Do You Have to Be a Virgin to Get In?

Ben Jelen has been announced to play the Virgin Festival by Virgin Mobile in Baltimore, MD on August 4th at 3:30 pm EST. The festival will take place at the Pimlico Race Course on August 4th & 5th with performances from over 40 bands including The Police, Smashing Pumpkins, The Beastie Boys and Interpol. Jelen has been announced to play the Virgin Festival “Green Spot Stage” which will highlight up and coming performers, as well as raise awareness for the environment.

Ben kicked off the release of his new CD ex-sensitive this week with a record release party headlining the Bowery Ballroom in NYC an in-store performance at the Virgin Megastore in Union Square. Jelen will also set out on tour with Pete Yorn on his East Coast tour starting in St. Louis on July 21st. See all confirmed tour dates below.

Ben Jelen’s sophomore CD ex-sensitive is now available in stores through Linda Perry’s Custard label. Jelen is the first artist release for 2007 from Custard, home to multi-platinum selling “You’re Beautiful” singer James Blunt. Jelen recorded the tracks for the album with producer/label head Linda Perry whom also mixed the majority of the songs in addition to two mixes from famed producer Bill Bottrell (Shelby Lynne, Tom Petty, Rosanne Cash, Elton John).

Jelen, whose first album was released in 2004 (Give It All Away Maverick Records), sought Perry’s éclat as an artistic luminary to produce his second album. When first meeting with Ben at her studio, Linda found him as that ever-rarer gem in today’s music landscape: a unique artist who is best served when serving only to his art. “Lyrically and melodically, Ben’s perspective is creative, visual and beautifully stated,” says Perry. Production soon began to capture Ben’s vision with an organic, classic approach. Upon recognizing their achievement during the production, Perry made the decision to release the CD through her own Custard label.

Jelen’s latest CD speaks of his growth as an artist, songwriter and human being. “I feel like I have lived a bit more, I know who I am right now and I feel we captured that on the album,” he says. Jelen has long dedicated a significant portion of his time to working with organizations and charities (United Nations, Natural Resources Defense Council,

Live For Darfur, Amnesty International, Rock The Vote, among others) that he feels are affecting change in a positive and meaningful way, a common theme throughout ex-sensitive. Jelen’s career has given him the opportunity to work closely with such organizations and as a result, Jelen has developed a strong ethos for using his voice not only to express himself, but also to speak out on behalf of others.

Coming from her own perspective as an artist, it was a natural progression for Perry to develop Custard as an artist driven label, thus enabling Perry to lend a direct hand in nurturing Jelen’s album from the very inception and on through every stage of the creative, production and release process.

Ben recently played the Troo Music stage at Bonnaroo and is looking forward to playing the Virgin Festival and opening for Pete Yorn on his current tour.

Tour Dates:
*Denotes shows opening for Pete Yorn
7/21 St. Louis Fair * St. Louis, MO
7/22 Headliner’s Music Hall* Louisville, KY
7/24 Chameleon Club* Lancaster, PA
7/25 Crocodile Rock* Allentown, PA
7/27 The Chance* Poughkeepsie, NY
7/28 Stone Pony Summerstage* Asbury Park, NJ
7/29 Bottle and Cork * Dewey Beach, DE
8/1 House of Blues* N. Myrtle Beach, SC
8/2 The Norva Theater* Norfolk, VA
8/4 The Virgin Festival by Virgin Mobile Baltimore, MD
8/7 Webster Theater* Hartford, CT
8/14 Carnegie Library of Homestead* Munhall, PA
8/16 Voodoo Lounge at Harrah’s Casino* N. Kansas City, MO
8/17 Whiskey Roadhouse at Horseshoe Casino* Council Bluffs, IA
8/18 The Rave* Milwaukee, WI

Hey Look! A Free MP3!

Acoustic “Vulnerable” MP3:
http://www.benjelen.com/specialops/vulnerable.mp3