Ben Harold Talks Washington Island Roots, Upcoming Gigs

Photos by Emily J.W. Perkins.

Finding Yourself in Music

Musician Ben Harold, who spends time in both Door County and Milwaukee, is performing at Mojo Rosa’s in Egg Harbor this summer. Andrew Kleidon talked to him ahead of his performances there to learn about his musical history, influences and Door County ties.

Andrew Kleidon (AK): How did you begin performing?

Ben Harold (BH): I had been writing and performing for years, but it wasn’t really until 2019, when I was putting together a new project with a friend that would eventually become my album Solace. 

I started that project to try to find myself musically and vocally. It wasn’t even initially intended to be for mass consumption – just for me – but about halfway through working on Solace, I realized that I had not only begun to find what I was looking for, but that it needed to be shared. 

I took those songs and started, weekly, playing at all the open-mic joints I could in Milwaukee. I found a home and friends at Linneman’s Riverwest Inn, Bremen Cafe and Saloon on Calhoun. I would usually play at least two a week. I couldn’t have found a better way into performing who I truly was on such vulnerable and accepting stages. It was beautiful.

AK: How would you describe your music?

BH: Roots rock. At my heart, I love that old-soul rock ’n’ roll. Combine that element with great storytelling, and it wins me every time.

AK: Who has influenced your music the most?

BH: My band. Every single person in this band has added so much to the current music, as well as the possibility of what is to come. As a kid, I became attached to the sound of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Even before I knew music, I could always feel it, and hearing that particular instrumentation blend seamlessly, even at a young age, I wanted to be a part of it. This band that I get to play in, we give that gift to each other. It’s like magic. I’m lucky.

AK: What are your Door County ties, and what do you enjoy about performing here?

BH: Where do I start? Ha. I grew up in Milwaukee, but when I was in fourth grade, my mom moved me and my three siblings up to Washington Island, where I lived until I graduated high school – top 10 in my class of nine. 

I met my wife there. She had been there since kindergarten, and her folks still live up on the Island. When I went full time into music, I left my job in Milwaukee, and to cut expenses, we moved to Sturgeon Bay to stay with family. So I spend about half my time in Door County and half in Milwaukee during the summers. In the fall and spring, I work at Sevastopol Schools in the Special Education Department and in speech and language as a TA. 

I don’t know how long we will be here – music is funny that way, and you have to follow it – but there is nothing like coming back to the peace and tranquility after a long stretch of gigs.

AK: What are your upcoming performances?

BH: We are playing a bunch of shows between now and November – with more being added – but some of the highlights are: 

• July 24, Water Street Regatta ’21 in Milwaukee

• Aug. 7, 5 pm, Jumpst(ART) Buskerfest, Gild the Lily at the Chase Tower entrance in Milwaukee 

• Aug. 20, 7:30 pm, with Philip-Michael Scales at the Fox River House in Appleton

• Aug. 21, 7 pm, Mojo Rosa’s in Egg Harbor

• Aug. 22, 11 am, solo show at Mojo Rosa’s in Egg Harbor

Find out more about Ben Harold and see his full performance schedule at benharoldmusic.com. Hear about his musical journey of self-discovery in the archives of the Peninsula Pulse Podcast.