Soulcreek Biography

Soulcreek are an electro/acoustic duo formed in May 2014 by lifelong friends Benjamin James Parker (26 Lead Guitars) and Jack Francis Daniel Lande (23 Vocals and Guitar).

They had a serendipitous start, coming about as a bit of an accident.  Ben was the guitarist in a jazz combo with a gig booked at The Boatyard Cafe in the Sandbanks Yacht Company.  When his female singer pulled out at short notice, he asked his friend of 18 years, Jack to step in and learn 30 jazz standards in 2 weeks!

Jack was more than happy to help his mate out but his voice didn't really suit many of the female-oriented jazz numbers in the set.

They quickly re-designed the whole set to suit Jack's voice (ditching  all of the jazz numbers) and their shared musical style and Soulcreek was born, initially under the working title of California Dreams.

They permanently named themselves Soulcreek in short order.  By the end of 2018 they have played more than 220 gigs in all manner of venues - pubs, clubs, restaurants, festivals and private events.  Their musical style is a mix of rock and blues with two guitars and one voice.  Ben’s lead guitar and solos have been described as ‘sublime’ and Jack’s rhythm guitar displaying a ‘deep musicality and pinpoint timing’.  Jack is also an enigmatic frontman with a voice that people actually stop to listen to.

Their newly debuted original material is a melodic blend of modern rock and blues with a wide variety of tempos and themes.

The debut Soulcreek release is scheduled for sometime in 2019.

BENJAMIN JAMES PARKER

Ben started playing guitar when he was 13, mainly loving and learning rock.  Once he won battle of the bands at school he started taking music seriously and progressed into more technical rock and metal.

He started taking his Rock School grades and eventually received a distinction at Grade 8.

Following school, Ben attended Southampton Solent University to study Music Performance.  It was here that he discovered John Mayer and fell in love with the blues and many other musical styles.

Working with brilliant tutors he learnt jazz and mastered the blues and soon his days of playing only heavy metal began to fade.

He then became the guitarist with the band Into The Falls, supporting bands like Room 94, shooting music videos and learning valuable skills in music technology and sound recording.

Ben then joined post hardcore band Saint The Sinner, gigging with them in London and supporting Romeo Must Die and Funeral For A Friend.  Despite being signed to a UK label, Ben realised this music wasn't for him and parted ways with them.

He then moved back to Bournemouth and started studying Popular Music at Bournemouth University.  During this time he played with solo artists who were signed to AM Management in Ferndown, Dorset.

In 2013 he started playing gypsy jazz with his tutor Paul Stevenson.

Ben is influenced by all genres of music from classical to metal and loves playing, experimenting musically and constantly pushing his limits.

He is also a serious guitar-a-holic!

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JACK FRANCIS DANIEL LANDE

Jack started playing guitar at age 10 whilst living in Scotland, with much help from his first tutor Gavin Dixon. 

His first public performance was at age 11 in a primary school production of the Sound Of Music as Captain Von Trapp - both singing and playing acoustic guitar as a soloist.

He (along with his younger brother) was always playing and singing at all manner of family functions.

On returning to Bournemouth and joining Ballard School, Jack quickly secured the lead role in Oliver the musical at age 13.  He then went on to play main cast roles in Joseph and His Technicolour Dreamcoat and The Boyfriend and culminated his Ballard performing arts journey playing Danny Zuko in Grease with great aplomb in 2012.

During this time at Ballard Jack took peripatetic guitar lessons and performed many times as both a soloist and in collaborations on guitar and vocals, eventually gaining an A* in Music and an A in Performing Arts at GCSE level.  His Ballard guitar teacher, Jonny Hepbir brought him on immensely and broadened his repertoire from mainly rock beginnings.

Also during this time Jack was put forward for the Ballard performing arts department for a casting session for an independant British feature film.  He made the final shortlist, but the movie is still to be made.

On leaving Ballard at age 16 Jack gained a place at Bournemouth School to study A Levels.  During the following two years he didn't formally study music in any way but continued to play at family events in a number of leading Bournemouth hotels. In 2018 Jack completed a BSc in Music & Sound Production at Bournemouth University.

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In May 2014 Jack and his lifelong friend Ben, with whom he's always had a shared love of music, formed SOULCREEK