WXPN Radio

The premier guide for new and significant artists in rock, blues, and folk - including NPR-syndicated World Cafe ®

Listen Xpo

24/7 Musical discovery. A unique mix of emerging and heritage blues, rock, world, folk, and alt-country artists.

Singer Songwriter Radio

Featuring classics from heritage troubadours to new musicians and bands in the singer-songwriter tradition.

Folk Radio

Folk music radio streaming on the web; Americana, Roots Music, recordings, and stories from folk's best.
Listen Live

Ben Arnold - Calico - Sci-Fidelity Records

Singer-songwriter Ben Arnold is no stranger to XPN listeners and members. A staple of the local music scene since the early Nineties Ben is an honest and earnest songwriter of immense talent whether doing a solo gig with an acoustic guitar, as a member of the Philly super-group 4 Way Street or leading his own highly engaging rock band.



Calico is Ben’s debut album for Sci-Fidelity Records, the Boulder, Colorado based record company started by the String Cheese Incident. Ben debuted with an independent record in 1991 followed by the album Soar that was every popular on the XPN airwaves when it was released in 1993. The same could be said for his excellent his major label debut Almost Speechless in 1995 on Ruffhouse/Columbia Records that got a lot of airplay on XPN.

Arnold has always had a home and continues to have one at XPN because he’s an outstanding songwriter with a rough-around-the-edges vocal style and the talent to write hooky, melodic tunes. His songs have always had more to say then the typical singer-songwriter stuff you’ll hear these days even though he can write a love song like the best of them.

Calico’s 13 songs show many sides to Ben’s musical talents and it is a must have album to add to your collection.

Release Date: 7/20/2004

Written by Bruce Warren

Buy it now at our CD Store.

Check out our other Featured Albums of the Week

Visit Artist's Official Site.

Blondie returning with a new album and a show at the Keswick in October

Blondie are releasing a new album, and have announced its No Principals Tour playing the Keswick Theatre on Thursday, October 3rd with...Read More

Make Music Philly Spotlight: Joy Ike

Here’s another great artist you don’t want to miss at Make Music Philly this Friday: Joy Ike.  This Pittsburgh...Read More

The Week So Far: 12 must-read stories on The Key (incl. Big Footprints Project, Make Music Philly, Light Heat) ...

  The Dead Milkmen continue their sudden streak of new recordings with Welcome to Undertown  Light Heat recorded a...Read More

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros Release new single “This Life” (playing XPoNential Fest in July and Longwood Gardens in...

Last week, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic  Zeros released the music video for “Better Days,” the first single from...Read More

Photos: Black Flag goes hard at Union Transfer

All photos by Abi Reimold | abireimoldphoto.com On the occasion of its first new music in 28 years, the reformed Black Flag played...Read More