Ben Reel – Spirit’s Not Broken
Ben Reel – Spirit’s Not Broken
Format: CD – Vinyl Lp – Digital
Label: Mars Music Group
Release: 2026
Release date: January 26, 2026
Acclaimed singer-songwriter Ben Reel returns with the powerful, soul-stirring new album ‘Spirit’s Not Broken’
Each of Ben Reel’s albums carries an undercurrent, and his twelfth studio album, ‘Spirit’s Not Broken’, is no exception. In a world gripped by conflict, climate anxiety, and suffering, it’s easy to feel powerless. Yet this record reaffirms a timeless truth – the power of love and human connection.
“In the chaos, love is our anchor. It starts within—facing our fears, learning to love ourselves—so we can care for others. Because at the end of the day, love and connection are all we truly have”.
Musically, ‘Spirit’s Not Broken’ begins with raw rock energy before flowing into soulful, R&B-infused grooves, evoking echoes of Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, Van Morrison, and Sting. The result is an uplifting and deeply human work ,both urgent and timeless.
Reel began his music career in 1989 at the age of 17 with his first band, Promised Land, later renamed Trim the Velvet. Formed at Crossmaglen High School during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, a time of extreme conflict and tension, music became an escape from an abnormal reality. The band gained a reputation as a powerful live act across Ireland before disbanding in 1997.
Reinventing himself as a solo artist, Reel released his debut ‘This Is the Movie’ in 1999. Since then, he has built a rich body of work across genres, blending rock, folk, soul, and reggae. Critics have drawn comparisons to Dylan, The Band, John Hiatt, being dubbed “the Irish Springsteen.” His distinctive voice has also been likened to Roy Orbison, yet Ben Reel remains unmistakably his own man.
Over a career spanning more than 35 years, Ben has earned widespread acclaim and appeared on BBC, RTÉ, NPO Radio and more. He has supported and collaborated with artists such as Jools Holland, The Cranberries, Hal Ketchum, The Blockheads, David Olney and Nanci Griffith. In Nashville, he recorded ‘The Nashville Calling’ (2020) with Will Kimbrough and Tommy Womack, featuring E Street Band’s Garry W. Tallent , an album that reached No. 1 on the Euro Americana Chart.
This decade alone, Ben has released four studio albums, including ‘Locked in & Live’ (2022), ‘Come a Long Way’ (2023), and now ‘Spirit’s Not Broken’. He has showcased at Folk Alliance (Memphis), played Nashville’s legendary Bluebird Café, and toured extensively across the U.S. and Europe. Festival highlights include Electric Picnic, Cork Jazz, Kilkenny Roots (Ireland) Jamming@Hippie Jack’s (USA), New Orleans Music Festival (Germany), Belledrum (Scotland) Bilbao Musiktan (Spain), and Haarlem Jazz & Huntenpop (Netherlands).
With a loyal international fan base and tireless work ethic, Reel remains one of Ireland’s most enduring troubadours.
Website: https://benreel.com/home
Tracks:
01. Better Be Better 03:46
02. Come What June 04:15
03. Bring it Back To Life 03:24
04. Laid Out in Front of You 02:44
05. Candlelight 05:42
06. I Will 04:40
07. Down by the Stream 05:39
08. The Joker 03:49
09. Love and Only Love 05:06
10. Spirit’s Not Broken 03.43