Tab Benoit’s ‘I Hear Thunder’ Tour Rolls Into Boca Blues Festival

Tab Benoit’s ‘I Hear Thunder’ Tour Rolls Into Boca Blues Festival and Performs Saturday Nov. 16th

Acclaimed Louisiana Bayou Blues guitarist Tab Benoit heralded “I Hear Thunder” 2024 Tour locally rumbles into the Boca Blues Festival, at Sunset Cove Amphitheater, 20405 Amphitheater Circle, Saturday, November 16. Tickets/info: (772) 493-6105 or visit HERE

I Hear Thunder (released last August on Benoit’s Whiskey Bayou Records label), the award-winning musician’s first new album in thirteen years, soared to #1 on the influential Billboard Blues Album Chart the week of September 16.

To complement the release, the I Hear Thunder 2024 Tour winds across the country, an unforgettable experience reigniting the soul of roots music, while proving artists like Benoit only get better with time.

“From Tab’s solos to Anders’ solos, what a show,” writes Rick Scuteri from American Blues Scene, reviewing a recent ‘I Hear Thunder’ Tour show in Tucson. “They ended the night with Anders’ “Louisiana Rain” and Tab’s “Darkness.” And after a standing ovation the band came back for an encore with “Oh Katrina,” an Anders hit that found Benoit playing the drums – the same instrument he started playing as a kid. They wrapped things up with the Benoit tune “We Make a Good Gumbo,” a great way to end things: jamming a classic that brings the people to their feet. I highly recommend this show when they come to your hometown.”

Benoit’s last album, Medicine, released in 2014 and co-produced by the legendary Anders Osborne for Concord International, won three Blues Music Awards. Following this notable success, Benoit took a 14-year sabbatical from recording, entering a period of creative exile. This hiatus has only deepened the anticipation and appreciation for his return, illustrating his lasting impact on the genre.

Tab Benoit has always called Houma, Louisiana home. It is where he’s made music for himself and others and where he fell in love with the Wetlands. In 2001, his energy shifted to preserving the Wetlands, replacing music as his full-time job. His efforts as a conservationist resulted in multiple accolades, one of which was the prestigious Governor’s Award.

To bring focus to the plight of the Wetlands, Benoit created the Voice of the Wetlands All-Stars, pioneers of a sound and style indigenous to Louisiana’s Wetlands. The All-Stars featured Cyril Neville, Anders Osborne, George Porter Jr., Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Johnny Vidacovich, Johnny Sansone, and Waylon Thibodeaux.

I Hear Thunder, his new self-produced album, will be released via Benoit’s imprint, Whiskey Bayou Records, formed in 2017, with partner and manager Rueben Williams. Since its inception, the label has released albums by established artists such as Eric McFadden, Damon Fowler, Eric Johanson, Jeff McCarty, and Dash Rip Rock.

Guitar legend Anders Osborne’s brilliance is showcased on every song of Tab Benoit’s new record, adding a delicate touch that enhances the album’s tone and texture. Anders will join Tab on the 2024 I Hear Thunder Tour, where the two will perform simultaneously, backing each other up as they forge through their vast musical catalogs. Notably, The Meters’ bassist George Porter Jr. makes a guest appearance on three tracks, infusing his signature groove into the mix. Tab also proudly features his touring band on the record, with bassist Corey Duplechin and drummer Terence Higgins solidifying the powerhouse lineup.

Benoit’s journey began in 1992 with a radio hit from his debut record Nice and Warm. Since then, he has received multiple Blues Music Awards and four Grammy nominations. Beyond the music, Benoit is celebrated for his years of activism, particularly concerning the Louisiana Wetlands and coastal erosion. He seamlessly intertwines his artistic brilliance with a profound commitment to environmental advocacy, ensuring his legacy extends beyond the stage into the heart of the land that inspires his bluesy soul. Benoit does more than play the blues; he defines its future while paying homage to its rich past.

I Hear Thunder features ten solid tracks showcasing Tab’s original guitar style and the great songwriting of the Benoit/Osborne songwriting team. Benoit does more than just play the blues; he defines its future while paying homage to its rich past. I Hear Thunder is a must for roots music fans.

“Ain’t no rhythm like a Bayou Stomp” sings Tab Benoit on “The Ghost of Gatemouth Brown,” and he proves it on this, his first studio album in thirteen years,” writes Rock & Blues Muse. “It’s all displayed throughout these sizzling ten tracks that capture Benoit at his most, well, thunderous.”

Benoit’s previous album, Medicine, released in 2014 and co-produced by the legendary Anders Osborne for Concord International, won three Blues Music Awards. Following this notable success, Benoit took a 14-year sabbatical from recording, entering a period of creative exile. This hiatus has only deepened the anticipation and appreciation for his return, illustrating his lasting impact on the genre.

Tab Benoit has always called Houma, Louisiana home. It is where he’s made music for himself and others and where he fell in love with the Wetlands. In 2001, his energy shifted to preserving the Wetlands, replacing music as his full-time job. His efforts as a conservationist resulted in multiple accolades, one of which was the prestigious Governor’s Award.

To bring focus to the plight of the Wetlands, Benoit created the Voice of the Wetlands All-Stars, pioneers of a sound and style indigenous to Louisiana’s Wetlands. The All-Stars featured Cyril Neville, Anders Osborne, George Porter Jr., Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Johnny Vidacovich, Johnny Sansone, and Waylon Thibodeaux.

I Hear Thunder, his new self-produced album, will be released via Benoit’s imprint, Whiskey Bayou Records, formed in 2017, with partner and manager Rueben Williams. Since its inception, the label has released albums by established artists such as Eric McFadden, Damon Fowler, Eric Johanson, Jeff McCarty, and Dash Rip Rock.

Guitar legend Anders Osborne’s brilliance is showcased on every song of Tab Benoit’s new record, adding a delicate touch that enhances the album’s tone and texture. Anders will join Tab on the 2024 I Hear Thunder Tour, where the two will perform simultaneously, backing each other up as they forge through their vast musical catalogs. Notably, The Meters’ bassist George Porter Jr. makes a guest appearance on three tracks, infusing his signature groove into the mix. Tab also proudly features his touring band on the record, with bassist Corey Duplechin and drummer Terence Higgins solidifying the powerhouse lineup.

Nov 6 (Wed) – Austin TX@04 Center
Nov 7 (Thu) – Beaumont TX@The Roxy Event Center
Nov 8 (Fri) – Crowley LA@The Grand Opera House Of The South
Nov 9 (Sat) – Humble TX@Charles Bender Performing Arts Center
Nov 12 (Tue) – Destin FL@Club LA
Nov 13 (Wed) – Tallahassee FL@The Moon
Nov 14 (Thu) – Ormond Beach FL@Diamond Beach PAC
Nov 15 (Fri) – Clearwater FL@Capitol Theatre
Nov 16 (Sat) – Boca Raton FL@Boca Blues Festival at Sunset Cove Amph.
Dec 4 (Wed) – Cleveland OH@Music Box Supper Club
Dec 5 (Thu) – Cleveland OH@Music Box Supper Club
Dec 6 (Fri) – Buffalo NY@Town Ballroom
Dec 7 (Sat) – Lewisburg PA@Weis Center for the Performing Arts
Dec 8 (Sun) – Leesburg VA@Tally Ho Theatre
Dec 10 (Tue) – Sellersville PA@SEllersville Theatre
Dec 11 (Wed) – Old Saybrook CT@Katherine Hepburn Cultural Arts Ctr.
Dec 13 (Fri) – Londonberry OH@Tupelo Music Hall
Dec 14 (Sat) – Fall River MA@Narrow Center For The Arts
Dec 15 (Sun) – Hatford CT@Infinity Hall
Dec 17 (Tue) – Alexandria VA@The Birchmere
Dec 18 (Wed) – Ricmond VA@The Tin Pan
Dec 19 (Thu) – Raleigh NC@Lincoln Theatre
Dec 20 (Fri) – Athens GA@Georgia Theatre
Dec 21 (Sat) – Atlanta GA@Variety Playhouse
Jan 5-Jan 11 Ft Lauderdale@Big Easy Cruise
Jan 31 (Fri) – New Orleans LA@Tipitina’s
Feb 22 (Sat) – Green Lake WI@Thrasher Opera House
March 6 (Thu) – Houston TX@The Heights Theater
March 7 (Fri) – Cedar Park TX@Haute Spot
March 8 (Sat) – Dallas TX@Granada Theatre
April 9 (Wed) – Stuart FL@The Lyric Theatre
April 10-11 (Thu/Fri) – Kay West FL@Key West Theater
April 12 (Sat) – Fort Lauderdale FL@The Culture Room
April 13 (Sun) – Tampa FL@Tampa Bay Blues Fest
April 18 (Fri) – Biloxi MS@Hard Rock Live
June 15 (Sun) – Charleston WV@Cultural Center Theater
Sept 4-7 (Thu-Sun) – Las Vegas NV@Big Blues Bender