After a string of triumphant 2015 dates across North America, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals will embark on a headline tour across New Zealand early next year, marking their first NZ national headline tour since 2003.
Reunited this year after a long absence, the band kicks off the New Zealand tour on February 24 in Wellington, followed by performances in Auckland, Christchurch and Mission Estate Winery, Napier.
Tracing their roots back to 1993, the Innocent Criminals (percussionist Leon Mobley, bassist Juan Nelson, drummer Oliver Charles, keyboardist Jason Yates and guitarist Michael Ward) were involved in many Ben Harper projects before going on hiatus in 2008. The band toured nonstop, earning legions of fans thanks to explosive live performances and a succession of acclaimed studio albums including Fight For Your Mind, The Will to Live, Burn to Shine, Diamonds on the Inside and the Grammy® nominated Lifeline, their last studio album together in 2007. The Innocent Criminals also backed Ben and The Blind Boys of Alabama on the two-time Grammy® winning collaborative album There Will Be A Light in 2004.
In more good news for fans, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals are now wrapping up recording of their new album Call It What It Is. Due for release in April 2016 on Stax Records, it will be the band’s first new album in eight years. New Zealand audiences will be among the first to hear new songs from the album, along with classics such as ‘Burn To Shine’, ‘Steal My Kisses’ and ‘Diamonds In The Inside’.
