Concert Reports

Ben Harper performed at the beautiful Santa Barbara Bowl on Saturday, June 30th, with special guest Fitz and the Tantrums.

 All Photos: Amanda Peacock www.PeacockPhotography.org

Very Special Thanks: Jesse Lee Weiss

Please Visit: www.BenHarper.com                www.SbBowl.com

Ben Harper is a musician, artist, and activist. Whether it’s through the soul of southern Gospel, 70s funk, blues, reggae, or straightforward rock and roll, Harper and his trademark Weissenborn guitar have been stunning audiences with incendiary live performances and timeless songwriting. Harper continues to innovate his craft as a songwriter, performer, and producer. He has released ten acclaimed studio albums since 1994 and three live albums. These releases, combined with an unceasing commitment to international touring, has helped Harper grow a fan base that now spans several continents. A collaborator by nature, Harper has recorded and performed with a long list of artists including Ringo Starr, Pearl Jam, Jackson Browne, 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.

Give Till It's Gone Out Now!

"I've never made a record that was such a timeline," says Ben Harper of his new album, Give Till It's Gone. "It's a real extension of the last year and half in my life, and all these sounds are inspired by my experiences. It's as honest a musical statement as I could make."

The recent past has certainly seen Harper at a creative peak, juggling several high-profile, far-flung projects. Yet somewhere amidst all this activity, he found the time and the focus to write a new set of songs that represents the most personal and diverse collection in his career.

The first clue to his intentions can be found in the fact that Give Till It's Gone is credited simply to Ben Harper. "You can't tell which band is playing—it just sounds like me," he says. "I wanted to create a fresh sound that was also directly connected to the feel of everything I've ever done."

The songs on Give Till It's Gone are nothing less than a revelation. They express one man's struggle, confusion, and, ultimately, redemption. Harper lays it all out in "Don't Give Up On Me Now," the album's opening track. "I need to change/I don't know how," he sings. "You can wait your whole life not knowing what you're waiting for."

Please Visit: www.BenHarper.com  

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