The last time the Houma, Louisiana-based Tab Benoit performed in southern New Jersey was in May 2022 at the Exit Zero Jazz Festival in Cape May.
Opening for Benoit on this leg of the tour is Sgt. Splendor, featuring road-tested rockers Kate Vargas and Eric McFadden.
“You could certainly feel (Tab’s) ’72 Telecaster, plugged straight into his amp, scream, cry, laugh and love from the first note,” wrote Atlanta Concert Reviews’ Andrew Agresta in a mid-April 2026 review. “(Benoit’s) entire performance was driven by feel. No setlist, no rules, just what felt right. The way he plays is encompassing, and being in the room felt therapeutic.”
As for the band, Agresta enthused, “They were completely locked in. It was hard to believe that wall of sound was coming from just three musicians.”
“I Hear Thunder” marked Benoit’s triumphant return to releasing new music, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Blues Chart in September 2024. The following year, Benoit won four Blues Blast Music Awards: Rock Blues Album (I Hear Thunder), Blues Band, Male Blues Artist and Electric Guitarist of the Year.
The victories served as recognition from Benoit’s peers for a longtime musician whose influence continues to grow.
Benoit’s journey began in 1992 with a radio hit from his debut album, “Nice and Warm.” Since then, he has earned multiple Blues Music Awards and four Grammy Award nominations.
Beyond the music, Benoit is celebrated for his environmental activism, particularly his efforts to raise awareness about Louisiana wetlands and coastal erosion. He has seamlessly intertwined his artistic accomplishments with a commitment to environmental advocacy, ensuring his legacy extends beyond the stage and into the landscape that inspires his music.
Benoit does more than play the blues. He honors the genre’s rich traditions while helping shape its future.
