thePULSEBy Tim Branch
Ben Harper will kick off his first-ever acoustic headlining tour on September 4 at the Filene Center at Wolf Trap in Vienna, VA. The run will include a concert at New York City’s Carnegie Hall on October 10, marking the GRAMMY®-winning artist’s first performance at this legendary venue. Ever since his acclaimed acoustic performance at the inaugural Bonnaroo Music Festival in 2002, Harper has been besieged by fan requests for this kind of intimate outing. He will be performing songs from throughout his career – from his 1994 debut Welcome to the Cruel World to his latest album, Give Till It’s Gone.
Give Till It’s Gone, Harper’s 10th studio album and first solo record since 2006’s Both Sides of the Gun, debuted at No. 15 on The Billboard 200 and charted in the Top 10 in Australia, France, Italy and Switzerland. Rolling Stone called it “…his most searingly personal album” and awarded it a three-and-a-half star review. “The heartbreak on Give Till It’s Gone is savage and genuine,” said Entertainment Weekly, bestowing upon it an “A-,” and NoDepression.com praised his “devastatingly heartrending ballads.”
Harper ~ a musician, songwriter, producer and activist ~ has released 10 acclaimed studio albums and three live records since 1994. These albums, combined with an unceasing commitment to international touring, have helped him grow a fan base that now spans several continents. Whether it’s through the soul of southern Gospel, 70s funk, blues, reggae, or straightforward rock and roll, Harper and his trademark Weissenborn guitar continue to captivate audiences with inspired and inspiring live performances and timeless songwriting. A collaborator by nature, Harper has recorded and performed with a long list of artists including Ringo Starr, Pearl Jam, Jackson Browne, Tom Morello, Rickie Lee Jones, Taj Mahal, Jack Johnson and Vanessa De Matta. His album with the Blind Boys of Alabama, There Will Be a Light, earned two GRAMMY® awards for Best Pop Instrumental Performance and Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album.
Ben Harper – Upcoming Local Tour Dates
10/5 Boston, MA Opera House
10/7 Northampton, MA Calvin Theatre
For more on Ben and his tour, visit www.benharper.com.
