Monroe Crossing has announced that their banjo player for the past five years, Benji Flaming, is to leave to pursue alternative artistic work.
The band is currently engaged in an international search for Flaming’s replacement, and is aware of some great prospects already…
“…but with a mighty big bowler hat to fill, we are hoping to see as many people as possible. We have been actively taking video applications from banjo players around the globe and are still taking applications before we narrow down the field and engage in more detailed auditions.
Any skilled banjo players out there who are interested in playing in a full time, internationally touring bluegrass band, can find more information at: http://tinyurl.com/MC-banjo.”
From Minneapolis, the band’s youngest member, Flaming started playing the banjo at age of 10, having spent the previous two years composing and playing new age/electronic music on his family’s electronic keyboard.
It is an extension of this alternative musical creativity that will occupy Flaming’s mind more in the future as he explains in this video.
As he says, he will continue playing the banjo for Monroe Crossing until the band finds a suitable replacement.
So, you may see him with Monroe Crossing during their dates for the remainder of the year through to early months of 2012.
To see their schedule over the next few months check the band’s web site.
Monroe Crossing recently released its own tribute to Bill Monroe, the 14-song CD Monroe Crossing Plays the Music of Bill Monroe.
