About
Ben McNeil is a singer for hire in Ridgehaven, SA.
Originally from the NSW South Coast, now based near Adelaide, Ben McNeil plays solo acoustic and reads the gig before deciding how hard to push. Beer garden afternoon? Classic hits, upbeat. Wedding? Quieter, closer arrangements. A crowd that wants to shout requests gets a crowd that gets requests. The songs pull from Ryan Adams, You Am I, Cold Chisel, Crowded House, The Beatles, Bill Withers, INXS and John Farnham, among plenty of others. Power and a covered spot to play in are about the extent of what's needed.
Watch
The show
Depends entirely on the gig, and Ben would rather you told him what you want than guess. Upbeat energy from a solo acoustic player? He'll deliver that. Background music to set a mood while people eat and talk? Also fine. A restless crowd shouting requests and wanting to talk back at him between songs? No stress there either. He'll do what he can to give you the night you're after, within reason.
On the day
Power, a shaded or covered spot to play in, and enough space that he isn't knocking the guitar into furniture, equipment or guests. Not much beyond that. A drink or two wouldn't go astray while he's playing, and he has a stated fondness for post mix Coke.
Performance options
Wedding work comes in a few shapes. Ben can play either side of the ceremony itself, or just the drinks and canapes afterwards, which usually runs about three hours. Combining the two is common, so the ceremony music and the post-ceremony hour or so come from the same person. And if you want him there for the length of the day, from the aisle through to the last of the reception, that longer booking is on offer too. Tell him which part of the day matters most and he'll say what fits.
Song list
128 songs
Ryan Adams Be My Winding Wheel
Jason Isbell Cover Me Up
You Am I Heavy Heart
James Taylor Fire And Rain
Elton John I Guess Thats Why They Call It The Blues
The Beatles Rocky Raccoon
The Beatles Dont Let Me Down
David Gray Sail Away
Cat Power Sea Of Love
The Cure In Between Days
John Denver Take Me Home Country Roads
Ryan Adams Come Pick Me Up
Blondie Heart Of Glass
Ryan Adams New York New York
INXS Dont Change
Bill Withers Aint No Sunshine
Crowded House Better Be Home Soon
U2 One
Crowded House Four Seasons In One Day
Cold Chisel Flame Trees
John Farnham Burn For You
The Beatles Blackbird
Otis Redding Sittin On The Dock Of The Bay
Neil Young Heart Of Gold Live
