ). Songwriters from all over the world send us submissions, recordings of them playing an original tune, for the chance to be on the channel, and a host of other prizes. Back in 2022, this fellow i'd never heard of, Benjamin Dakota Rogers, sent us a song called Rosie ( • Benjamin Dakota Rogers... ). I was moved, by the raw emotion, the vocal rasp and range, the rhythm and talent. Benjamin made it into the top 10. Turns out he was already making waves on TikTok, where his songs have received millions of spins. That, and being the good Canadian he is, he already knew Crispin, manager extraordinaire, and Jeremie Albino. Of course, folk music is a small world.
So he didn't win the contest, but we loved him so much we invited Benjamin to Tennessee anyway, and gave him a tour of a some of its best nature, close to my house in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains. This is sacred land for me, places i've trekked to for over a decade and come to know like the back of my hand. Fall Creek Falls, the longest vertical drop of a waterfall in the South. The fire tower, overlooking the land for miles. Up there I find peace, so I shared some of it with Ben, who I came to learn appreciated nature himself. Unable to pick a song to play, I requested the one that got me hooked in the first place, Rosie, and he obliged. You can also see the last recording we made with Benjamin ( • Benjamin Dakota Rogers... ).
Listen to his brand new album here (orcd.co/bdrpai...)
Tour dates here with Liam St. John and Josh Quimby
Wed, Mar 29, 2023 Missoula, MT
Thu, Mar 30, 2023
Fri, Mar 31, 2023 Spokane, WA
Sat, Apr 1, 2023
Sun, Apr 2, 2023 Vancouver, BC
Mon, Apr 3, 2023 Seattle, WA
Tue, Apr 4, 2023
Wed, Apr 5, 2023
Thu, Apr 6, 2023 Portland, OR
Fri, Apr 7, 2023 San Francisco, CA
Sat, Apr 8, 2023
Sun, Apr 9, 2023 Los Angeles, CA
Big thanks to our executive producers, Brad Sirois, Mitchell Davis, Keith McQuillan, David Jameson, Lisa Galvan, Irvin Maddox, Josh Collins, Brady Jones, Julie Nestoroff, and VJ Arizpe for making this thing possible.
Consider becoming a Patreon contributor to help sustain this project. For the price of a cup of coffee every month, you let us continue finding and filming amazing artists.
/ gemsonvhs
GemsOnVHS is a long running series of intimate, off-stage performances by songwriters we love.
We're on instagram (@gemsonvhs or @anthonysimpkins)
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www.gemsonvhs.com
7 сен 2024
