1. Muddy Bottom Blues
2. Her Mind Is Gone
3. Nice and Warm
4. Let Love Take Control
5.. Dog Hill
6. I Got Loaded
7. Louisiana Style
8. Crawfishin'
9. Mardi Gras Medley
10. Cherry Tree Blues
11. Bayou Boogie
TAB BENOIT’S LOST 2002 PERFORMANCE FINALLY SEES THE LIGHT OF DAY: 'BLUES MASTERS LIVE' ARRIVES OCTOBER 23, 2026
HOUMA, LA — Whiskey Bayou Records, in conjunction with APO, is thrilled to announce the October 23, 2026 release of Blues Masters Live. This highly anticipated album unearths a previously unreleased, powerhouse performance by Grammy-nominated Louisiana guitarist Tab Benoit, recorded live on October 19, 2002, at Blue Heaven Studios in Salina, Kansas.
Captured when Benoit was just 34 years old, the recording catches the guitar virtuoso at a pivotal career moment. Benoit was invited to close the fifth annual Blues Masters at the Crossroads festival—a special event celebrating the "Louisiana Legends" who shaped his home state's indigenous music. The scorching set was recorded by Acoustic Sounds founder and fellow Louisiana native Chad Kassem, after which the tapes vanished into the archives for nearly a quarter of a century. Now, to mark the 40th anniversary of Acoustic Sounds, Kassem is opening the historic vaults, choosing Benoit’s legendary set to be among the very first to see the light of day.
This archival treasure arrives on the heels of a massive career resurgence for Benoit. Following a 13-year recording hiatus, he returned in 2024 with I Hear Thunder on his own Whiskey Bayou Records, which skyrocketed to No. 1 on Billboard’s Blues Albums chart. A multiple Blues Music Award winner and tireless advocate for coastal preservation through his Voice of the Wetlands foundation, Benoit’s fiery 2002 performance—complete with an introduction by Louisiana guitarist Gabrie—stands as a timeless testament to his three-decade legacy as a titan of swamp rock, soul, and Louisiana blues.
Blues Masters Live will be available everywhere on October 23, 2026.