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Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey’s Interview with Ben Reel

Ben Reel has always made albums that carry an undercurrent—something deeper than the surface of the songs. His twelfth studio release, Spirit’s Not Broken, continues that tradition with a record that speaks directly to the moment we’re living in. In a world shaped by conflict, climate anxiety, and constant noise, it’s easy to feel powerless. This album pushes back against that feeling with a simple, timeless message: love, empathy, and human connection still matter—and they still have power.

Musically, Spirit’s Not Broken moves with purpose. It opens with raw rock energy, then flows into soulful, R&B-infused grooves that feel warm, urgent, and alive. You can hear echoes of artists like Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, Van Morrison, and Sting, but the album never feels like a tribute act. It’s Ben Reel doing what he has always done—blending influences into something personal, grounded, and emotionally direct. The result is uplifting and deeply human, a record that feels both of-the-minute and built to last.

Ben’s musical story begins in 1989, when he was 17 years old and formed his first band, Promised Land, later renamed Trim the Velvet. The band came together at Crossmaglen High School during the Troubles, when everyday life in Northern Ireland was anything but normal. For Ben and his bandmates, music became an escape hatch and a lifeline. They quickly earned a reputation as a powerful live act across Ireland, building momentum through performances that matched intensity with heart. The band ultimately disbanded in 1997, but the years on stage had already shaped Ben into the kind of artist who doesn’t just write songs—he inhabits them.

In 1999, Ben reinvented himself as a solo artist with his debut album This Is the Movie. From there, he built a wide-ranging catalog that moves freely across rock, folk, soul, and reggae, guided by strong songwriting and a distinctive voice. Over the years, critics have compared him to Bob Dylan, The Band, and John Hiatt, and some have even dubbed him “the Irish Springsteen.” His vocal tone has been likened to Roy Orbison, but Ben Reel has never sounded like anyone else for long. His voice—and his writing—remain unmistakably his own.

Across a career spanning more than 35 years, Ben has earned broad acclaim and appeared on major outlets including BBC, RTÉ, and NPO Radio. He has supported and collaborated with artists such as Jools Holland, The Cranberries, Hal Ketchum, The Blockheads, David Olney, and Nanci Griffith, further establishing his reputation as a respected songwriter and road-tested performer.

A major late-career milestone arrived with The Nashville Calling (2020), recorded in Nashville with Will Kimbrough and Tommy Womack, and featuring Garry W. Tallent of the E Street Band. The album reached No. 1 on the Euro Americana Chart, expanding Ben’s audience and reaffirming the international reach of his songwriting.

In this decade alone, Ben has stayed remarkably prolific, releasing four studio albums, including Locked In & Live (2022), Come a Long Way (2023), and now Spirit’s Not Broken. He has showcased at Folk Alliance (Memphis), played Nashville’s legendary Bluebird Café, and toured extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe. His festival appearances reflect that global footprint, with highlights including Electric Picnic, Cork Jazz, and Kilkenny Roots (Ireland), Belladrum (Scotland), Jamming@Hippie Jack’s (USA), New Orleans Music Festival (Germany), Bilbao Musiktan (Spain), and Haarlem Jazz and Huntenpop (Netherlands).

With a loyal international fan base and an unmistakable work ethic, Ben Reel remains one of Ireland’s most enduring troubadours—an artist who keeps moving forward without losing the emotional core that brought people to his music in the first place.

Spirit’s Not Broken will be released worldwide on January 23, 2026, via Dutch record label Mars Music Group.

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