Benjamin Francis Leftwich

UK singer/songwriter Benjamin Francis Leftwich began playing the acoustic guitar at age 10 with the hopes of emulating Elliott Smith. Following through on these early goals in 2006, Leftwich began creating melancholy and fragile acoustic pop songs, though his songs lack the dark desperation of his idol and instead present a distinctly British charm. Born and raised in York, the musician began playing local venues before grabbing the attention of many BBC Radio 1 and 2 DJs, who gave the then 20-year-old musician considerable airplay in 2010. Leftwich's fan base continued to grow as he started covering songs by indie gods Arcade Fire and glam rockers The Killers in a disarmingly delicate and simple manner, as well as with the release of his debut album Last Smoke Before the Snowstorm, in 2011.