Article Contributed by Devious Planet
Published on 2026-04-20
Acclaimed blues guitarist and songwriter JP Soars shares a new single, “Goin’ to South Carolina,” the latest preview of his forthcoming album Gypsy Blue Revue, featuring violinist and vocalist Anne Harris, arriving May 29, 2026 via Forty Below Records. Pre-order the album here: Listen here.
Built from a spark of pure spontaneity, “Goin’ to South Carolina” captures the loose, instinctive energy that defines Gypsy Blue Revue.
“The music for this song was essentially written in the studio on the spot,” says Soars. “I had the main riff at the beginning and one vocal line — ‘I’m goin’ down to South Carolina.’ We started playing the riff while the engineer was moving microphones. We all just kinda looked at each other, smiling. It fell into place immediately and felt great. We took a lunch break, I finished the arrangement, came back, and recorded the track. A couple weeks later, back in Florida, I finished the lyrics and vocals. I based them loosely on a character I had in my head.”
For more than two decades, Soars has built his reputation the way roots music was meant to be built — onstage, night after night. A fiery guitarist, soulful vocalist, and inventive songwriter, he blends blues, rock & roll, Latin rhythms, country, and gypsy jazz, guided not by genre but by feel.
That philosophy comes into sharp focus on Gypsy Blue Revue, a collaboration with Chicago-based violinist, vocalist, and songwriter Anne Harris. The partnership began in 2019 after the two met on the festival circuit and solidified their connection at the Big Blues Bender in Las Vegas. What started as a one-off performance quickly evolved into a dynamic creative union rooted in Southern soul, roadhouse blues, and eclectic folk influences.
Recorded live at a rural Ohio studio with no click tracks or overdubs, the album captures the immediacy of their performances. “We approached it exactly like a show,” Soars explains. “All in one room, playing together. We just wanted it to sound like us.”
The album also features Soars’ longtime bandmates — drummer Chris Peet and bassist Cleveland Frederick — anchoring the sessions with a road-tested groove.
The previously released single “Viper” delivered a cautionary tale wrapped in gritty swagger, while “Jessie Mae” draws from a real-life encounter with Hill Country blues legend Jessie Mae Hemphill. Together with “Goin’ to South Carolina,” the songs showcase Soars’ storytelling range and stylistic reach.
