Tommy Benefield is the singer/songwriter of the Wellington based band that performed under Tommy’s first name. Tommy and his band became infamous for their happy, high-energy folk/rock/reggae and two summer albums released through LOOP RECORDS. Currently in the throes of releasing his third album, recorded with his new band The Fallen Horses, he is planning an intensive media campaign and tour schedule for September 09!
Over the last 5 years Tommy and his band have had several singles on high rotate on many of NZ’s finest independent stations as well as some significant play on the major networks such as National Radio and channel Z. Four of their video clips saw regular play on C4, Juice and of course YouTube and MySpace.
Tommy has played to huge crowds on the main stage at many of the country’s funkiest festivals, including; Visions, Cuba St Carnival, Auckland Bands in the Park, Destinations, Resolutions, Auckland’s New Years Eve celebration at Aotea Square ‘First Night’, Rhythm and the Vines, Whooper Chopper, Taranaki Wine and Food Festival, Parihaka, Riverside Peace Festival.
He has regularly co-headlined gigs with bands such as The Phoenix Foundation, The Black Seeds, Kora, Cornerstone Roots, Hollie Smith, Odessa, Minuit, Tim Guy and the Tutaes, Steve Abel, and has opened for the likes of Trinity Roots, Fly My Prettys, Fat Freddys Drop, Rhombus, The John Butler Trio, Donavon Frankenreiter, and Salmonella Dub.
His first two albums ‘4000 Years’ and ‘Tomorrow I Might Go’ got rave reviews on National Radio and in many magazines, and ‘4000 Years’ was nominated for best downbeat album at the B-net awards alongside Kora, Cornerstone Roots, and Trinity Roots. Both albums featured in the independent record charts.
Tommy and The Fallen Horses have an innovative and intimate live show which juxtaposes bouncy, high energy Pop and rock with bittersweet melodic ballads and hilarious random banter with socio-ecological commentaries. More than anything they are renowned for the way they invite and induce audiences into a spirited frenzy of dancing, laughing, singing, and waking up.
They love the studio and the stage, and look forward to all opportunities to further their message, connect with people, and lively up the dancehall.
