Sculptor of song. Welder of verse. Plant the song seeds and let them grow
About Ben Suchy
Some Background
Ben Suchy is a performing songwriter who sometimes tosses words at the canvas like Jackson Pollock, coloring outside the lines just to see where the colors run. Some of his songs fall neatly into a Nashville formula, but most follow their own crooked compass, guided by gut instinct and the magnetic pull of a mysterious muse. Early on, he realized he was trying to sell Scotch to a lite beer crowd, so he stepped sideways into real estate—yet the music never stopped simmering on a side burner. For over 30 years, he’s been cooking up songs that blur the line between “doesn’t give a damn” and “cares a little too much,” serving them with a flavor entirely his own.
(wet plate pic by Shane Balkowitsch)
More Background
I grew up around music in a way that just felt like part of everyday life, not something separate or formal. Starting around the age of nine, I was performing with my family pretty regularly. That’s really where I learned what songs are all about—bringing people together, telling stories, and passing something along. We played all over North Dakota, and I even got to perform at the Winnipeg Folk Festival at a young age, which opened my eyes to a much bigger community of songwriters and showed me how powerful a simple song can be on a big stage. I didn’t learn through lessons or classes—I learned by watching, listening, and jumping in. That way of learning stuck with me and still shapes how I write and how I share music today.
I wrote my first song in 1993, and from then on, songwriting just became part of who I am. Over the years, I’ve kept at it—writing, playing shows, and picking things up from other musicians along the way. A lot of what I’ve learned has been self-taught, just following curiosity and trying to get better. At the same time, I was shaped a lot by the people around me growing up—my family and the different musicians who came through and shared their songs and styles.
Along the way, I’ve been lucky to have some recognition for my songwriting. In 2004, I was part of the NewSong Contest at the Walnut Valley Music Festival in WinfieldKansas. In 2011, I was named a New Folk Finalist at the Kerrville Folk Festival, and got to go down there and perform as part of that competition. More recently, in 2024, I went back to the Walnut Valley Music Festival and performed my winning song “Main Stage” for the NewSong Showcase.
I’ve also had the chance to be part of some incredible festival communities over the years, including performing at the GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance in both New York and North Carolina and Shangri-La in MN. In 2025, I led a songwriting workshop at the Blue Ox Music Festival, and earlier in my life I co-hosted a workshop with my dad at the Sioux River Folk Festival. In 2026, I was honored to be selected as a finalist at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, and also for the Great River Folk Festival, where I’ll be performing at both Festivals this summer.
Over time, I’ve developed my own way of writing songs—kind of rooted in folk traditions but with my own spin, a little humor, and a lot of real-life storytelling. I tend to write about positivity and gratitude, everyday experiences, and things I’ve seen or lived through. I love the storytelling side of songwriting, and it’s always a treat to play in true “listening” rooms where people really connect with the songs.
Wayne Suchy
Wayne Suchy is the collaboration of Ben Suchy, a one-man band and seasoned songwriter, and Jon Wayne, frontman of Jon Wayne and The Pain. Blending folk, blues, and reggae, the duo has crafted a sound that feels both organic and fresh.
Their performances fuse Suchy’s finger-style banjo picking, foot percussion, “fake bass,” and “electro-harmonica” with Wayne’s folk-reggae-rock energy, creating a rich, rhythmic tapestry.
But the real magic happens when their voices and instruments intertwine—locking into harmonies and grooves that elevate their music into something raw, heartfelt, and undeniably captivating. Perfect for roots music lovers and jam band fans alike, Wayne Suchy delivers an experience that is as soulful as it is dynamic.
(click on pic for Wayne Suchy)
The Inventor
I’m Ben Suchy, and I don’t really turn the creating part of my brain off. It’s a habit more than anything—I’m always tinkering, always asking how something could work better or do a little more.
Most of that shows up in my one-man-band setups. I regularly perform with a "sit-down" 1 man rig, but recently have built "MOMBU" - my mobile one man band unit. I build and tweak instruments, foot percussion, and signal paths so I can play rhythm, melody, and groove all at once. It boils down to giving the song more ways to breathe.
But it doesn’t stop with music. I’m always messing with everyday stuff too—fixing, reworking, or reinventing things just to make life run a little smoother or more interesting.
For me, creating isn’t an event—it’s a daily practice.
Solocraft
SoloCraft: The Art of One-Man Banding — Project Overview
SoloCraft began as a hands-on apprenticeship and creative exploration led by Ben Suchy and Danny Savage, focused on the art, mechanics, and spirit of one-man band performance. What started as a deep dive into building custom rigs, integrating foot percussion, and troubleshooting live setups quickly grew into something larger—blending performance, invention, and songwriting into a fully realized creative practice. Through workshops, live demonstrations, and community engagement, the project pushed beyond its original scope, showing how a single performer can create a rich, full-band sound while staying rooted in authenticity and individuality.
Today, Ben and Dan continue to build on that momentum. Their collaboration has evolved into teaching, performing, and developing new ideas that connect one-man banding with songwriting and storytelling. Whether on stage or in the classroom, they remain committed to sharing what they’ve learned—encouraging others to experiment, invent, and find their own voice within the SoloCraft approach.
Ben at the Dakota 5-0 bike race in Spearfish, SD where he regularly performs for the pre party on friday and then races 50 miles on Sunday.
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