A conduit to creativity

Tech

Sweeney has been mixing bands since the mid 90’s, and during that era was a regular go-to FOH engineer across Adelaide’s vibrant live music scene. He further honed his skills with local production houses Allpro Audio and Big Cactus, mixing various community and both the South Australian and National Folk Festivals.

He tour managed and mixed Whiplash (SA) on multiple intra and interstate tours from 1995 – 2001 before focusing on his on band SNAPPERHEAD and national sales management duties with music technology importer Intelliware Australia.

Over recent years he’s mixed a variety of artists ranging from The Australian Girls Choir to You Am I, at venues including Adelaide Entertainment Centre, National Wine Centre, Adelaide Town Hall, UniBar ADL, Goodwood Theatre & Studios, WOMADelaide, City of Salisbury Fringe Festival, GC Fringe, Adelaide Arts Theatre, Beer & BBQ Fest, Survival Day Semaphore and the Adelaide Festival Summerhouse.

A core member of the original WOMADelaide backline team (1995 – 2007 | 2015-2017) he managed Stage 1 from 1995-2007 before departing for an eight year stint living in the US.

Benedict has been providing freelance backline services since 1992, his first being The Black Sorrows “Harley & Rose” release outside Brisbane City Mall’s HVM store. He operated as Adelaide Backline from 1997-2007 including coordinating and teching backline for the City of Sydney 2000-2001 NYE celebrations at the Opera House and four other major central locations. He came fully back to the backline fold in late 2014, following his return to South Australia from southern California with the creation of his Music City Hire business – which evolved into Adelaide Backline.

Performance

Benedict has penned a life’s catalogue of tunes with over 3-hours of original material ready to perform solo on guitar, banjo, mandolin and piano. Having studied classical piano at the Far North Queensland Conservatorium of Music and pipe organ in his teen years he went on to perform in various amateur and semi-professional musical theatre and operas including Handel’s Messiah to Joseph and his Technicolor Dreamcoat to Dido & Aeneas. He’s performed in choirs at Disneyland and jammed with Corey Glover (Living Color) at a NAMM show.

While at high school he was cast as the teenage lead in AB Facey’s ‘A Fortunate Life’ with eldest brother Dominique taking the adult lead. He spent 10 months on set in WA acting with Australia’s leading film and television actors of the day. During this most formative and wonderful experience he realised his passion was for music.

Following the completion of a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Media Production at Griffith University he became a co-contributing writer and touring member of 1990 Qld Rock Awards winners Leather Zen, touring Queensland and New South Wales extensively.

In 1994, following a year travelling abroad he relocated to Adelaide to compose and perform in the commedia dell’arte Fringe Festival production of ACCIDENTE!. and went on to form 3-piece Snapperhead (SA)* in 1997-2001 and The Wild Blue Yonder (SA) 1998-2000 in Adelaide.

Following a move to California in 2007 he became a co-writing contributor to The Ghost Chasers (CA) and played regular solo slots around Los Angeles and Orange County dive and wine bars, coffee shops and various arts and community festivals. When not travelling domestically or abroad with his day gig.

Following his return from living in the USA in late 2014 he started TREVA (currently on extended hiatus) and played with various local artists including duo Indent and family team Bloody Sweeneys. He’s currently on the hunt for a new posse – time permitting.

*Two EP’s available for sale – contact via DM.

Sales

Sweeney’s extensive experience in Musical Instrument retail includes stints with Palings (QLD) as accessories manager, Allans Music, The Rock Shop and The Adelaide Guitar Player (SA). All roles focussed around guitars, bass and accessories he developed a keen knowledge for all things MI. He joined the Future Music team in 1998 where he developed his knowledge and skills in the burgeoning music technology space, incorporating software, interfaces, studio eequipment that eventually landed him a pivotal role with Intelliware.

National Sales Management

Ben was part of the amazing Intelliware Australia 2001-2005 team that went on to become Sibelius AU (Avid). A core technical sales and support team member for Australia’s leading music technology importer he was responsible as Product Manager for brands including MOTU, Bitheadz, Cakewalk, Sonic Foundry, Sony Media Software, Hosa Technology, Primacoustic, PG Music, CAIG and many others, while also managing national sales manager and IT administration duties.

International Sales & Operations

Sweeney relocated to California between 2007 – 2014. During this time he held Director of Operations & International Sales roles with Hosa Technology (2007-2011) and appointed Da-Cappo Microphones sales manager for the Americas, taking the brand from a total unknown to the leading stages of New York’s Broadway, Florida’s cruise ships, Texas mega churches and beyond.

In 2011 he was offered the International Sales Manager roles with RØDE Microphone and Event Technology (2011-2013) where he managed a $40M book of business, before the company restructured, closing the US based office.

In both scenarios he successfully lead 15%+ year-on-year sales growth… through the GFC!! It was during this period of 1500000+ air miles per year and months on end away from family that he decided it time to hang up the corporate boots and grasp his passion for live production.

Production Services

Haven’t spent 15 years in Australia developing a knowledge of stage and audio production processes, followed by 15 years in technical sales, including training with MIT, Harvard and Cambridge qualified development and engineering techs, he transitioned into fulltime live and broadcast event production services in and around Hollywood during his final year domiciling in the US. While driving to a production call with Bigger Hammer in Hollywood in mid 2014 he decided it was finally time to return to Adelaide for his and his young family’s health, safety and sanity.

He founded Music City Hire in late 2014 before evolving into Adelaide Backline & Production Hire in 2018. He continues to own and manage Adelaide’s premier backline equipment hire and services company.