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Official Instagram of Ken Stringfellow
Artist. Traveler. Communicator. Latest album: CIRCUIT BREAKER
Donate to my cancer treatment at link below.

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Hello friends

I’ve recently been diagnosed with cancer. While this is a huge shift in my life, I see it as another gift disguised as an obstacle — another lesson — in a long path of growth and discovery.

Life has a way of throwing challenges in our path. At first, they feel like setbacks — discouraging, frustrating, painful. But often they’re here to teach us something we couldn’t have learned otherwise… to nudge us toward becoming a greater version of ourselves, urging us towards growth, creativity, and deeper awareness.

In recent years — including on tour since my album’s release last October — I’ve been re-experiencing life with deeper emotion and awareness. And now, life is asking me to grow again.

I’m beginning treatment immediately. The prognosis is very hopeful — 10 to 15 years of life expectancy with proper management is common — but the costs are high, and I don’t have health insurance that covers these treatments.

To focus on healing, I’ve had to cancel my upcoming shows in Australia and New Zealand. Refunds will be issued where applicable.

I’ll need support — for medical costs, lost income, and simply the strength that comes from connection. Please reach out, even just to say hello. We’ve started a GoFundMe, and you can also support me by purchasing music on Bandcamp or hiring me for remote vocal, instrumental, or mixing sessions. Together, we can make something wonderful while helping me get through this chapter.

I’m practicing radical acceptance and trust — knowing that I’m safe, held, and guided by a loving universe, and surrounded by family and friends. What might seem like a challenge is also a blessing — a reminder of the life, love, and creativity I’m lucky to experience.

Thank you for your love and support. ❤️

Link in bio to my GoFundMe and Bandcamp

Photo: @dominiquestringfellow by @kenstringfellow

$Today is a big day — I’ve completed 39 fractions of radiation treatment for my cancer. The team here has been ultra-professional, patient, and always working with a smile. The length and scope of the treatment have taken me from the darkest days of winter to the soft evenings of spring, and I too feel as if I am awakening into vitality and radiance. To complete this task is to lift a weight from my shoulders. My general treatment continues — I will still receive care for the next couple of years, and for the radiation itself there are several weeks of recovery ahead. But come mid-April, I can resume much of my normal life. I can travel, perform, and work in the studio. I must remain vigilant regarding my numbers, and it may not be my last dance with the photons in this life. Thank you to everyone who has helped me on this journey so far: all who have donated and continue to support my GoFundMe (I still have an expensive regimen of medicines, only some of which are covered); my friends who have sent messages of support and encouragement; and my incredible family for being there for me every day, every minute of this chapter. I am grateful to you all, and grateful for the very gift of existence. I also send out my heartfelt solidarity to my fellow travelers on this road — everyone facing a new diagnosis, or in the midst of a treatment that seems intimidatingly long. You’ve got this, and you will get through to the other side. Never give up hope. Thank you - onward we go. Photo: @dominiquestringfellow by @kenstringfellow$

I wanted to send a very heartfelt thank you to all my family & friends who reached out and wished me a happy birthday! It was a very happy day indeed. I wasn’t with my family, unfortunately, but, I spent the day doing what I love to do - working in my studio, helping musicians achieve their dreams. I am a blessed, lucky soul, grateful to be alive, healthy and present in this glorious, gorgeous world. And yes, a troubled world, too - I take the world as it is, not as I would have it, as the Serenity Prayer suggests. Weep with those who weep, rejoice with those who rejoice. I feel our work here is to grow, learn and to put a little more love into the system than what we get back. With that, we can build something.
It’s a stunning fall day here in the Seattle area, look at this light... wishing everyone a safe Halloween, and above all safety for my family and friends in France. Times are tough. Love will prevail. by @kenstringfellow

#OTD October 30th, in 1968, Kenneth Stuart Stringfellow was born in Hollywood, California. Happy 58th, Ken! 🎂

Piano at nine, guitar at eleven, then a high school in Bellingham, Washington, and a friend named Jon Auer. That’s how The Posies started: Failure, Dear 23, Frosting on the Beater, Amazing Disgrace, Success.

Frosting (DGC, April 1993, produced by Don Fleming) is the big one. “Dream All Day” hit #4 on the Modern Rock chart, and “Definite Door” is still their only UK top 75 single. Writing for the Daily Vault in 2022, Jason Warburg called its opening run “a clinic in single-writing”.

Then Big Star. Ken told KEXP the band gave them “a depth of feeling and a maturity to the emotions” beyond their wordplay heroes. In 1993 he and Jon joined Alex Chilton and Jody Stephens, and Ken played bass for 17 years, including 2005’s In Space. Of Chilton he said: “He had his eyes on a much wider vista of things to think about.”

There’s also a spring with Lagwagon in 1997, R.E.M. from late 1997 (he’s on Reveal), solo records up to Circuit Breaker (2024), and 200+ albums on his résumé.

Today’s soundtrack: Frosting on the Beater, In Space, Circuit Breaker. 🎸🎹#

📸Richard Ecclestone©️

#KenStringfellow #ThePosies BigStar REM PowerPop FrostingOnTheBeater DreamAllDay AlexChilton AlternativeRock OTD HappyBirthday by @kenstringfellow

Would like to wish my best friend and musical colleague, @kenstringfellow a very Happy Birthday! 🥳🥂

Another successful trip around the sun, hurtling through space on a giant rock with absolutely no instruction manual. Quite impressive when you think about it. 😉

It’s strange how time works. One minute you’re making plans, chasing ideas, and figuring things out, and the next you’ve somehow accumulated years of stories, a bit of wisdom, and an epic soundtrack to go with it all.

Over the years, we’ve shared plenty of conversations, laughter, music, and moments that have made this peculiar little existence all the more interesting. And for that, I’m most grateful! So proud and honored to have you as a friend and collaborator in both music and in life.

Here’s to another year of curiosity, creativity, good health, ridiculous laughter, and whatever unexpected happy adventures the universe decides to throw your way. I hope you get all of your birthday and life’s wishes!

Cheers to you, my friend. Keep making music, perusing your wisdom, finding humor in the absurd, and making the most of this wonderfully strange ride we call life. ❤️🎶

#happybirthday #kenstringfellow #octoberbirthday #birthdaywishes by @kenstringfellow

Happy Birthday to this beautiful man I am still so lucky to call my husband. After all these years, through everything life has brought our way, my wish for you remains the same: happiness, love, adventure, and all the beautiful things this world has to offer. Here's to another year of sharing life, dreams, and everything in between.

I love you.
That has never changed, and it never will. ❤️ by @kenstringfellow

UPDATE: bidding is closed!

Look at these beauties!

Original @theposies “Dear 23” cassette shrinkwrapped w sticker

“Dear 23” promo cassette

“Dream All Day” Cassette single

I think these should have a place in your home -
So, I am doing a “meBay” auction here on my social media.
Each item starting bid $10! I will keep this open through the weekend. And update the post with the latest bid. You can DM me with your bid - for any one of these OR you can bid for the lot (min $30 starting bid).
Ships from the US next week, or from Europe in December if you are over there! by @kenstringfellow

Amazing evening at my studio last night. About a dozen of us gathered in the control room to listen to my upcoming album. This album is officially alive, and it’s a powerful, emotional statement. Can’t wait for you to hear it next year.

Today (Sunday) I am doing a full length concert here at my Bothell (Seattle area) studio. You can come in person and see the show right here in the studio, there are a few in person tickets left; or you can view it online. 5-7pm Seattle time I’ll be live. You can stream it later as well.

Will be a great evening, thanks to the request tickets the set list is quite eclectic, including some @theposies and R.E.M. classics.
See you tonight! Link in bio

Photo @vobird23 by @kenstringfellow

Hey everyone! Tonight (Sat) I have the world premiere of my upcoming album as a listening party + acoustic set in my Seattle area studio (pictured). We have 2 places left! Starts at 7pm. Only place in the world you can hear the new album until its release next year.

Also, tomorrow I’m doing a full concert in the big room behind me, 5pm. You can also see that show online too. Tonite is in person only!

The address for tonight will be emailed to you as soon as you purchase. I’ll be watching the sales, don’t worry.

Link in bio

Photo: @vobird23 by @kenstringfellow

Released in 1993 on DGC Records, The Posies’ Frosting on the Beater is a brilliant album packed with fuzzed up guitars, infectious melodies and soaring vocal harmonies. Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow handle guitars and vocals, Dave Fox plays bass and Mike Musburger is on drums. “Dream All Day” is a perfect opener, while “Solar Sister” and “Flavor of the Month” deliver some fantastic hooks, and “Burn & Shine” closes things out in style. A great record from a band who deserve their place in the alternative rock story of the 90s.
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#theposies #frostingonthebeater #dreamallday #nowplaying #cdcollection by @kenstringfellow

YOU did it! thanks to you, my GoFundMe reached its goal! Thank you all so much! This keeps me going!

And just a reminder I have two performances in my Seattle area studio this weekend

Sat 7pm - world premiere listening party for my new album (in person only). Only place to hear the album before its release spring 2027

Sun 5pm - full length concert - you can attend in person or online

Link in bio - just a handful of tickets left for the in person events.
Hope to see you soon! Thank you all again. by @kenstringfellow