Guitar champ hosts harp guitar gathering as he waits for a kidney transplant

Instrument is beautiful to hear and to see
Local guitar champ Stephen Bennett hosts this weekend's harp guitar gathering as he waits for a kidney transplant.

By SAM MCDONALD 247-4732

October 25, 2007

Eight years ago, as he strolled through a bluegrass festival in Winfield, Kan., Andy McKee was knocked between the eyes by a big, wooden musical instrument.

He spied Virginia's own Stephen Bennett playing a lovely melody on a weird-looking thing called a harp guitar.

Figuratively speaking, McKee was floored.

"He did 'At This Moment,' an amazing piece of music for the harp guitar," McKee remembered. "It's beautiful, kills me every time I hear it." McKee had heard a recording of star guitarist Michael Hedges playing a harp guitar, but he'd never encountered one face to face.

McKee, himself an accomplished guitarist, befriended Bennett and eventually bought one of his spare harp guitars.

A strong bond of brotherhood was forged.

Those kinds of connections will be celebrated this weekend at the fifth annual International Harp Guitar Gathering happening at the Williamsburg Library Theatre. On Saturday and Sunday, enthusiasts will gather for concerts, workshops, lectures and fellowship spinning off this unusual instrument. And Bennett, the event's founder, is hosting the weekend despite the fact that he's fighting a genetic form of kidney disease. He's now at14 percent kidney function and waiting on a kidney donor and a transplant.

"I still feel OK," he said this week. "But at some point it's going to hit that 8 to 10 percent mark, and there's most definitely going to be a crash. But so far, I still feel pretty good."

Bennett has long enjoyed a reputation as one of America's acoustic guitar soloists. And these days, 28-year-old McKee is following in his footsteps — thanks to a boost from the Internet.

A video of McKee playing a tune called "Drifting" was posted on YouTube.com 11 months ago and has spread like wildfire. It's been viewed nearly 8 million times, bringing the guitarist international attention. Last February, he appeared on NBC's "Last Call with Carson Daly." He was also asked by pop-classical singer Josh Groban to play on a tune on Groban's new Christmas album, "Noel."

All along, the harp guitar has remained one of his central passions. The title track of McKee's new album, "Gates of Gnomeria," is performed on the instrument.

"I've been to every Harp Guitar Gathering," said McKee, who lives in Topeka, Kansas. "Since the first one, it's been almost like a family reunion. It would be hard to miss one." He said his fellow guitarists are following news about Bennett's health closely.

Bennett expects as many as 75 players to attend the gathering, which includes jam sessions during the day and concerts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday.

Guitarists are coming from Germany, Belgium, the United Kingdom and Canada, not to mention Florida and Oregon. In an interview on National Public Radio's "Weekend Edition Sunday" harp guitar specialist Gregg Miner plugged the Williamsburg event. He'll be in Williamsburg this weekend, as well.

"The harp guitar is a very lovable instrument," Bennett said this week. "It's so rich and warm and beautiful. When people are exposed to it, they fall in love ... There are more harp guitarists out there than ever before. The instrument is alive and well, and I like that a lot."

Unfortunately, Bennett isn't so healthy. He's fighting polycystic kidney disease, which will soon make him need either a kidney transplant or dialysis treatments.

Other than organizing this weekend's harp guitar event, he's put performing on the back burner until further notice.

Offers of help and support have poured in since he's started talking publicly about his illness.

Bennett's wife, Linda Schaffner, participated in a walk last month to raise money for kidney disease research. Her team raised almost $19,000.

"And quite a few people are being tested for compatibility to be donors," Bennett said. "It's an amazingly generous thing. My faith in humanity has gone way up. It's been quite amazing."

This weekend's events will give Bennett a chance to concentrate on friendships and acoustic guitar music, which he says is gaining in popularity.

"There's a purity to it, people appreciate the idea of one person with an instrument and not a lot of tricks," Bennett said. "There's a beauty, simplicity, purity or honesty. One of those words — or maybe all of them."

News to Use
What: Fifth annual International Harp Guitar Gathering

When: Saturday and Sunday at Williamsburg Library Theatre, 515 Scotland St., Williamsburg. Concerts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets: $75 advance, $90 at the door to enroll in workshops and lectures. A ticket to attend the concerts only is $18 adults, $15 students with ID, $9 under 16.

More info: www.harpguitars.net, e-mail Stephen Bennett at sb@harpguitar.com or call 259-4070.

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