Fingerstyle Guitarist Ken Bonfield has performed throughout the United States for more than 20 years. Based in Massachusetts, Bonfield is a regular at guitar festivals and has released seven albums. His latest CD, Legacy, is a solo effort that focuses on harp and baritone guitars, with several new arrangements of original tunes Bonfield recorded on earlier albums. Although he came out of the 1960’s folk tradition, Bonfield was closely associated with the new-age music early in his career. Today, his sound is more akin to the American primitive tradition of John Fahey and Leo Kottke, with a solid dose of Celtic, jazz, and traditional folk influences.
Over the last two decades, Bonfield has been working with New Hampshire luthier Alan Carruth on creating a set of five instruments that perfectly suit his ergonomic and sonic ideals. Besides two standard six-string guitars he built in the mid 90’s, Carruth made a couple of baritone guitars, one in 2007 and another in 2012, and a harp guitar in 2010 for Bonfield. As one of the country’s premier harp guitarists, Bonfield has been a participant at the annual Harp Guitar Gathering, and the instrument in prominently featured on Legacy. Bonfield will be performing with his harp guitar, baritone guitar, and high string guitar May 1st.
“Ken Bonfield knocks me out. He plays with the two main ingredients I look for in a player, heart and passion. He's a player's player, and I'm a die hard fan.” John Beland, Flying Burrito Bros.
“Everyone that attended last night's concert left with the sense they were receiving a perfect gem. It was intimate, remarkable musicianship…our hearts all got bigger last night.” Laurie Low, Rising Star Mill
This program is sponsored by The Friends of Rockland Public Library, and is free for all to attend.
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