Idaho & Montana

 

Website

 

Music

 

   Ben Winship (mandolin & vocals) and John Lowell (guitar & vocals) are both veterans of the Northern Rockies acoustic music world, and have been performing and recording together since 1998.  Together the duo presents a tight, yet relaxed set of original and traditional bluegrass songs, ballads and tunes – informed equally by the music of the Appalachian hills and the western plains.
   In concert the Growling Old Men are engaging and spontaneous as they make a big sound for two guys.  Their shows include a blend of well-rehearsed material and a few new songs hot off the press – they like to walk the edge of improvisational risk taking.  The duo strives to contrast simplicity with complexity; all with good tone and a warm sense of humor.  Festivals, concerts and workshops have led these minstrels both near and far – from hometown cafes to Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion, from Canada to the Shetland Islands.  In 1998 the self​-titled Growling Old Men was released, followed by Occupational Hazards in 2005.  In addition to working as a duo, they occasionally play with their favorite fishing buddy, bassist and songwriter David Thompson.  And when in the UK, they frequently collaborate with Ben Somers (bass and saxophone), or Leon Hunt (banjo) with whom they produced (More) Growling Old Men: Shuttle Diplomacy in 2008.
   Their CDs are truly a joint effort with the lead singing, harmony, songwriting and picking duties shared throughout. These have earned them rave reviews from fans, djs, and the press alike.  Says Dan Miller, editor of Flatpicking Guitar Magazine, “The first Growling Old Men project is one of my favorite all-time recordings…these masters of the guitar, mandolin and harmony vocals have continued to hone their craft over the years – their vocals are tighter and they speak to each other through their instruments with a smoothness, fluidity and familiarity that magically occurs when musicians come to know each other so well that they can read each other’s mind.  I could go on and on”.
   Ben Winship is a multi-instrumentalist and a founding member of Loose Ties, with whom he performed from 1986 to 1996.  In the words of Tim O’Brien, “Ben is one of the acoustic music scene’s best writers.”  In addition to the Growling Old Men, he also performs with Brother Mule, the Fishing Music Band and local Dixieland band.  Ben also runs a well-respected recording studio, the Henhouse.  His CDs and soundtracks have appeared in numerous documentaries and everywhere from MTV, ESPN, NPR, Sirius/XM radio, World Café to NPR’s Car Talk – a testament to Winship’s versatility and broad appeal.  Despite countless hours of driving around with the window down and running a chain saw (not concurrently), Ben’s hearing is still pretty good.
   John Lowell has been a major name in the Northern Rockies bluegrass and acoustic music scene for the past 35 years.  Fronting two of the region’s finest bands – Wheel Hoss and Kane’s River – John has set a standard for rock solid guitar playing, great singing, and captivating songwriting. Minor 7th magazine said “Lowell flat-picks and sings with panache and a musicality that transcends genres.” His solo CD I Am going To The West spent 16 weeks on the Americana Roots Chart, and his recording She’s Leaving Cheyenne was named #1 by Wyoming Public Radio. Lowell’s songs often show up on the bluegrass radio charts, having been covered by a growing list of contemporary bands. John has been featured on the cover of Flatpicking Guitar Magazine; won the grand prize in the Hazel Dickens Songwriting Contest in 2022 and was awarded Song Of The Year in 2022 by the International Western Music Association​.