FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 18, 2018
Contact: kelly@epitaph.com

WATCH “THE STORY OF BEN HARPER AND CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE” NARRATED BY MAVIS STAPLES

NEW ALBUM ‘NO MERCY IN THIS LAND’ OUT NOW

SUMMER TOUR DATES INCLUDE NEWPORT FOLK FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE ON JULY 27

“Harper’s background in soul, folk, rock, gospel, and funk, along with Musselwhite’s darker edged swampy Chicago and Delta blues creates a swirling, simmering rootsy concoction that’s organically charged” – American Songwriter

“’No Mercy’ puts a little twist—an ever so slightly more modern rhythmic approach—on the sound of vintage blues records” – Mix Magazine

Although they are more than a generation apart in age, Grammy-winning musicians Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite are musical kin with fascinating histories. Today you can learn more about them in “The Story of Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite”, a new animated music video that beautifully intertwines their musical influences and backgrounds. Narrated by the legendary Mavis Staples, watch the video courtesy of Berrics Skateboarding HERE.

Harper was raised just outside of Los Angeles where he gravitated to his grandparents’ local music store ‘The Folk Music Center and Museum’ often frequented by Leonard Cohen and Taj Mahal, while Charlie thrived in the blues scenes of Memphis and Chicago, a cohort of Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf. John Lee Hooker later introduced Musselwhite and Harper to one another and in 2013 they released their first collaboration, the Grammy-winning album Get Up!

The great Willie Dixon called blues, “the facts of life expressed through words and song.” Harper and Musselwhite’s 2018 album No Mercy In This Land is that kind of record. It’s the sound of pain and perseverance, it’s a meditative church and a roaring fuzzed out celebration. This is Ben and Charlie’s personal histories, and the sonic story of American struggle and survival.

Harper and Musselwhite are currently on a worldwide summer tour including headlining sets and festival performances at Australia’s Splendor in the Grass and the legendary Newport Folk Festival. All upcoming tour dates are listed below.

TOUR DATES
7/21 – Yelgun, Australia – Splendour in the Grass
7/27 – Newport, RI – Newport Folk Festival SOLD OUT
7/29 – Detroit, MI – St. Andrew’s Hall
7/30 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall SOLD OUT
8/1 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall SOLD OUT
8/3 – Englewood, CO – Gothic Theatre SOLD OUT
8/4 – Englewood, CO – Gothic Theatre
8/5 – Salt Lake City, UT – Red Butte Garden SOLD OUT
8/20 – Calgary, Canada – Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
8/21 – Edmonton, Canada – Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
8/23 – Vancouver, Canada – Orpheum Theatre
8/24 – Woodinville, WA – Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery SOLD OUT
8/25 – Goldendale, WA – Maryhill Winery and Amphitheater
8/27 – Santa Cruz, CA – The Catalyst SOLD OUT
8/28 – Santa Cruz, CA – The Catalyst
8/31 – Tempe, AZ – Marquee Theatre
9/1 – Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theatre
9/3 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues
9/4 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater
9/5 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
9/7 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
9/8 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
9/10 – Knoxville, TN – The Mill & Mine
9/11 – Memphis, TN – Orpheum Theatre
9/12 – Kansas City, MO – Arvest Bank Theatre
9/14 – Telluride, CO – Telluride Blues and Brews Festival