Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite coming to Doheny Blues Festival

Ben Harper, left, with Charlie Musselwhite will be performing at the 16th Annual Doheny Blues Festival

Although the 16th annual Doheny Blues Festival doesn't arrive for another four months, there is plenty of excitement building for Orange County, California's greatest annual multi-day concert event.

"Get Up!" is set for release on Jan. 29, 2013

In addition to a potent previously-announced lineup of Joe Bonamassa, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Shemekia Copeland, Marcia Ball, Sonny Landreth, James Hunter and many more, now comes word that Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite will perform together in Dana Point this May.

For the past week I've been listening to Get Up!, a new concept album featuring the duo and it's fantastic (my detailed review of the album will be published in Desert Star Weekly later this week). Get Up! is a song-cycle set for release by Stax Records on January 29 and is one of the first epic albums of 2013. Produced by Harper, it is his 12th studio album and marks a decade-long dream by Harper and Musselwhite to work on a full-length project together.

"Charlie and I have been looking to make this record for over ten years and now that we've gotten to it," stated Harper in a press release, "I can't wait to play it live."

Added Musselwhite: "Ben and I really locked in, personally and musically, when we recorded with John Lee Hooker. Ever since then we wanted to record together and being in the studio together is just a natural. You can hear it and feel it in the music on Get Up!"

The 16th Annual Doheny Blues Festival will be held on May 18 and 19, 2013 at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point.

For more information, visit: http://www.dohenybluesfestival.com.