By Seamus Cowan, owner of The Cove Inn in Westport Ontario, member of Young Petty Stones/Miss Emily

Benj Rowland is at his core, an old soul. But don’t let him fool you. He tells stories and plays music as well. That’s a true art and a talent, the way that he does it specifically. He accompanies himself with a multi-instrument onslaught, simultaneously working the mechanical, physical and emotional into a churning sound experience which is almost as appealing visually as it is sonically! Welcome Benj to The Cove stage on Thursday, August 7, 2025 from 5 to 8 PM on the patio.

Seamus Cowan: I love the creative mix of ingenuity and soul in your music! What inspired you to draw on a collective of instruments like this to create your sound?

Benj Rowland: I have always been interested in a diverse mix of musical instruments and the sonic possibilities of each one. I like to bring as many instruments to shows as possible and when convenient. I use certain instruments to do different jobs in a show with different tempos and different colours.

Seamus: Your stories are very much connected to the history of Canada. In my books, that’s saying a lot, and it’s really appreciated that people like yourself are carrying the torch so that the rest of us can help remember and be inspired by things so closely connected to us. Is this a good take on your songwriting?

Benj: I don’t think of myself as a historical songwriter, but songs are really good ways to remember or tell a story. I like to use the phrase, carrying the torch, because so much of folk music is informal and outside academia. It is just regular people/musicians carrying these memories.

Seamus: Being from the Peterborough area, there are a lot of great Canadian bands who have roots near there. Bands like Ronnie Hawkins, Serena Ryder, The Silver Hearts, Neil Young…I’m sure it is moving to be a part of that movement of artists from the Canadian Shield?

Benj: It has been meaningful to be from the Peterborough area and to write about it and be inspired by the many great musicians and artists that are walking the streets there. It has been fun to do my part in mythologizing this area.

Seamus: I love Joel Plaskett! Can you tell us a story of how you connected with him and then ended up working with him? It appears as though he has enjoyed working with you very much!

Benj: The story of how I came to work with Joel starts at a Peterborough folk festival after party that my band The Mayhemingways was playing. Joel came down for it and saw us that night, then called us out of the blue to be a backing band and opening act for the 2017 Solidarity Album Tour. It was great! Then in 2020 he produced my record Community garden at his studio in Dartmouth.

Seamus: It’s not easy to continue to push forward with what you do like you do and be true to yourself in this challenging Musical landscape. You’re brave! As you continue to write and perform your music, what is it that keeps you going?

Benj: I think it’s curiosity and the striving for a chance to improve my work that keeps me going as an artist. Posted: Aug 5, 2025