Bluesy roots-rocker Ben Harper has spent the last decade gaining a rabid following with his easygoing albums and fiery live shows, frequently with his band The Innocent Criminals, who will join him tomorrow night.

His debut album, Welcome to the Cruel World, helped propel Ben into the jam-pop spotlight in the mid-'90s, and through a series of increasingly popular records and a practically nonstop touring schedule, he's gone from matinee idol to arena rock star.

Over the years, Ben has collaborated with everyone from Taj Mahal to Beth Orton, and his latest release, this year's There Will Be a Light, is a full-length meeting with The Blind Boys of Alabama.

-- by Paul Thompson