Ben Harper engages in some 'Bloodline Maintenance'

Ben Harper has shared new single “We Need To Talk About It,” available now at all DSPs and streaming services. An official visualizer is at YouTube HERE. Produced by Harper and Sheldon Gomberg, “We Need To Talk About It” is from Harper’s album, BLOODLINE MAINTENANCE, due via his new deal with Chrysalis Records on July 22. Pre-orders are available now HERE.

With Harper on guitar, “We Need To Talk About It” addresses slavery through a call-and-response with gospel backing vocals and rhythms augmented by an African talking drum.

LISTEN TO “WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT”

WATCH OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

PRE-ORDER BLOODLINE MAINTENANCE

The new album is a work largely inspired by the loss of a longtime friend and the lingering influence of a mercurial and charismatic father, BLOODLINE MAINTENANCE sees Harper performing the majority of the instruments on his own, spanning guitar, bass, drums and an eclectic assortment of percussions including a plastic toy snare. His 17th studio LP – and first since 2020’s instrumental WINTER IS FOR LOVERS –and the first non-instrumental solo album of new songs since 2016. The new album features Harper’s famed lap steel playing. 

“It was like I was moving forward and venturing into places I had never been before,” he says. “Taking everything I’ve learned from every other record and kind of setting fire to it all and starting over. And I knew the sounds I was hearing in my head were so unorthodox that I had to do most of it myself.”

Over the years, Harper as won three Grammys (out of seven total nominations) for his own work while also producing acclaimed albums by Mavis Staples, Rickie Lee Jones, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Natalie Maines, Ziggy Marley, and others. Harper has also recorded with John Lee Hooker, Charlie Musselwhite, and Jack Johnson, Ringo Starr, Keith Richards and, most recently, Harry Styles, contributing his signature guitar work to the latter superstar’s chart-topping new album, HARRY’S HOUSE.

Track list: 

Below Sea Level

We Need to Talk About It
Where Did We Go Wrong
Problem Child
Need to Know Basis
It Ain’t No Use
More Than Love
Smile at the Mention
Honey, Honey
Knew the Day Was Comin’
Maybe I Can’t

Harper – joined by his longtime band, The Innocent Criminals – will do North American and European headline dates, festival performances and US shows alongside Jack Johnson, and a 15-night run supporting his recent collaborator Harry Styles at Los Angeles, CA’s Kia Forum. More headlining dates will be announced. For updates and ticket information, please visit www.benharper.com/tour.

WORLD TOUR 2022

JULY

3 - Casablanca, Morocco – Jazzablanca

7 - Cognac, France - Cognac Blues Passions
9 - Bruges, Belgium - Cactus Festival
10 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso
11 - Luxembourg, Luxembourg - Abbaye de Neumünster
13 - Marostica, Italy - Marostica Summer Festival
15 - Nîmes, France - Festival de Nîmes
16 - Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, France - Guitare en Scène
17 - Lucca, Italy - Lucca Summer Festival
19 - Nichelino, Italy - Stupinigi Sonic Park
20 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7 Summer Nights Open Air
22 - Barcelona, Spain - Festival Jardins Pedralbes
23 - Girona, Spain - Sons del Món
25 - Madrid, Spain - Noches del Botánico
28 - Carcassonne, France - Festival de Carcassonne
29 - Gignac, France - Le Festival Ecaussysteme à Gignac
31 - Colmar, France - Foire aux Vins d’Alsace

AUGUST

2 - Palmanova, Italy - Piazza Grande
3 - San Mauro Pascoli, Italy - Acieloaperto Festival
4 - Rome, Italy - Cavea Auditorium Parco Della Musica
6 - Taormina, Italy - Teatro Antico di Taormina
9 - Riola Sardo, Italy - Parco dei Suoni
11 - Brescia, Italy - Festa di Radio Onda d’Urto

SEPTEMBER
15-18 - Victoria, BC - Rifflandia Festival *
18 - Saratoga, CA - Mountain Winery
20 - Eugene, OR - Cuthbert Amphitheater
21 - Bend, OR - Clear Summer Nights
22 - Troutdale, OR - McMenamins Edgefield
24 - George, WA - Gorge Amphitheatre ^

OCTOBER
7 - Chula Vista, CA - North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre ^
23 - Inglewood, CA - Kia Forum †
24 - Inglewood, CA - Kia Forum †
26 - Inglewood, CA - Kia Forum †
28 - Inglewood, CA - Kia Forum †
29 - Inglewood, CA - Kia Forum †
31 - Inglewood, CA - Kia Forum †

NOVEMBER
2 - Inglewood, CA - Kia Forum †
4 - Inglewood, CA - Kia Forum †
5 - Inglewood, CA - Kia Forum †
7 - Inglewood, CA - Kia Forum †
9 - Inglewood, CA - Kia Forum †
11 - Inglewood, CA - Kia Forum †
12 - Inglewood, CA - Kia Forum †
14 - Inglewood, CA - Kia Forum †
15 - Inglewood, CA - Kia Forum †

* Festival Performance

^ w/Jack Johnson

† w/Harry Styles