Article Contributed by Doug Deutsch
Published on 2026-10-27
Two of the South’s most distinctive guitar voices come together for The Southern Gentlemen Tour—Louisiana blues master Tab Benoit and Southern rock heir Duane Betts and his band Palmetto Motel. The tour kicks off Friday, February 5, 2027, at Tipitina’s in New Orleans, with the itinerary below.
A multi-Grammy-nominated guitarist and singer, Tab Benoit has spent more than three decades carving out his own sound. Louisiana soul and roots music has always been at the heart of Tab Benoit’s catalog. His playing is built on tone, touch and feel. His famously stripped-down approach uses virtually no effects—just guitar, cord and amplifier. As Tab puts it, “The effects that you hear come from my fingers.” Benoit’s legacy includes recordings with Billy Joe Shaver, Junior Wells, James Cotton, and Willie Nelson, establishing himself as one of Louisiana’s most important musical exports.
Duane Betts carries a different branch of the Southern guitar tradition. The son of legendary Allman Brothers guitarist Dickey Betts, Duane grew up surrounded by the music that helped define Southern rock. A founding member of The Allman Betts Band, he has forged his own identity as a soulful guitarist and songwriter while carrying forward the melodic, improvisational spirit of his father’s generation. Duane’s philosophy is simple: “It’s really about having a unique voice, trying to take the listener on a journey.”
That is what makes The Southern Gentlemen Tour special. Benoit’s raw Louisiana blues collides with Betts’ melodic Southern sound—two generations, two traditions, and two guitarists who refuse to sound like anyone else.
The Southern Gentlemen Tour 2027
February 5 — New Orleans, LA — Tipitina’s
February 6 — Hattiesburg, MS — Brewsky’s
February 10 — Birmingham, AL — Iron City
February 11 — Mobile, AL — Saenger Theatre
February 12 — Dothan, AL — Dothan Opera House
February 13 — Chattanooga, TN — The Caverns
February 18 — Athens, GA — The Georgia Theatre
February 19 — Macon, GA — Capitol Theatre
February 20 — Huntsville, AL — Mars Music Hall
February 21 — Huntington, TN — Dixie Carter PAC
February 24 — Memphis, TN — Minglewood Hall
February 25 — Philadelphia, MS — Ellis Theatre
For more information, visit tabbenoit.com and duanebetts.com.
