Marc Broussard

It's times like these that we cling to simple music. And all the better for singers like Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, Josh Kelly and Marc Broussard , who might have scored little more than a few quarters in a yawning guitar case on a 1992 Westport Saturday night. Now they're scoring major-label deals with stripped-down tunes intended to provide salve for broken hearts. Soul-folkie Broussard was discovered playing on a Lafayette, Louisiana, street corner, and he quickly found success with relaxed songs such as "The Wanderer," "French Café" and "Blue Jeans," which have just enough jam squeezed in with the roots jelly. Broussard is fresh off a tour with Los Lonely Boys and will barely have enough time to touch down in Kansas between the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and Bonnaroo. Before we know it, the one-time street busker will be the hottest item around.