Sign up for our mailing list Real artists creating records on their own terms

News

Christopher Paul Stelling Announces New Ben Harper Produced Album 'Best Of Luck'
Wednesday, October 16th, 2019

Christopher Paul Stelling Announces New Ben Harper Produced Album 'Best Of Luck'

Impassioned singer and virtuosic guitar player Christopher Paul Stelling is announcing his fifth album today.

Titled Best of Luck, the Ben Harper-produced record will be released on February 7 via ANTI-.  Directed by Andrew Anderson, watch the new video for lead single “Trouble Don’t Follow Me” HERE; in it, Stelling traverses the wooded roads of North Carolina in a ‘60’s Ford pick-up truck, until the truck breaks down and he must head towards both his destiny and his destination on foot.

Throughout Best of Luck, discontent and self-doubt are transformed into messages of resilience and hope. “Trouble Don’t Follow Me” captures this perfectly, with an upbeat almost anthemic rhythm and soulful, gospel-tinged vocals. “It comes as no surprise to me that one of my most optimistic songs could be written in the most difficult hour,” Stelling says. “When all I needed was a little hope and a song I could play night after night and not get tired of. Something that captured the basic recipe for endurance. A song about marching on, a warning to anything that might stand in your way, and needing to feel strong for the people around you, so you can inspire them to do the same.”

In September, Stelling released the single “Have To Do For Now” with an accompanying music video that was also shot by Anderson in and around Stelling’s home in Asheville. The video follows Stelling as he spends time at home in late summer and early fall, becomes taken over by strong memories and shapes them into song. Watch it HERE.

[youtube id=GtmlcRXO7rE]

Harper says he instantly recognized a kindred spirit in Stelling’s virtuosic finger picking and soulful delivery. “It was like finding a John Fahey or Leo Kottke that was a really great singer,” he explains.

Best Of Luck is a supremely accessible and finely crafted record that deftly merges genres. Harper, who has previously produced records by Mavis Staples, Rickie Lee Jones, The Blind Boys of Alabama and others, recruited an all-star rhythm section with Jimmy Paxson (Stevie Nicks, Dixie Chicks) on drums and upright bass player Mike Valerio (Randy Newman, LA Philharmonic) to lend a versatility and finesse. “I really believe this record is the intersection where folk and soul meet,” Harper says.

Stelling will embark on a US tour this November and December with ANTI- label mate Son Little. Starting in San Francisco on November 11, they will also perform in Denver, Chicago, New York City and more before ending in Los Angeles on December 12. All upcoming dates are listed below.

US TOUR DATES
11/11 – San Francisco, CA – Swedish American Hall #
11/13 – Portland, OR – The Old Church #
11/14 – Seattle, WA – The Crocodile #
11/16 – Salt Lake City, UT – The State Room #
11/17 – Denver, CO – Daniels Hall, Swallow Hill #
11/19 – Minneapolis, MN – Cedar Cultural Center #
11/20 – Chicago, IL – Old Town School of Folk Music #
11/21 – Ferndale, MI – The Magic Bag #
11/22 – Pittsburgh, PA – Thunderbird Café #
11/23 – Lancaster, PA – Chameleon Club #
11/25 – Cambridge, MA – The Sinclair #
11/26 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom #
11/29 – Philadelphia, PA – World Café Live #
11/30 – Washington DC – Rock & Roll Hotel #
12/1 – Asheville, NC – The Grey Eagle #
12/3 – Nashville, TN – 3rd & Lindsley #
12/4 – Atlanta, GA – The Earl #
12/5 – New Orleans, LA – Gasa Gasa #
12/6 – Austin, TX – 3TEN Austin City Limits Live #
12/7 – Dallas, TX – The Blue Light Dallas #
12/10 – Phoenix, AZ – Valley Bar #
12/11 – San Diego, CA – Soda Bar #
12/12 – Los Angeles, CA – Lodge Room Highland Park #

# - with Son Little

2020 EUROPEAN TOUR DATES
4/1 – Odense, DK – Dexter
4/2 – Gladsaxe, DK - Richter
4/3 – Berlin, DE – Privatclub
4/5 – Utrecht, NL – TivoliVredenburg
4/6 – London, UK – The Old Blue Last
4/7 – Chester, UK – St. Mary’s Creative Space
4/8 – Glasgow, UK – Broadcast
4/10 – Oostende, BE – De Zwerver
4/11 – Rotterdam, NL – Rotown
4/15 – Milano, IT – Legend Club
4/16 – Torino, IT – Blah Blah
4/17 – Florence, IT – Arci Progresso
4/18 – Ravenna, IT – Boca Barranca
4/20 – Langnau, CH – Kaptn Holger
4/22 – Barberaz, FR – Le Brin de Zinc
4/23 – Nevers, FR – La Tavern’
4/28 – Barcelona, ESP – Casa Gracia
4/29 – Zaragoza, ESP – Rock & Blues Café
4/30 – Madrid, ESP – El Intruso
5/1 – Vigo, ESP – Radar Estudios
5/2 – Braga, PT – Teatro Circo
5/8 – Groningen, NL – Der-Aa Theater

Pre-Order ‘Best of Luck’

Browse by Artist

2112All Artists 100Tom Waits 74Mavis Staples 59Neko Case 51Lost In The Trees 50Sean Rowe 48Dr. Dog 45The Milk Carton Kids
41Jolie Holland 40Bettye LaVette 37Man Man 36Son Little 35Tinariwen 33Tim Fite 33DeVotchKa 31Grinderman 31Islands 29Glen Hansard 28Saintseneca 27Wilco 27Galactic 27Delicate Steve 26Andy Shauf 25The Drums 24Michael Franti and Spe... 24Xenia Rubinos 22Doe Paoro 22Bob Mould 22William Elliott Whitmo... 21Nick Cave & The Bad Se... 21The Frames 20Joe Henry 20Christopher Paul Stell... 19Booker T. Jones 19Yves Jarvis 19Sage Francis 19Cass McCombs 18Gary V 18Calexico 18Deafheaven 17John K. Samson 17Yann Tiersen 16Ramblin Jack Elliott 16Danny Elfman 16The Antlers 16Jason Lytle 14Half Waif 14Daniel Lanois 14Jeremy Ivey 14Madi Diaz 13Billy Bragg 13The Dream Syndicate 12Xavier Rudd 12Peter Silberman 12Combo Chimbita 12Girlpool 12Leyla McCalla 11Ryan Pollie 11Mose Allison 11Japandroids 11Roky Erickson 11Purr 11The Weakerthans 11Lyrics Born 11Glitterer 11Jade Jackson 11Rain Machine 10High Pulp 10Darrin Bradbury 10Moor Mother 10So Much Light 10Alfa Mist 10Christian Lee Hutson 10The Swell Season 10The Melodic 9Hey, King! 9Wynonna 9Marianne Faithfull 9Lido Pimienta 9Cameron Avery 9Josiah Johnson 9N.A.S.A. 9Curtis Harding 9M. Ward 8Katy Kirby 8Greg Graffin 8James Brandon Lewis 8Kate Davis 8Rafiq Bhatia 8Slow Pulp 8The Coup 8Solillaquists of Sound 8Cadence Weapon 7Beth Orton 7Ben Harper 7Eddie Izzard 7Dead Man's Bones 7Kelly Hogan 7Richard Reed Parry 7Title Fight 7Ben Harper and Charlie... 7Elliott Smith 7Alec Ounsworth 6Os Mutantes 6A Girl Called Eddy 6Deradoorian 6Kate Bush 6MJ Lenderman 6Broken Twin 6Bonny Doon 6Busdriver 6Waxahatchee 5Beat Connection 5Kristine Leschper 5Keaton Henson 5The Field 5Foxwarren 5One Day As A Lion 5Scott McMicken and THE... 5The Tallest Man On Ear... 5Ezra Furman 5Sam Akpro 5Art Moore 5Jasmyn 4Pops Staples 4Jackson+Sellers 4sunking 4The Good Ones 4Sparklehorse 4Ersi Arvizu 4Marketa Irglova 3Mavis Staples & Levon... 3Mothers 3Walter Wolfman Washing... 3Sierra Leones Refugee... 3Marc Ribot 3Petra Haden 3Plains 3Danny Cohen 2Jeff Tweedy 2Fleet Foxes 2Various Artists: RANGO 2ANTI- Records 1Simian Mobile Disco 1Tricky 1Merle Haggard 1Solomon Burke 1Joe Strummer And The M... 1Porter Wagoner 1The Locust 1Antibalas 1Taylor Vick 1Rogue's Gallery 1case/lang/veirs 1Various Artists: ROGUE... 1Lightman Jarvis Ecstat... 1Kronos Quartet with Br... 1Youth Group 1Blackalicious
See Full List+