Ben Ottewell

Born in Chesterfield and raised in Bonsall, Derbyshire, Ben Ottewell has, since the 1990s, worked in a space that blends indie rock, alternative rock, folk and folk-rock. He first came to prominence with Gomez, a Sheffield-formed group with Ian Ball, Tom Gray, Paul Blackburn and Olly Peacock, where he shared lead vocal duties and developed a guitar style rooted in rock and blues. His deep, rough voice marks both the band's albums and his own, more stripped-down acoustic projects. As a solo artist he released Shapes & Shadows in 2011, Rattlebag in 2014 — partly written with Sam Genders — and A Man Apart in 2017. While Gomez explores a wide spectrum between indie rock, subtle psychedelia and collective songwriting, Ottewell's solo records often favour spare arrangements, forward guitars and songwriting that draws on British and American folk. Balancing band activity, tours and concerts under his own name, he moves between rock stages and more intimate formats without any sharp break in style.