Tab Benoit and Anders Osborne on Their ‘I Heart Thunder’ Tour

The Suffolk presents two legendary blues guitarists — Tab Benoit and Anders Osborne — performing their “I Hear Thunder” tour on Saturday, July 20, at 8 p.m.

Get ready for an electrifying musical experience — an evening of soulful roots music by two musical treasures, Benoit and Osborne. These two legendary artists will take the stage together, combining their individual styles and musical prowess to create one heartfelt performance. Benoit and Osborne are both known as prolific songwriters and both have unique styles of guitar playing. On this special night they will be backing each other up as they roll through their extensive catalogs, as well as introducing new material. They will also be joined by special guest Blues Music Award winner Mike Zito and his band.

One of the most impressive guitarists to emerge from the rich Bayous of Southern Louisiana in recent years, Benoit’s guitar tone can be recognized before his Otis-Redding-ish voice resonates from the speakers. He doesn’t rely on any effects and his set up is simple. It consists of a guitar, cord, and Category 5 Amplifier. The effects that you hear come from his fingers.

Born on November 17, 1967, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Benoit grew up in the nearby town of Houma. His early musical exposure included traditional Cajun waltzes and country music, influenced by his musician father. Benoit initially played drums but switched to guitar due to gig restrictions in rural Louisiana. In the late 1980s, he immersed himself in the blues scene at the Blues Box in Baton Rouge, learning from legends like Tabby Thomas and Raful Neal. He formed a trio in 1987, began performing in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, and released his first recording, “Nice and Warm,” in 1992. This release propelled his career, leading to extensive touring and comparisons to blues greats like Albert King and Jimi Hendrix.

Benoit signed with Vanguard and became Louisiana’s number one blues export in the late 1990s, producing several albums before moving to Telarc International/Concord Music Group in 2002. Here, he focused on a stripped-down trio format and used his platform to raise awareness about Louisiana’s coastal erosion. His 2004 album “Wetlands” marked a significant evolution in his music. Benoit founded the Voice of the Wetlands organization and assembled the Voice of the Wetlands All-Stars, which included Anders Osborne, to promote this cause musically. His 2011 album “Medicine” earned him significant accolades, including the BB King Entertainer of the Year award at the 2012 Blues Music Awards. Benoit and his manager later launched Whiskey Bayou Records to support deserving artists. With a career spanning over three decades, Benoit continues to impact the music scene with his unique sound and dedication to environmental causes.

Between the potency of his richly detailed songwriting, his intensely emotional, soulful vocals and his piercing, expert guitar work, New Orleans’ Anders Osborne is a true musical treasure. He is among the most original and visionary musicians writing and performing today. New Orleans’ Gambit Weekly has honored Osborne as the Entertainer of the Year. OffBeat named him Crescent City’s Best Guitarist for the third year in a row, and Best Songwriter for the second straight year. Osborne also won Song of the Year for his composition, “Louisiana Gold.”

Osborne has earned hordes of new fans. He has toured virtually nonstop, either with his own band, as a solo artist, or as a guest with his countless musical admirers, including Toots and The Maytals, Stanton Moore, Derek Trucks, Warren Haynes, Keb Mo, The Grateful Dead’s Phil Lesh, Jackie Greene and Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe. He’s produced and played on critically acclaimed albums by Benoit, Johnny Sansone and Mike Zito.

Since his recording debut in 1989, Osborne has written virtually all of his own material and contributed memorable songs to a wide variety of artists. Two tunes co-written by Osborne appear on Keb Mo’s Grammy-winning 1999 release “Slow Down.” Country superstar Tim McGraw scored a #1 hit with Anders’s song “Watch the Wind Blow By.” Osborne’s compositions have been covered by artists as diverse as Brad Paisley, Tab Benoit, Jonny Lang, Edwin McCain, Sam Bush, Trombone Shorty and Aaron Neville and Kim Carnes. His songs have appeared in multiple feature films. He can also be seen performing in an episode of HBO’s New Orleans-based drama, “Treme.”

Tickets for the show range from $75 to $99 at thesuffolk.org. The Suffolk is at 118 East Main Street in Riverhead.