Benny Bleu - “clawhammer banjo zen session…straight up hypnotic” – CITY Newspaper
Friday, November 6th | Doors at 6pm, show at 6:30pm | True Nature Kiva
Early Bird $20 through Oct. 30th | Standard $33 | Generosity $45
Join us for an intimate evening of meditative banjo and geologically inspired songs from a train-traveling folk musician - Benny Bleu!
An award-winning banjo player and scientifically minded songwriter, Benny presents music that speaks to the child inside you. The one that wants to play in muddy creeks and bring home too many rocks. He performs instrumental clawhammer banjo tunes that will ground and focus, as well as original songs that inspire contemplation.
Doors open at 6pm
Show begins at 6:30pm with a short intermission
MEET YOUR MUSICIAN: Benny Bleu
Benny Bleu makes folk music in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. Pairing timely songwriting with his distinctive instrumental banjo work, Benny pushes at the boundaries of traditional Appalachian music creating a sound Bluegrass Situation calls “old-time with plenty of modern twists.”
A train-traveling, smartphone-rejecting, modern-day luddite, his music reflects a sustained exploration of humanity’s relationship with the earth. His latest project, When I Am a Fossil, draws on Benny’s former career as an environmental geologist and imagines a distant future when all that remains of us is buried in the rock record. Reaching #2 on the Folk Radio chart, Benny is promoting the album on a nation-wide Amtrak tour in autumn 2026.
"His recordings balance thoughtful lyricism with expressive instrumental work, inviting listeners to slow down and engage more closely with their surroundings." - Putumayo World Music
"Benny Bleu rocks!” — Bruce Molsky
“… the banjo feeds your body’s Feel Good System…” – Bandcamp Daily, about Banjo Meditations.
“clawhammer banjo zen session… straight up hypnotic” – CITY Newspaper, about March of the Mollusk.
“With a somber and introspective tone, the music carries a quiet poignancy that recalls the straight-forward folk ballads of Dave Van Ronk.” – CITY Newspaper, about “Serenity Song”.
PRICING
This is a high-caliber musical experience, and every ticket tier is made possible by the deep generosity of our co-founders, donors, facilitators and the broader community that sustains the Connection is the Medicine Foundation.
We offer tiered pricing because we believe in both the value of this work and the importance of access. We ask that you choose the rate that honestly reflects your financial reality.
Generosity Rate: This experience is made possible through a web of generosity. When you choose the Generosity Rate, you become part of that web. Your contribution helps ensure that cost is never the reason someone misses an experience that could change them, and it honors the true value of what our facilitators so lovingly create. Pay it forward, and you're helping to hold a seat open for someone who couldn't otherwise be here.
This rate may be right for you if you:
- Own your home and live without financial worry
- Have investments, savings, or a financial safety net
- Can easily access funds in times of need
- Are moved to make this experience more accessible for others
Your contribution directly honors the true depth of care, skill, and intention our facilitators bring to every offering, and makes broader community access possible.
Standard Rate: Our standard rate is made possible by the ongoing generosity of our co-founders and donors. It reflects our commitment to making these experiences accessible while honoring the true value of what our facilitators bring.
Community Need-Based Access Rate: This reduced rate is made possible by the generosity of our community, our facilitator, and the Connection is the Medicine Foundation, in shared service of broader access and the spirit of care that lives at the heart of this work.
This rate may be right for you if you:
- Struggle to meet your basic financial needs
- Are facing housing, employment, or income instability
- Live paycheck-to-paycheck and lack financial reserves
- Are navigating other significant life challenges
We currently have 3 Community Rate spots available for this event. If they have been filled and you still need support, please reach out to megan@connectionisthemedicine.com. As our Generosity Rate fund grows, so does our ability to offer more.
SCHOLARSHIP
If you are interested in applying for scholarship support, please reach out to megan@connectionisthemedicine.com
_____________________________
At True Nature and Connection is the Medicine Foundation, we strive to create intentional, nourishing spaces and experiences for community connection and personal growth. To support a respectful and easeful experience for all, please view our Etiquette and Refund Policies, also listed below.
If you have any questions, you may contact Megan Miller, Director of Education and Programming at megan@connectionisthemedicine.com
_____________________________
This programming is brought to you through the Connection is the Medicine Foundation, a non-profit foundation dedicated to co-creating opportunities for people to connect – with self, community, and the natural world – so they can discover meaning, purpose, and happiness in service of our shared consciousness. We envision a world where connection is embodied as a core value that nurtures wholeness within and between us all.