A tenacious musician of integrity and acclaim, accomplished songwriter Ben Evolent walks a straight forward path. The Northern Territory artist delivers tales invested in honest experiences that validate our highs and lows. His energy and insight has led to him becoming one of the Northern Territory’s most celebrated songwriters and live performers.
Across two EPs and a variety of singles, Ben Evolent has developed a ragged and lively style deeply rooted in the spirit of song. Capturing hearts and imaginations, Ben Evolent is seven time finalist in the prestigious NT Song of the Year Award awards in 2015, and winning in 2016 with his song Next Time, and another nomination in 2018.
Consistently selling out at the Darwin Railway Club, Ben Evolent has established his versatility as a songwriter, delving into alt-country and foot-stomping blues whilst also expanding his softer, elegant side. His 2017 release Next Time was received readily holding the No.10 spot in the AMRAP charts for two weeks, airplay on Triple J and having over 100,000 hits on Spotify.
His love of the Northern Territory is captured in the music he writes and also in his ‘Territory inspired’ film clip for Next Time. As a live performer Ben Evolent is immediate, personable and magnetic. The sensation of his connectedness is heightened when backed by his band. This dynamic range of expression has seen him support touring acts such as Cedric Burnside, Kingswood, Bubsy Marou Boo Seeka, Benny Walker, Caravana Sun and All My Ex’s Live in Texas, and has secured spots at Darwin Festival and in Tourism NT social media campaigns.
With a wealth of experience and diversity of expression, Ben Evolent offers his latest album Wanderous. Building upon the shimmering affirmation of 2019 single Shiver, his debut album presents a cohesive whole, an Australiana born of the far north with all of its vibrancy and splendour, with songs that are in tune with the people and the land. Ben Evolent looks out on 2020 with an album endowed with compassion and determination to see Wanderous elevate his status as a grounded and genuine Australian statesman and storyteller.
In March 2020, as the COVID-19 crisis shuttered all entertainment venues in the NT, Darwin Live offered an online performance venue where local musicians, DJs and comedians could have an opportunity to perform and connect with their audiences both locally and outside the NT.