Ben Harper is one of the premiere songwriters of his generation and there is always a feeling of that extra something special whenever he appears at Bluesfest – on its stages, he has collaborated with many of the festival’s favourites and he has captured the ears of anyone within reach.
Harper’s latest album Wide Open Light dropped in June 2023 including ‘Yard Sale’, a wonderful duet with his good mate Jack Johnson. Harper is heading to Tyagarah at Easter and he is bringing the goodies for you.
Seven caught up with Harper last week.
Ben – you’re in your car. Are you going somewhere fun?
At the moment I’m in the park. It’s Griffith Park in Los Angeles, a wonderful park.
How many times have been over here for Bluesfest?
This, I believe will be my sixth so far.
Does it feel like ‘old home week’ for you coming back here?
There is a piece of that. Yeah, it’s very real. It’s very familiar and comfortable in that regard. Yeah.
You do seem very comfortable and you seem to enjoy quite a lot of collaboration while you’re here. Is that something that’s very important to you?
It is. It’s always fun and improvisational and it’s a specific challenge. It takes a very attuned focus to get that right. Sometimes it’s right. And sometimes it’s a bit left of right, but it’s cool. It’s something that if it hits the mark is fun for everybody.
Have you stumbled across someone unexpected at Bluesfest that you hadn’t known and all of a sudden, you found you could do some great things?
Well, I didn’t do any great things, but I am sure some of the best shows I’ve ever seen were Midnight Oil.
I interviewed a mate of yours, Jack Johnson. It seems like you have a very close personal relationship and a very close musical relationship as well.
Jack is a dear personal friend. I’m one of his biggest fans. From the minute I heard his music – I got a little cassette tape that was handed to me – some demos of his, and I must have played that tape till it wore out.
What is your current earworm?
My current earworm is a song by my daughter, Harris. It’s her first release called ‘The Longest Apocalypse’. She’s currently on tour with Mitch Roman and Harry Styles.
I know that you’re a person who is very clear about your activism. Do you feel that a person with a profile and ‘influence’ has a responsibility to use that for the causes they believe in?
Whether or not you’re an artist, if you have a cause and you believe in it, if it’s for good, I believe it’s worth standing up for.
You had a release last June. Will we be hearing a lot from that record?
You know, I tend to build from songs that people really recognise and then throw in a couple of surprises – a few solo pieces, as well as the band, and a cover here and there.
Are you travelling with a big entourage?
It’s a five-piece band at the moment with some crew from here, and then working with some that already have boots on the ground there. So it’s not over the top just enough to ensure that everything sounds good and works.
Hopefully one time you can come over with your daughter…?
Oh, I’ve got to get there with Harris for sure. Yeah!
Is there anyone in particular that you’re looking forward to seeing at Bluesfest?
At Bluesfest you can throw a dart, can’t you? That’s the thing. So, I’ll just be wandering around as I always do.
Ben – are you having enough fun?
I think so. I mean, there’s never enough fun – is there?
Ben Harper and The Innocent Criminals will play Bluesfest on Easter Sunday. Visit: www.bluesfest.com.au
