Fiddler Owen Kennedy and multi-instrumentalist Benjamin Foss play traditional New England favorites: energetic dance tunes on guitar and fiddle, tastefully accompanied songs, and close harmony twin fiddling. They bring audiences tunes from Scotland to Scandinavia as well as originals and modern melodies within the tradition. This duo has been entertaining Maine fans for years, with fresh energy and fun arrangements sure to charm and engage audiences of all ages. Listen for yourself with their YouTube playlist!
Past performances have included sets at Waldo Fiddle Fest, the Windjammer Festival, at Maine Fiddle Camp, and in Searsport. More recently they've played at house concerts, for the Vassalboro Contradance and the Kennebec Contradance, at the Farnsworth in Rockland and at Atlantic Challenge in Belfast.
Benjamin Foss is a musician and luthier based in Brooks, Maine. Benjamin grew up in southern New England attending and playing for contra dances and building fiddles and banjos out of everything he could find. He is passionate about continuing the traditions of New England tunes, songs and dances and is always excited to share tunes and knowledge with the people around him. Benjamin plays in several contra dance combinations on fiddle, guitar, tenor banjo, and on rare occasions can be found calling dances. Benjamin has taught at many music camps and weekends and also teaches private lessons, both in person and online. When he’s not playing, he’s building and restoring guitars, banjos and mandolins in Brooks. His solo album, The Old Favorite, a collection of favorite old tunes in the New England contra dance tradition, includes Benjamin on fiddle, guitar, tenor banjo, mandolin, and button accordion, and is available on Bandcamp. For more information on Benjamin, go to www.benjaminfoss.com.
Maine musician Owen Kennedy is an award-winning fiddler rooted in the Maine Maritime musical tradition and immersed in his growing passion for Scottish music, splitting time between Maine and Cape Breton. Owen began playing the violin at four years old, taking lessons first with Ellen Gawler and later with Seán Heely. He is the 2022 New England Regional Open Scottish Fiddle Champion, the 2021 Junior US National Scottish Fiddle Champion, and the winner of the 2021 Young Stars of Maine "Glenn Jenks Future in Music" prize. Owen’s debut album "Oh When: Now" was recorded with Owen Marshall and released in 2023, featuring tunes from Maine and Maritime Canada all the way to Scotland and the Shetland Islands. Now spending part of each year in Cape Breton, Owen is studying Gaelic language and culture at Beinn Mhàbu and thriving in the rich musical landscape. Owen has had the opportunity to learn from Gaelic speakers, culture-bearers, and musicians in the classroom and in the community as well as joining in jam sessions, attending square dances, and performing at local events. To keep in touch with Owen, visit www.fiddlerokennedy.com or find him on social media @fiddlerokennedy.
