Performance:
Saturday, November 15, 2008: 8:00 p.m.
With special guests Josh Hoge and Gabe Dixon Band
Atlantic Records welcomes a new addition to its storied roster, acclaimed singer/songwriter Marc Broussard. His
latest album will be released in September, 2008 and is titled Keep Coming Back.
The Louisiana-based bayou soul troubadour made his label debut with Must Be The Water, his first
collection of all-new songs since 2004's breakthrough Carencro. The five-track EP is highlighted by the
fuel-injected title track, which recently served as the theme for Turner
Broadcasting's on-air promotions of the 2008 NBA All-Star festivities.
The Must Be The Water EP was recorded during Broussard's January 2008 appearance on the Rock Boat VIII,
the annual five-day music festival at sea. Eager to release new material in advance of recording his next album,
Broussard and his band opted to capture their live energy via the simplest possible means. As the cruise traveled
the Caribbean - making stops in Grand Cayman and Ocho Rios, Jamaica - Marc utilized a bare-bones studio set-up to
record the EP's five tracks, all while leading a multi-artist concert line up which also included
Toad The Wet Sprocket, Sons of William, and many others.
"We knew it would be a tough task, but we got more than we bargained for," says Broussard. "With electrical surges,
hard drive crashes, high seas, vocal ailments and other Rock Boat shenanigans, we all had doubts about whether or
not we'd be able to pull it off. Thankfully we didn't give up and the band played on!"
The son of Louisiana Hall of Fame guitarist Ted Broussard (of the legendary blue-eyed soul combo, the Boogie Kings),
Marc grew up surrounded by the diverse musical panorama for which his homestate is world-renowned. Music
informed his life from the get-go, whether it was joining his dad onstage at various clubs or singing in the
Catholic University church choir. As he hit his teens, Broussard was already an accomplished artist, the veteran
of a string of local bands and solo acoustic performances, known for tearing up the stage with the raw-throated
gusto and worldly emotive power of a man three times his age.
Broussard made his recorded debut in 2002 with the remarkably mature independent release, Momentary Setback. He
drew coast-to-coast acclaim in 2004 with his major-label debut, Carencro, a full-blooded take on the blues,
soul, Cajun music, rock, and swamp-pop of his native Louisiana, distilled through the talented young tunesmith's
flair for smart contemporary songwriting. With his emotive, dynamic voice and undeniable presence, Broussard quickly
won over a legion of devoted fans via nearly non-stop roadwork, including countless headline shows; showstopping sets at
festivals like South By Southwest, Bonnaroo, and of course, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival; and tours
alongside such like-minded musicians as Dave Matthews Band, Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Gavin DeGraw, O.A.R., and
Maroon 5.
Marc followed up Carencro with 2007's critically acclaimed S.O.S.: Save Our Soul. The album saw
Broussard and his crack band plumbing the vaults of historic labels like Motown and Stax to create 11 incendiary
performances of soul classics originally recorded by Al Green, Stevie Wonder, Otis Redding, the Staple Singers,
Bobby Womack, and other members of R&B royalty as well as one original tune recorded in the same classic soul
vein. Among the album's many highlights was a sweltering take on Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell's "If I Can Build
My Whole World Around You," performed as a duet with Toby Lightman.
In September 2007, Marc and his band headed to Asia and the Middle East for a four-week tour, performing for
US troops in association with the military's MWR (Morale, Welfare, and Recreation) command. The Christmas season
saw one of Marc's songs featured on NBC's hit reality series, Clash Of The Choirs, with country superstar
Blake Shelton leading his choir in a rousing rendition of "Home," the lead single from Carencro. In
addition, Broussard co-wrote and sang with LeAnn Rimes on the rollicking duet, "Nothing Wrong," found on her top
5-charting 2007 album, Family. He also joined such superstars as Paul McCartney, Elton John, Robert Plant,
Neil Young, and Herbie Hancock on 2007's Goin' Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino, contributing a version of
"Rising Sun" recorded with mandolin master Sam Bush. Lastly, Broussard also performed his hit
song "Home" as part of the kickoff to the weekend of NBA All Star events before a nationwide audience live on TNT.
Along with his busy musical career, Broussard has also been active in helping to raise funds to both help residents
of his beloved New Orleans and to restore the city to its pre-Katrina glory. In 2005, he released the
live Bootleg to Benefit the Victims of Hurricane Katrina, with all proceeds going to his
"Momentary Setback Fund," established to assist victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Broussard also created
wristbands with the insignia "Straight From The Water" (from a lyric in his song, "Home") and has taken time out
from touring and recording to help build homes with Habitat For Humanity. As a result of his humanitarian efforts,
Broussard was invited to serve as spokesperson for Louisiana's United Way of Acadiana and was recently bestowed
with Hard Rock International's "Love All, Serve All" Award in recognition of his on-going commitment to philanthropy.
Tickets on sale now. For more information about Marc Broussard, check out
his website at www.marcbroussard.com or watch the video clip below.
