Marcia Ball w/ Carter Beckworth

Marcia Ball

Marcia Ball is a woman with a reputation. The Texas-born, Louisiana-raised pianist/vocalist/songwriter is famed worldwide for igniting a full-scale roadhouse rhythm and blues party every time she strolls on stage. Ball’s groove-laden New Orleans boogie and rollicking Gulf Coast blues have made her a one-of-a-kind favorite with music fans all over the world. But she’s also a master at transfixing her audience with an emotionally rich, passionately sung ballad. The Boston Herald says, “Ball plays masterful, red hot tracks from the Texas-Louisiana border. Her voice can break your heart with a ballad or break your back with a rocker.” On her new CD, Roadside Attractions (her 15th solo recording), Ball’s songwriting is at the forefront, ranging from tales of wild parties to stories of twisted motel affairs to declarations of the enduring power of love and family. It is inspired by her years on the road and from insights gained from everyday life, making it her most autobiographical album. Roadside Attractions is certainly more than capable of starting a no-holds-barred bash. But more than that, it’s a tour-de-force of Marcia’s seemingly endless talent, and among the most emotionally moving recordings she has ever made. Produced by famed songwriter, musician and producer Gary Nicholson (Delbert McClinton, Wynonna Judd, T. Graham Brown), Roadside Attractions finds Marcia Ball at a creative peak. Ball wrote or co-wrote every song-something she had never done over the course of her forty-year career. Throughout the proceedings, her stellar musicians add power and nuance to the music, perfectly complementing Ball’s expert piano playing, slice-of-life lyrics and melodic, storytelling vocals.

Marcia Ball on Facebook | Official Website

CARTER BECKWORTH

Carter Beckworth is an American musician from Austin, Texas. He released his debut album, Fairweather Grace in 2007. He is also the lead vocalist of the Pop/Rock band, Baker Hotel, with whom he has released two albums, 2008’s Baker Hotel, and Hard To Prove (2010).

Beckworth’s self-titled sophomore album was released on August 23, 2011. His newer work is showcased in a truly unique new style, combining R&B, jazz, and electronic elements that highlight Beckworth’s songwriting prowess in a surprisingly organic, if modern-sounding product.

“Beckworth’s voice is smooth, with just the right amount of soulful grit to his songs that build from their solid singer-songwriter frameworks into rootsy guitar driven pop.”
– Andrew Dansby, The Houston Chronicle

Beckworth regularly performs both as a solo artist and with Baker Hotel, showcasing his skills in multiple contexts. He has shared the stage with such noteworthy performers as Randy Rogers, Carolyn Wonderland, Bob Schneider, Bruce Robison, Black Oak Arkansas, Mike McClure, Micky and the Motorcars, and The Resentments.

His acoustic performances feature moving ballads that discover the songwriter within, a skeleton of the larger-than-life persona he has cultivated on the big stage.

Carter Beckworth on Facebook | Carter Beckworth on Twitter | Official Website