Martha Kelch Poetry

Bio

Bennie J sings original songs set to poems written by her late partner, Martha A. Kelch (1963-2020), who left behind a stack of poems a foot tall and very few other material things. The poems explore sex, religion, death, lost love and mental illness, always with a distinct voice and often with humor. Bennie accompanies herself on ukelele and pandeiro (Brazilian tambourine.)

Photos

Videos

Upcoming Shows

“More than Crazy” — November 10, 2025. Nocturnal Cafe, Ithaca NY

Past Shows

House Concert — October 10, 2025. Ashville, NC

“Called to Love” — September 8, 2024. Muck Duck Studio, Rochester NY

“Butterflies on the Ceiling” — March 10, 2025. The Spirit Room, Rochester NY, with Sally Louse and Miss Casey

“By the Light of the Moon” — June 5, 2025. The Spirit Room, Rochester NY

“Cheesecake and Hot Chocolate” — September 9 and 13, 2025. Part of ESL Rochester Fringe Festival! The Spirit Room, Rochester NY

House Concert — October 4, 2024. Rochester, NY

Testimonials

“Bennie’s performances are a species of necromancy, in which the dead return, speak, rattle tambourines and sing. They exist between evocation and invocation, in that twilight space between memory and forgetting, living and dying, the self and the other.”

Jacob Rakovan, Spirit Room proprietor

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“Having the chance to work with Bennie on shaping the vocals for this project has been a joy. We took special care to dive dep and highlight the meaning of each poem through the raw emotion of the voice.”

Sally Louise (Singer-Songwriter and Bennie’s voice teacher)

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“Over the past year, I watched Bennie develop this song project from her first “Mental Wellness Open Mic” at Muck Duck Studio to a full-length performance for family and friends just a few months later. Although I never met Martha, I have gotten to know her from her poems as interpreted through Bennie’s music and performances. The songs demonstrate the power of art to heal and to transform suffering into beauty.”

Casey Arthur (founder, Muck Duck Studio)

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“As Martha’s friend and biggest fan, setting Martha’s poems to music and performing the songs allows me to honor Martha and her legacy. As a songwriter, Martha’s poems are a gift because each one is so well-written, with a distinct voice, clear structure and rhythm. As a musician, preparing to perform the songs inspired me to learn how to sing with better technique, learn to play the ukelele, and expand my skills as a percussionist. The experience of singing in front of people with honesty and vulnerability has helped me grow as a person in ways I could never have imagined. It is appropriate to perform at the Spirit Room as I act as a medium for the voice of Martha’s spirit.”
– Barbara Johnston (aka Bennie J)

“Alluring”