ben

Ben Sanders, The singer/songwriter known as ben, 26, comes to the stage with a raw and exposed personality that refuses be anything but sincere. With songs from a heart that longs for only the real, any listener is quickly drawn into the vulnerability of the performance. His driven electric guitar hooks colliding with strong vocal melodies concoct an alternative rock style. With just three pieces to the band, ben passionately evokes a sound influenced by artists such as, U2, Gorillaz, Coldplay, Switchfoot, Foo Fighters, Mute Math, & Muse.
Growing up in Alaska, ben’s passionate personality found it’s outlet in music while sitting at a drum set in his elementary school gym. Growing as a drummer in local punk rock groups in Fairbanks AK, as a teenager, led to opening for the Tooth’N’Nail bands Dogwood, The Undecided, and Slickshoes. A pressing desire to express the music within him would lead ben to attend University of Alaska, Fairbanks. Too restless to complete the music major program, he was drawn to Hillsong Church, Australia’s leadership college where greater levels of excellence both musical and personal were mentored.
Back in Alaska, ben volunteered at Friends Community Church, one of Fairbank’s fastest growing churches. He became the spark plug of the music program there and helped develop teams of musicians to play for their Sunday services. His original songs naturally flowed into the congregational worship.
In 2006 ben and his new bride Katie moved to Las Vegas. ben worked construction while Katie attended UNLV to complete the studies she had begun at UAF and earned her R.N. degree. There was and aspect of God’s leading in the move to Las Vegas. ben, and Katie found Valley Bible Fellowship to be there church home in Las Vegas and word of ben’s talent and experience as a worship/band leader got out. The new church planting offered him a paid, part time position as a worship director. ben accepted and the worship ministry grew quickly as ben’s infectious personality drew musician’s to be involved in the family of Valley Bible.
The rich culture of musicianship in the entertainment mecca of Las Vegas allowed ben to be immersed in ever widening ideas for expression and hone technical skills on a widening range of instruments and techniques. Blues, rock, punk, showtunes, oldies; the universe of musical expression cracked open it’s doors. Opportunities to showcase his original music arose when he opened the church’s Fourth of July Celebration shows for professional artists Starfield, and StorysideB.
Now after recording his first four song EP ben is living back in Fairbanks Alaska, where he is a full time Worship Director and Youth Pastor at Friends Community. The songs on the EP come from a heart that longs to see the church break out of its religious walls. In ben’s own words, “I want to make music that could just as easily be played in a bar or club on any night as it could on Sunday morning in a church service.” ben has a huge heart for the lost and the broken. More than anything he wants to share with those people songs of encouragement and hope; and that more than anything is why ben exists.