Charlie Musselwhite & Ben Harper announce new album

And the obligatory UK tour – no complaints about that, we’re much obliged.  The new album is called No Mercy in this Land, and is out on the 30th of March on Anti-.  To call Charlie Musselwhite a blues harpist is something of an understatement – he’s been right at the top with his sensitive playing for over fifty years.  His is the kind of skill that makes anyone who has ever messed around a bit on the blues harp want to cry.  At least, if it wasn’t so damn beautiful to listen to. 

Similarly calling Ben Harper a blues guitarist is to underrate his wide contributions in straight rock, folk,  reggae and, yeah, sure blues too.  Lap steel, slide guitar, bass – if it has strings he plays it.  And keyboards.  And drums.  He’s that kind of person.  Together they make a righteously rocking sound – swampy rock tinged with gospel and, yeah, sure, blues too.  No Mercy in this Land is the second album the pair have produced together, following on to Get Up! which came out to great acclaim in 2014.

There are only three UK dates on the European tour.  Make a careful note of them.

Tuesday 3 April – Oran Mor – Glasgow
Friday 6 April – Academy 2 – Manchester
Saturday 7 April – Shepherd’s Bush Empire – London
Here’s one of Charlie’s finest moments

And here’s Ben and Charlie from the last album.

About Jonathan Aird 2836 Articles
Sure, I could climb high in a tree, or go to Skye on my holiday. I could be happy. All I really want is the excitement of first hearing The Byrds, the amazement of decades of Dylan's music, or the thrill of seeing a band like The Long Ryders live. That's not much to ask, is it?
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[…] and fourth album on the record label, comes four years after his Grammy Nominated album ‘No Mercy on This Land‘ with Ben Harper. The album will include fourteen tracks, eight of which are original compositions and will be […]