Article Contributed by Brat Girl Media
Published on December 13, 2025
GA-20 RELEASE NEW ALBUM “ORPHANS” AVAILABLE NOW WORLD-WIDE
GA-20 deliver their new album ORPHANS via Colemine Records, available worldwide on CD, vinyl, and digital formats. The collection brings together a carefully curated set of blues and blues-influenced tracks that fit seamlessly into the band’s signature approach—raw, vintage, and modern all at once. Some of these songs have been fan favorites from the stage, some were previously released as digital singles, and others have been long-requested by audiences. For the band—Matthew Stubbs on guitar, Cody Nilsen on guitar and vocals, and Josh Kiggans on drums—ORPHANS represents the opportunity to finally give these “stray” tunes a proper home.
True to the blues tradition of borrowing and reimagining, the songs on ORPHANS embody transformation: melodies lifted and reshaped, stories passed down and retold, and classic forms filtered through GA-20’s unmistakable lens. The album also spotlights the commanding vocal and guitar presence of Cody Nilsen, whose performances anchor the record’s emotional weight.
One of the defining features of GA-20 is their unwavering dedication to playing the music they love. As bandleader Matthew Stubbs explains, “we play the music we would want to hear,” and that philosophy has resonated deeply with fans. Those who have followed the band’s rise know the intensity they bring to heavy blues—stripped-down, high-octane performances powered by vintage gear, classic tones, and a commitment to recording live, together in one room. That immediacy is all over ORPHANS.
GA-20’s influences run deep and wide: Otis Rush, J.B. Lenoir, Howlin’ Wolf, Junior Wells, Hound Dog Taylor, Earl Hooker, Johnny “Guitar” Watson, and more. Their dedication to the craft has earned them significant acclaim in a short span—3× #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart, 4× Boston Music Award winners, and nominations across the Blues Music Awards, Blues Blast Awards, and New England Blues Awards, with strong radio and streaming growth in the U.S. and abroad. As Medium wrote, “This is the kind of music that travels through time while taking from the era where it was born and turning it into something fresh. Dirty and raw… timeless and modern.”
1. Cryin’ & Pleadin’
2. I Love You, I Need You
3. I Don’t Mind
4. Stranger Blues
5. Hold On, I’m Coming
6. My Baby Sweeter
7. Just One More Time
8. Chicken Pickin’
Produced by Matthew Stubbs
Engineered by Cody Nilsen
Mixed by Pat DiCenso & Matthew Stubbs
Mastered by Brian Charles
Personnel
Cody Nilsen – Vocals, Guitar & Lap Steel
Matthew Stubbs – Guitar & Baritone Guitar
Josh Kiggans – Drums
Brooks Milgate – Organ on Track 5
Nate Edgar – Bass on Track 5
Cryin’ & Pleadin’ (Billy Boy Arnold)
I Love You, I Need You (Lazy Lester)
I Don’t Mind (James Brown)
Stranger Blues (Elmore James)
Hold On, I’m Coming (Hayes, Porter)
My Baby Sweeter (Little Walter)
Just One More Time (Ike Turner)
Chicken Pickin’ (Lonnie Mack)
Get the new album ORPHANS now.
STREAM / BUY HERE
