Ken Bonfield is an internationally recognized performer and composer of American fingerstyle acoustic guitar instrumentals played on guitars of his own design commissioned from master luthier Alan Carruth. Bonfield has toured all over North America during a career that has spanned two decades and seen the release of seven critically acclaimed instrumental CDs; 1996' debut offering Mystic Morning, the 1998 releases Homecoming and WinterNight, the 1999 Bonfield & Ebel CD, Kadotume, the 2001 direct stream digital recording Dancing with Shadows, also a Bonfield & Ebel release, his first all solo-guitar recording, the 2009 release Whistlin' Past the Graveyard, and most recently his 2013 retrospective all solo guitar CD, Legacy which features harp guitar and two baritone guitars, and celebrates Bonfield's 20th year as a full-time musician.
In his open-hearted, welcoming concerts, workshops and master classes, he shares with listeners new guitar dimensions and sonic explorations. His compositions are performed with his "chamber ensemble " of handcrafted instruments ranging from standard 6 string guitar to an 11-string harp guitar, two baritone guitars, and a high-string guitar. Bonfield's work and calling is inspired by a deep love for the beauty, the sounds, and the craft of the acoustic guitar. Most of his compositions and arrangements utilize alternate tunings that extend the lower register of a standard guitar.
Bonfield has been a featured performer at some of the finest acoustic venues, coffee houses, music festivals, and guitar festivals in North America such as Club Passim, Eddie's Attic, Uncle Calvin's, Be Here Now, Acoustic Sounds, Kent State Folk Festival, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Montreal Guitar Festival, Newport Guitar Festival, and Healdsburg Guitar Festival, appearing with a wide range of icons and contemporary artists ranging from Arlo Guthrie to John Mayer, and includes songsmiths Garnet Rogers, Pierce Pettis, Dee Carstensen, Cosy Sheridan, and guitar stars Larry Corryell, Adrian Legg, Adam Miller, Ed Gerhard, Muriel Anderson, Stephen Bennett, Tim Sparks, Dakota Dave Hull, and countless other great musicians.
"Calling Ken Bonfield a guitarist is a bit like calling Michelangelo a painter." Cape Ann Beacon
