The quintessential live band, Pittsburgh’s Rusted Root celebrates their 20th anniversary this year. Formed in the early 90’s by singer/guitarist Michael Glabicki, Rusted Root’s worldly style quickly charmed fans of roots music and world rock. To date they have released 7 albums and sold over 3 million records worldwide. After debuting in 1992 with the self released Cruel Sun, Rusted Root signed with Mercury Records and released the 1994 platinum selling breakthrough When I Woke, which featured the massive hits Send Me On My Way, Ecstasy and Martyr.  Their huge success allowed the band to tours with Santana, The Grateful Dead, Dave Matthews Band, The Allman Brothers Band, HORDE Festival and, perhaps most notably, the highly coveted support role on the landmark Jimmy Page/Robert Plant reunion tour. In 1996, the hard-touring Rusted Root returned with Remember, which was followed by 1998’s Rusted Root.  In 2002 the band reemerged with Welcome To My Party. In 2004, the band released a double live album aptly entitled Rusted Root Live; This double set was the second release Rusted Root’s Touchy Pegg label, following the re-release of the newly remastered Cruel Sun in 2003.
 
Along the way, Rusted Root has also issued three EPs (Evil Ways, Live, and Airplane), a home video (Rusted Root Live) and had songs placed in film and TV soundtrack tracks such as Twister, Mathilda, Home For the Holidays, Party of Five, Charmed, Homicide & ice age.  What was indubitably a first for Rusted Root was that NASA engineers chose Send Me On My Way as "wake-up" music for the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity, for Sol 21. Send Me On My Way was most recently used in a set of Enterprise Rental Car commercials in 2011 & 2012.
 
In May 2009, Rusted Root released Stereo Rodeo, their first studio album in 7 years. Of Stereo Rodeo, band founder & leader Michael Glabicki says ;"We named our record Stereo Rodeo after a song that I started writing back when we were recording our last studio record.  It’s really just a great name,” “We were all just so into the music,” says vocalist/percussionist Liz Berlin about the recording process, “the synergy and excitement on this album is so fresh and energizing.” “It is one of the most powerful albums we have ever recorded,” agrees bassist/vocalist Patrick Norman.
 
The band is currently in the studio recording their new album, tentatively titled Fortunate Freaks, after a song on the upcoming release. Due out for a summer 2012, the disc will mark the groups 20th anniversary year. “Our last record was to let people know that we were back and were making music again,” Glabicki said. “With this new one, we’re not only back, we’re back to our old selves. [the new album] is very danceable and energetic,” he said. “It’s happier than the last record but, more than anything, we returned to our rock roots. I think it’s something fans will be happy with. We have a few more songs to go, and we’re really hoping this will be out in the summer.”  
 
To help support the making of this new album, Rusted Root created the “Fortunate Freaks Unite! We are Rusted Root Campaign.”  This fan-funding campaign provided the fans the opportunity to contribute to the making of the album, while receiving some once in a lifetime opportunities.  “Rusted Root is a state of mind shared and explored by many people- we are a community that supports one another. The fans are as much a part of this as anyone. It is an interesting time in history and fan funding is a great way to point out the obvious; we are a band that relies on the energy of our fans.”
 
As to what you’ll hear at an upcoming Rusted Root show, “We’ve been working on a new album, so our set is a really cool mix of old classic Rusted Root and the new songs,” Liz Berlin says. “It’s been fun to play them. A lot of the development of (the new album) has happened on stage; what fans have been into has helped with the direction of the songs.”
 
Rusted Root will be touring relentlessly throughout 2012, playing their new music as well as some of the faithful fans favorites.

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MARCH
3/16/12 Gateway Clipper                                           Pittsburgh, PA  
3/17/12 St. Patrick's Day Music Fest                            Myrtle Beach, SC
3/27/12 Cubby Bear                                                   Chicago, IL
3/28/12 Old Rock House                                            St. Louis, MO     
3/30/12 Belly Up                                                        Aspen, CO  
3/31/12 Wild West Saloon                                          West Yellowstone, MT  

APRIL
4/1/12 Knitting Factory                                              Spokane, WA  
4/3/12 Mississippi Studios                                          Portland, OR
4/4/12 Tractor Tavern                                                Seattle, WA     
4/6/12 John Ascuaga's                                              Nigget Sparks, NV  
4/7/12 Uptown Theater                                              Napa, CA  
4/8/12 El Rey                                                            Los Angeles, CA   
4/10/12 The Loft - UC                                                San Diego La Jolla, CA  
4/11/12 Live at the Compound Grill                           Phoenix, AZ   
4/13/12 The State Room                                           Salt Lake City, UT  
4/14/12 Gothic Theater                                            Englewood, CO  
4/15/12 Breckenridge Spring Theatre                        Breckenridge, CO
4/26/12 Launch Conference                                      Lancaster, PA  
4/27/12 Brooklyn Arts Center                                   Wilmington, NC  
4/28/12 TBD                                                             Birmingham, AL  
4/29/12 Festival International De Louisiane                 Lafayette, LA  

MAY
5/1/12 House of Blues                                                Houston, Tx  
5/3/12 TBD                                                                Tampa, FL  
5/4/12 The Plaza Live                                                 Orlando, FL   
5/5/12 Blind Tiger                                                      Greensboro, NC  
5/6/12 9:30 Club                                                       Washington, DC     
5/8/12 TBD                                                                 Philadelphia, PA  
5/9/12 Uptown Theater                                                Utica, NY  
5/10/12 Highline                                                          New York, NY  
5/11/12 The Flying Monkey                                         Plymouth, NH  
5/12/12 Bull Run Restaurant                                         Shirley, MA  
5/14/12 TBD                                                               Rochester, NY  
5/15/12 Westcott Theater                                            Syracuse, NY  
5/17/12 Infinity Hall                                                    Norfolk, CT  
5/18/12 Infinity Hall                                                    Norfolk, CT  
5/19/12 Wolf Den @ Mohegan Sun                             Uncasville, CT  
5/20/12 Musikfest Café                                              Bethleham, PA  
5/30/12 tbd                                                                Richmond, VA
5/31/12 Kellys                                                            Nag's Head, NC  

JUNE
6/2/12 Virginia Highlands                                         Summerfest Atlanta, GA  
 6/21/12 Party in the Park                                          Rochester, NY  
 6/29/12 The Village Casino                                      Upstairs Bemus Point, NY  
 7/3/12 Big Butler Fair                                               Prospect, PA  
 7/5/12 Nelson Ledges Quarry Park                          Garrettsville, OH
 7/6/12 Treasure Lake Ski Lodge                                Festival Du Bois, PA  
 7/7/12  Charlvoix Up North Festival                          Dubois, PA
 7/13/12 Bungalow                                                   Rockaway Beach, NY  
 7/14/12 Laurel Art's Somerfest                                 Somerset, PA  
 7/20/12 Taft Theatre                                                Cincinnati, OH  
 7/21/12 Roscoe Village Burger Fest                           Chicago, IL  
 8/25/12 Jammin in the Vines II                                  Silver Creek, NY  
 8/26/12 Allegheny Music Fest                                   Pittsburgh, PA  
 8/28/12 Ziggy’s  (tbc)                                               Winston-Salem, NC
 9/13/12 Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival                    Fredericton, NB - Can  
 9/14/12 Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival                    Fredericton, NB - Can  
 12/21/12 Canegie Hall of Oakland                           Pittsburgh, PA

And the hits keep coming. The Bacon Brothers have just added a slew of additional dates to the already action-packed Shaky Ground Tour 2019. “We're excited to be playing some of our favorite places as well as discovering new ones. It'll be fun to go out with some great new music to share!” - Kevin Bacon.

Fiercely devoted to making music, even from an early age, The Bacon Brothers cite such varied influences as the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, Motown, Led Zeppelin, Philly soul, James Taylor, Pete Seeger and Chet Atkins, just to name a few. The two siblings share a singular body of work that’s found them spending over 20 years working the road and paying their dues, resulting in nine albums – Forosoco (1997), Getting There (1999), Can’t Complain (2001), Live: The No Food Jokes Tour (2003), White Knuckles (2005), New Year’s Day (2009), Philadelphia Road (2011) 36 Cents (2014), and the eponymous, The Bacon Brothers (2018)-- spanning rock, soul, folk and Americana. Never content to be typecast, they’re fiercely devoted to the cause of making music, undeterred by fame, fortune or the pitfalls that frequently obstruct the path to success.

It’s not that either brother lacks the means to steal the spotlight. Kevin Bacon is an award-winning actor with 80 films and dozens of television and stage credits to his name, resulting in numerous Emmy and Screen Actors Guild nominations cited in his resume. Older brother Michael initially began making music in their native Philadelphia before moving to Nashville where his songwriting career blossomed by leaps and bounds. An Emmy-winning composer, he most recently scored Goodface Film's Master Maggie, starring Lorraine Bracco, Kenan Thompson, and Brian Dennehy, which will premiere at The TriBeCa Flim Festival in late April 2019.  Other recent works include the audiobook: You Don't Look Your Age...And Other Fairytales and the HBO documentary RX: Early Detection with Sandra Lee which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival last year.

So while casual observers may be awed by their Hollywood credentials, critics have been quick to note that the brothers - Michael on vocals, guitar and cello and Kevin on vocals, guitar and percussion -Paul Guzzone (bass, backing vocals), Joe Mennonna (keyboards, accordion), Tim Quick (lead guitar, mandolin and backing vocals) and Frank Vilardi (drums) -- eschew any hint of glitz and glamour in favor of an ethic gleaned.

SHAKEY GROUND TOUR 2019
July 13---Millville, NJ---Levoy Theatre
July 14---Dewey Beach, DE---Bottle & Cork
July 18---Hopewell, VA---The Beacon Theatre
July 19-21---Alexandria, VA---The Birchmere
July 23---Durham, NC---Carolina Theatre
July 25---Charleston, SC--Charleston Music Hall
July 27--Peachtree City, GA---Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheatre
July 28---Ocala, FL---Reilly Arts Center
August 3---Las Vegas, NV---Red Rock Casino Resort Spa
August 4---Phoenix, AZ---Musical Instrument Museum
August 5---Solana Beach, CA---Belly Up Tavern
Aug 7---San Juan Capistrano, CA---The Coach House
Aug 8---Agoura Hills, CA---The Canyon
Aug 9-10---Napa, CA---Blue Note Napa
Aug 17---Kent, OH---The Kent Stage
Aug 18---Lexington, MI---Lexington Village Theatre
Aug 19-20---Arlington Heights, IL---Metropolis Performing Arts Center
Aug 21---Minneapolis, MN---Dakota
Aug 23---Riverside, IA---Riverside Casino & Golf Resort
Aug 24--Fort Wayne, IND---ClydeTheatre
Aug 25---Pittsburgh, PA---Jergel's Rhythm Grille
Sep 19-20---New York, NY---Sony Hall
Sep 21---Ridgefield, CT---Ridgefield Playhouse
Oct 3-4--Franklin, TN--The Franklin Theatre
Oct 5--Frankfort, KY--The Grand Theatre
Oct 11--Fort Worth, TX--Billy Bob's Texas
Oct 12--Lubbock, TX--Cactus Theatre

It used to be called boogie-woogie. It used to be called rhythm & blues. Now, they call it rock & roll."

Chuck Berry’s words are at the very heart of Roots Rock & Roll 5-piece, The 40 Acre Mule. The self-described “Rhythm & Blues Outfit” are a powerhouse of vintage revival with a reputation for seamlessly blurring the lines between country, soul and rock audiences with songwriting that borders between blues drenched heartbreak and an old school riot in the streets.

Influenced by the pillars of Rhythm & Blues like Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bo Diddley and Ray Charles and inspired by recent artists such as J.D. McPherson, Nathaniel Rateliff and Gary Clark Jr., The 40 Acre Mule features J. Isaiah Evans - guitar & vocals, Robert Anderson - drums, Tim Cooper - bass, Chris Evetts - baritone sax & percussion, and John Pedigo - guitar & vocals. They quickly built their own unique sound by blending vintage Rock & Roll, R&B, Soul with a touch of Country. It was a sound that soon caught on with The James Hunter Six, The Reverend Horton Heat and Alejandro Escovedo, just to name a few.

Since forming in 2015 in Dallas, The 40 Acre Mule has built a loyal following the old-fashioned way, playing countless bars and packed clubs. As the crowds caught on, so did the likes of legendary promoter Scott Beggs and Jim Heath (The Reverend Horton Heat) who gave The 40 Acre Mule their first break with an opening slot at a sold-out show at Dallas’ legendary Bomb Factory.

Playing to diverse crowds has made their fanbase explode. "We’ve gone from 10 to 15 friends in a dive bar on a Tuesday to playing full-on festivals without even having an album out yet. That says something. I think we’re making music that people from all walks of life…country fans, soul fans, rockabilly fans…find comfortable and familiar. It’s because all those genres can trace their roots to Rhythm & Blues, the very backbone of Rock & Roll ", says J. Isaiah Evans.

After years of paying their dues, The 40 Acre Mule are following in the footsteps of good friends and emerging Americana stars, The Vandoliers and Joshua Ray Walker, and signed with State Fair Records. The good times kept rolling with a show stealing appearance at the 2019 HomeGrown Festival with Tripping Daisy, Toadies and The Suffers as well as tour stops with JD McPherson and Charley Crockett. Now, fresh off their nomination for Best Rhythm & Blues Act by Central Track, The 40 Acre Mule is set to make more noise with the release of their upcoming full-length debut, Goodnight and Good Luck on July 19, 2019.

Bryan Haraway blurs the lines between Americana and melodic rock & roll on his self-titled solo debut. It's a celebratory record, stacked with layers of electric guitar, horns, pedal steel, and the observations of a sharp songwriter whose learned to appreciate the little things in life. Produced by Grammy-winner Chad Brown (Robert Plant, Patty Griffin) and released less than a year after his near-fatal diagnosis of acute liver failure, Bryan Haraway takes the listener deep into its creator's history of familial and romantic relationships, shining a light on the details that often go overlooked. It also finds the songwriter working alongside a number of top-shelf musicians, including Doug Lancio (touring guitarist for John Hiatt), Larry Hanson (horn player and pianist for Alabama), Gabe Rubin (drummer for Tom Jones), Russ Pahl (pedal steel guitarist for Kacey Musgraves, Lana Del Rey, and Dan Auerbach), and Jim Hoke (saxophonist for Paul McCartney, Dolly Parton, and others).

On the record's kickoff track, "We Get High," Haraway's voice shares the spotlight with grooves and guitars, with the frontman singing about the simple joys — a hug in the kitchen during breakfast time, while bacon crackles in a nearby skillet — that come with spending a morning alongside one's lover. On the horn-filled, Motown-flavored "Alive," he looks back upon a relationship that's long since crumbled, focusing not on the messy breakup but, instead, a time when the connection with still vital and beautiful. He shifts his focus to his parents with "How It Is," a big-hearted rock song that finds a grown-up son thanking his mom and dad for the life, lessons, and love they've bestowed upon him over the years.

It was his father who informed Haraway about the family's Native American heritage. A card-carrying member of the Cherokee Indian tribe, Haraway received his first drum kit as a child, "I was a little kid, thinking about the Native Americans banging on drums," he remembers. "When you start to learn where you come from, you pay attention to that culture. The colors…the growing up in the West…the horses…it's all part of who I am." That said, Bryan Haraway is also a universal picture of a man who's learning to love (and live) better. Released less than a year after Haraway was diagnosed with a liver condition that nearly claimed his life, the album delivers a "carpe diem" message in its exuberant melodies and detailed lyrics. After all, why overlook the small things? Those small things often build up to something big. On Bryan Haraway, the songwriter takes stock of it all. "I don't write negative songs," he explains. "A lot of this album is about the minutia and the nuances of relationships. The little things in life can tear you down or lift you up. I try to concentrate on the little stuff, because those little things can be huge in the scope of a relationship."

Honest and heartfelt, Bryan Haraway builds upon the songwriting career that Haraway kick-started with his Las Vegas-based rock band, Part-Time Criminals. He juggled multiple roles within that group — frontman, songwriter, producer, booking agent, designer — and his work helped Part-Time Criminal climb to moderate prominence not only in Vegas, but also in cities like Brooklyn, where they opened for Bruce Hornsby at the Brooklyn Bowl. Five years after that band's formation, he widens his sonic palate with Bryan Haraway, whose songs touch not only upon the rock & roll influences of his youth, but also the heartland anthems of Tom Petty, the lush roots-rock of Jason Isbell, and the alt-country of Wilco.

Bryan Haraway's self-titled album will be released by Part-Time Criminal / Melrose Artists on July 26th.

You can't miss Ghalia Volt. She's a natural-born rockstar complete with leather jacket and wicked grin. Ghalia has been honing her blend of Americana blues since she was discovered while busking on the streets of Brussels. Her latest effort, Mississippi Blend, finds her delving deep into the American South,, recording at the famed Zebra Ranch in the Hill Country of Mississippi.

Six years ago, Ghalia was a die-hard R&B and blues fan who heard the siren call of America, and found it too strong to resist. Visiting Chicago, Memphis and Nashville, Ghalia’s livewire talent found a new home. Before long, on Let The Demons Out (2017), Ghalia fused the groove of New Orleans with her own punk-rock attitude, hooking up with bassist Dean Zucchero, guitarist Smokehouse Brown and harmonica player Johnny Mastro from the New Orleans legendary band, Mama’s Boys. Commercially and creatively, this debut release made a seismic impact, hitting #1 on Louisiana’s Roots Music Report, #15 on the national Contemporary Blues Chart and #23 on the Living Blues Charts – while scoring Blues Album Of The Month in Classic Rock Magazine.. 
 
Like any musician who loves the blues, Ghalia hungered to make a record in Mississippi. From the very beginning, her vision for Mississippi Blend was clear. This was going to be an album that had some of the region’s favorite sons add their raw sound.

There was one studio that fit the bill. Owned and operated by Cody and Luther Dickinson, The Zebra Ranch in Coldwater, Mississippi, is where titans like Delta bluesman T-Model Ford to R.L. Burnside have recorded. Rather than being intimidated by the studio’s history, Ghalia embraced the Hill Country influences with the punk, garage and rock ‘n’ roll that she came from. I’m not trying to imitate any style", says Ghalia, "I let my songs drive this music.”

Ghalia sings up a storm, while playing soulful dobro and slide guitar. But this is anything but a one-woman show. On drums, you’ll find Cody Dickinson of the feted North Mississippi Allstars, alternating with Cedric Burnside/ The veteran harp-blower Watermelon Slim duets with Ghalia, while Lightnin’ Malcolm, a guitarist credited with keeping the hill Country Scene so healthy, plays searing leads. 

By all means, take a slug from her hip flask. But don’t forget to play Mississippi Blend - and fall for the most powerful blend of star players you’ll hear this year. “I just can't wait,” says Ghalia, “to share this new album live…”

Sugaray Rayford, a rising star in the international Blues community, has been nominated for a Grammy Award for his critically acclaimed album, Somebody Save Me, which was released this past March on Forty Below Records.

It marks the latest in a series of honors awarded Rayford during the past year alone, including nods for “Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year” at the 40th Blues Music Awards, a pair of 2019 Muddy Awards for “Best Performance” and “Best Recording,” and a win for Blues Blast’s “Best Blues Band.”

The accolades also follow a stream of critical kudos. Downbeat called Rayford a performer with “a soul-blues voice that has an emotional strength.” Albumism raved “A sound that’s undeniably fresh and inspired. Living Blues hailed him as “a soul singer who brilliantly weaves blues, jazz and gospel inflections into his soaring songs.” Blues Music Magazine agreed, describing Somebody Save Me as “an outstanding showcase of Sugaray Rayford’s great talent.”

“I just feel blessed,” said Rayford in response to his Grammy nomination. “I can’t believe this could ever happen to me.”

Eric Corne, Rayford’s writer and producer, added, “It's a huge thrill to be working with such a massive talent as Sugaray Rayford. As a songwriter, producer and owner of Forty Below Records, I am truly humbled, honored and grateful to be included amongst such a strong field of nominees.”

Rayford himself may be best described by this lyric from “The Revelator,” the new album’s opening track: “I’m a freak of nature / I ain’t no honeybee / I’m an unknown creature / The like you’ve never seen.” Indeed, at 6’5” and 300 pounds, this cigar chomping’ ex-Marine sings with a voice that comes across like a force of nature. His magnetic personality and old school vocal approach brings to mind such legends as Muddy Waters, Otis Redding and Teddy Pendergrass, he captivates his audiences with dance moves reminiscent of the legendary James Brown.

Despite a difficult childhood fraught with poverty and other domestic difficulties, Rayford began his musical career at the tender age of seven, singing and playing drums in church. After a ten-year stint in the Marines, he opted to pursue a musical career which formally began with his self-release debut album, 2010‘s Blind Alley. A year later, Rayford joined The Mannish Boys and sang lead on nine of the songs featured on their album, Double Dynamite, which went on to win “Best Traditional Blues Album” at the 2013 Blues Music Awards. His next solo album, Dangerous, was released in 2013, followed by Southside in 2015, and The World We Live In in 2017. To date, Rayford has been nominated for over a dozen BMA’s (including “Vocalist of the Year”) and multiple B.B. King “Entertainer of the Year” awards, and induction the Arizona Blues Hall of Fame.

The Grammy Award ceremony will be televised Sunday, January 26, 2020 at 8 p.m. EST

Nicholas David is excited to bring his original music to listeners. The pull of the American South has been ever increasing in recent years, bringing this gifted pianist/singer/songwriter to the point where he can deliver, as he likes to say, “music from the heart for the heart.”

Nicholas David is at this point through two related major events that led to this debut on Samantha Fish’s Wild Heart Records. David is a family man with young children who had a strong regional following in Minnesota, having released a steady output of albums and EPs over the past 15 years. He had begun to work on the songs heard on this album when he took a solo opening spot for the Devon Allman Project in 2015. David says, “We really connected on stage. Later our paths crossed after his mom and dad passed. After taking time off, he formed a bigger band and offered me the keyboard spot.” The chance meeting led to a 2017 invitation, which he accepted, to join the Devon Allman Project on a 2018-19 world tour. Among the many notable musicians David met during the 14-month-long trek across the globe was guitarist and singer Samantha Fish. David was struck by the beautiful sincere quality of Samantha’s music as she was touring behind Belle of the West. “She moved me and a song or two of mine caught her attention. She asked me to come to New Orleans as she’d like to help me make the record,” David said.

David has always considered himself a talented singer (more on that later) but his touring with the Devon Allman Project and his role as sideman reminded him in a major way that he was a piano player first and this album brings together both his vocal talents and keyboard skills unlike anything he’s done prior. Allman’s band also established tremendous comradery and brotherhood that reaffirmed David’s outlook on the music business. It rebuilt his trust. He doesn’t miss the music of those two years of touring as much as he misses the bonding and brotherhood that was formed. David has long been a band leader and one to recruit his own players but this new feeling of trust in the music and the direction it was taking enabled him to let others call some of the shots this time.

David headed to New Orleans to commence work on this album, with Fish in the producer’s chair. That week in January resulted in 13 tracks, to be trimmed to 11 for the record, and a collection of songs that displays beautifully both the heartland tug and Crescent City yearning possessing David’s musical mind, body, and soul. He says, “I’ve had some people tell me I sound a bit like Dr. John and it’s funny because I never really listened to his music until now. This pull of The South has become such a strong force that I feel like I understand some of Dr. John’s language now.”

This is not to say that David sounds like Dr. John. He doesn’t try to sound like anyone but Nicholas David, He never has. What he’s realizing now though is that he’s more naturally pulling from the wells of blues and Southern Soul in his music. Surely, he leans into pop as well but that’s likely one of the reasons that Fish wanted to sign him. She is certainly genre-defying as well and seems to be increasingly attracted to those kinds of artists, trying to establish Wild Heart as a home for unique artists rather than simply a “blues label.” Samantha says, “Nicholas is an amazingly talented songwriter and musician. He knows what he wants and when working in the studio, he’s full of ideas and inspiration. I had a lot of fun working on this album with him. It’s been a musical journey so far, and I can’t wait for his fans and new fans as well to connect to this album.”

From the first pastoral notes of “Hole in the Bottom,” slightly reminiscent of a grittier Bruce Hornsby, David’s voice is in complete command as he sings about sacrifice and the need to not overdo anything. Music needs to be balanced with family and other responsibilities. His delivery is immediately authentic and emotive. With each successive song, he cuts incisively and seductively to the core; on the nighttime strut of “Heavy Heart,” or the greasy, funk incantations of “I’m Interested,” the oldest song he’s written, or the gospel waltz of his poem “Peel Back the Leaves,” just to name a few. Elements of blues, soul, rock, funk, and pop meld together seamlessly. It’s naturally a keyboard-driven showcase for David’s songs, and he’s accompanied by some terrific studio contributors such as guitarists Duane Betts, and the recent Wild Hearts Record artist Jonathan Long. Other musicians include Fish’s drummer Scott Graves and renowned Crescent City bassist Charlie Wooton.

David’s is a native of St. Paul, MN who as a youngster became a prodigious talent on piano, instantly recognizable to his grandfather- an accordionist- winning the encouragement of his extended family to cultivate his gift. Nurturing his natural ability as a grade-schooler, he supplemented that with some periodic formal training, though often he found himself playing notes that weren’t on the page. Even then, David was imagining and creating music beyond the expected.

In high school the three-sport athlete found his literal voice, belting out Alice in Chains in his bedroom, and his figurative songwriting voice, as well, filling a notebook of potential lyrics. He added school theatre productions, and a garage band playing covers of Motown and The Doors, to his list of teenage pursuits. David’s achievements onstage were noteworthy, earning him a jazz singing scholarship to the nationally esteemed music program at Chicago’s Roosevelt University.

He declined the prestigious offer, saying it “just didn’t feel right,” instead relocating to Boulder, Colorado, enlisting in the local club circuit and developing his craft. A return to Minnesota at the turn of the 21st century prompted a more serious focus on his career. His 2004 debut, the Four Legged Light EP, was also the inaugural release of his own imprint, Wake the World, and began his prolific solo career.

In 2012 David was invited to audition for NBC’s hit reality competition series, The Voice. Nicknamed by the show producers as the “Family Man”, David soon captured America’s attention with his outstanding vocal prowess and outsized personality. It’s fitting that, by the nation’s measuring stick, he nearly was crowned champion of The Voice.

A Top-Three finish catapulted David from regional musician to international success. His recordings routinely charted on Top 10 lists for Billboard and iTunes, with over a million hits on Soundcloud, numbers that would take a touring band two- three years to amass. David and his Feelin Band toured behind his newfound notoriety, playing support on bills with national acts ranging from The Avett Brothers to Rusted Root to The BoDeans… But fatefully the opening slot for Devon Allman was solo.

Nicholas David likes to say he’s long tried to make music from the heart, for the heart. His newest achievement is certainly true to that mantra. “ The album will surely play to a more roots-music attuned audience than his prior work. “ I’m excited to see what can happen from this record,” David says.

Landslide Records is proud to announce a March 20, 2020 street date for Afterglow, an all-new full-length album by singer and songwriter extraordinaire, Mike Mattison. Best-known for his work with Scrapomatic, The Derek Trucks Band and currently the Tedeschi Trucks Band, with whom he has won Grammy Awards. The result is an eclectic array of original material that is solidly Americana combined with touches of Blues and Rock 'N Roll.

Mattison’s second solo release, Afterglow, displays his trademark ability to combine fresh, memorable melodies with deep, provocative lyrics. The album was co-produced with fellow TTB member Tyler Greenwell, who also plays drums.  Additional musicians include Dave Yoke (guitars), Franher Joseph (bass), Kofi Burbridge (keyboards), Scrapomatic’s Paul Olsen (guitars), and Rachel Eckworth (keyboards). 

A native of Minneapolis, MN, Mattison attended Harvard University where he graduated cum laude in 1991 with a concentration in American Literature. After an ill-advised stint as a journalist, he began his music career with Paul Olsen as one half of the blues duo Scrapomatic, who have released four albums to date. As Scrapomatic's star rose, Mike was picked up by slide-guitarist Derek Trucks and began touring as lead singer with the Derek Trucks Band. Since 2001 he has appeared constantly with Scrapomatic, the Derek Trucks Band and the Tedeschi Trucks Band, performing on five continents and in every state, except Alaska. Mattison has gone on to win two Grammy's with Trucks: 2009's Best Blues Album for the Derek Trucks Band's "Already Free," and 2011's Best Blues Album for the Tedeschi Trucks Band's "Revelator."  His compositions, “Bound for Glory” and "Midnight in Harlem," received significant airplay and the latter was highlighted in the band’s performance for the DVD of Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival 2010.
 
Mattison's first release, You Can’t Fight Love from 2014, reaped critical acclaim and strong airplay. American Songwriter wrote that “Mike Mattison has arrived in a big way” and All Music Guide commented on his “remarkable vocal range.”
 
Mike Mattison will perform nationally and overseas with both the Tedeschi Trucks Band and his own formidable unit throughout 2020.

TOURDATES

Billed as 'Scrapomatic featuring Mike Mattison'
March 27---Asheville, NC---Isis Music Hall
March 29---Nashville, TN---City Winery
April 21---Boston, MA---City Winery
April 23---New York, NY---City Winery
April 24---Philadelphia, PA---City Winery
April 25---York, PA---Kable House
April 26---Wash DC---Pearl Street Warehouse

Jeremiah Johnson, acclaimed St. Louis blues rocker, is readying the release of his sophomore set Heaven's to Betsy, due out via Ruf Records on February 14th. The St. Louis bandleader is a beacon of time-honored songcraft, writing on acoustic guitar, digging deep for raw lyrics and insisting on studio production that bottles the sweat of his shows. 

Heavens To Betsy is another bold creative leap for an artist on fire. It’s been just two years since Straitjacket hit #6 on the Billboard Blues Album chart and scored rave reviews across the board. This was the follow-up to Grind (2014), Blues Heart Attack (2016), as well as the confessional Ride The Blues documentary.

But while Johnson is rightly proud of that early catalogue – and still serves up house-rocking takes on the Straitjacket material each night – he’s always kept one eye on the horizon. “On Heavens To Betsy, I wanted to try something different than any of my previous releases. I really took the ‘song first’ concept and got back to my roots in blues-based Southern rock.”

The specter of the US South can be felt in every fiery lick and observational lyric. Yet Heavens To Betsy is no exercise in autopilot roadhouse blues. The raging sax of Frank Bauer, either backing up or butting heads with Johnson’s driving guitar, has always given the band an added dimension, and with the addition of former Devon Allman percussionist Tony Antonelli, the groove goes all over the map. “We have a more tribal, rhythmic feel now,” notes Johnson, “like the Black Crowes and the Allman Brothers.”

Confident that his band could handle whatever he threw at them in Memphis’s High/Low Recording studio, the new album represents Johnson’s best writing yet. Try "White Lightning", the lyric penned from the perspective of a struggling Southern farmer, powered by money-lick sax and wah pedal. Try the doubled licks of "Tornado", its lyric saluting a wildcat lover; “She’s a hot cup of coffee on a bumpy road." Or put your foot down with the hard-driving "Castles In The Air" and "American Steel", a salute to the joy of the US freeway.

Nobody does escapism better, but Johnson stands apart with his eloquence on more poignant topics. “Leo Stone is about the overwhelming joy I had while my fiancée was in the final stages of her pregnancy,” he says of this open-hearted, country-flavoured highlight, named for his new-born son. “Long Way Home is about my grandmother, who suffered terribly from dementia, and the story of the last time she remembered who I was. "Forever And A Day" was written while I was away from my family on a European tour. Sometimes it can seem like an eternity.”

Like all the best records, Heavens To Betsy didn’t come easy. Johnson tells of long days under producer Pete Matthews (Vandoliers, North Mississippi Allstars, John Moreland), sometimes catching the spark in the first take, sometimes at the end of a twelve-hour day. “Recording this record was absolutely the most intense experience I’ve ever had in a studio. Good enough was not an option. But I’m extremely thankful that Pete pushed everyone to get the best out of every performance.”

These songs deserved nothing less. On Heavens To Betsy, Jeremiah Johnson has delivered on his mission statement – and then some – with a record that demands to soundtrack the moments of life that matter. “I want this record to be something you’ll want to crank up when you’re with your friends and celebrating life,” he considers. “I want people to throw this record in the stereo and get a kick in the ass…”

Blues musician Ryan Perry, is pleased to announce that he’ll be releasing his solo debut, High Risk, Low Reward, via Ruf Records March 13, 2020.

Like all the great artists, Ryan Perry isn’t afraid to rip it up and start again. Since 2007, the Mississippi bandleader has blazed a reputation in the award-winning Homemade Jamz Blues Band. But when it came to this solo outing, Perry took a leap of faith and trusted his talent to land him safe on the other side. Now, High Risk, Low Reward announces the touchdown of an artist to treasure.

Although still in his twenties, Perry has the soul, scars and war stories to rival the most hard-bitten road dog. Rewind to 2007, the singer/guitarist was just thirteen when the Homemade Jamz Blues Band won second place at the 23rd International Blues Challenge in Memphis. Already, the line-up of Perry and his siblings showed a ferocious musicality and emotional maturity beyond their years. “I learned more about life and the world while playing blues all over than I ever could in school,” he recalls. “And that knowledge has made me grow up faster, something I’m thankful for.”

A decade later, life’s triumphs and blows have made Perry an even more eloquent songwriter, able to capture human truths with his soulful guitar work and that fathoms-deep vocal. High Risk, Low Reward will thrill long-standing followers of the Homemade Jamz Blues Band. But the eleven songs that Perry tracked at Berlin’s Studio Erde with producer Roger Inniss will sweep up a whole new fanbase too. From the classic porch-blues vibe of his home state on the title track, to "Hard Times" torn-and-frayed ode to struggle in modern America, this is an album that touches every generation that hears it.

“Originally, I wanted to keep the Jamz vibes going into this album,” says Perry, “but while writing, I discovered my music taste has changed. This album branches out in some areas, holds on a bit tighter in others. What I can say is that I always play how I feel at that exact moment.”

When it came to the sessions, Perry and his studio band attacked these songs in Berlin. "Ain't Afraid to Eat Alone" is funky and heartfelt, opening with a stinging lead-guitar intro that sets the standard. "Homesick" has a mid-tempo funk-blues lick and a heavy heart. “That song is about me wanting to leave home (the state, or the woman, you decide) so bad. But then realising I had everything I wanted back home, and wanting to come back.”

Elsewhere, Perry reflects on his own broken-down relationships. “Pride is me acknowledging my prideful (and sometimes toxic) ways and hoping I can change them before the one I love leaves me. "A Heart I Didn’t Break" is about loving yourself before you can love another, something I have only a slight grasp on at this point in my life. The title track is about investing too much into someone who gives too little in return. A lot of people can relate somehow – I just hope it never happens again personally!”

Wherever the blues scene goes, expect Ryan Perry to be at the head of the pack, still addressing age-old truths, but serving them up with a vigour and vision that chimes with fresh listeners. “The new generation of the blues is here now,” he nods. “And it’s here to stay…”

The B.B. King Blues Band are thrilled to announce their new partnership with The B.B. King Estate. This joint venture now finds the two forces working together to bring the world The B.B. King Experience, the band's new working name. In addition to the upcoming world tour (dates listed below), the single "Rock Me Baby" featuring George Benson, Tito Jackson and Claudette King will be released this summer.

Five years since the passing of the great B.B. King, his towering influence over the blues world, and beyond, remains undimmed. King's music will never be forgotten, and the iconic bluesman's presence is felt stronger than ever as his spirit will appear on tour. With over 100 years of cumulative experience between them, the "Experience" not only supported King, but they would start each show by performing onstage before B.B. came on-stage. The B.B. King Experience's current line-up includes: James 'Boogaloo' Bolden (trumpet). Russell Jackson (bass and vocals), Wilbert Crosby (guitar and cocals), Darrell Lavigne (keyboards). Claudette King (vocals) and Myron 'Big Jack' jackson (trumpet.)

The bands last album was released in May 2019 and debuted at #1 in the Billboard Blues Charts. The Soul of the King featured many a-listers inluding Taj Mahal, Joe Louis Walker, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Kenny Neal & Michael Lee. 

ABOUT THE BAND
James 'Boogaloo' Bolden (trumpet/lead & backing vocals)
Born in Houston, TX, James Bolden began his musical training under the guidance of Edmund C. Broussard. Bolden later seized the opportunity to study classical trumpet under Houston Symphony Trumpeter Richard Schafer. James went on to play with local union bands that performed with a wide array of artists such as Stevie Wonder, Isaac Hayes, Temptations, Supremes, Spinners, and James Brown. Bolden eventually was given the opportunity to join the Duke Ellington Orchestra where he thrived for years. Bolden later joined the band of B.B. King and became bandleader during a stint of over 35 years. James Bolden now continues his association with B.B. King by joining B.B. King’s Band as bandleader. 

Claudette King (Vocals)
Blues/jazz/r&b/singer Claudette King, is the youngest daughter of ultimate blues master B.B. King and is quick to cite her father as her main “inspiration.” Trained in the gospel of the Baptist church from age 13, King has developed some of the emotional authority that one associates with her mighty mentors: Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Koko Taylor, Chaka Khan, Mavis Staples, Mahalia Jackson, even Michael Jackson. The affable singer will tell you: “I got a bit of everybody inside of me.” Conscientious and hard-working, she shows her own style, her own identity, through rhythm, phrasing, and timbre with ease and confidence. A long-time Californian, currently based in Atlanta, Claudette has released one European album to date.

Russell Jackson (bass guitar/;ead Vocals/backing vocals) 
Starting his 41-year career in 1974, Russell Jackson moved to Chicago in 1976 and gained his blues stripes working with Otis Clay, Buddy Guy, Bobby Rush, and others like Charlie Musselwhite and WIllie Nelson. For 8 years, Russell toured exclusively with B.B. King as his bass guitarist for over 17 years. Jackson was the first artist to put slap bass on a live blues recording, (Live at Old Miss 1979). During the 1990’s, he recorded with Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne on his Juno Award winning CD. In 1992, the Russell Jackson Band debuted and Jackson released three CD’s of his own material. Present day, Russell is the Music Director for the New Generations of the Blues European Tours, formerly known as The Chicago Blues Festival. Jackson was welcomed into the B.B. King’s Blues Band because of his extraordinary talent. 

Wilbert Crosby (guitar and vocals)
Born and currently based in Chicago, Crosby has had the opportunity to perform and record with a diverse group of artists such as Pops Staples, Mavis Staples, Aretha Franklin, Charlélie Couture, and Carey Bell. A love for Blues, Gospel, Jazz and Soul music has been a part of his life since childhood. His father was a local tenor saxophone player in Chicago in the 1950’s and his godfather was Howlin’ Wolf’s blues drummer S.P. Leary, Crosby was always surrounded by legendary artists. By the time he was 10 years old, he was playing guitar with his father’s band during their rehersals. In 1983, Wilbert began playing with Pops Staples and went on his first international tour. Already interested in composition, he had the opportunity to compose and arrange for other artists including Carey Bell. Out of their collaborations and creative efforts, the album, “Good Luck Man” (1997) won the W.C. Handy Award. Accolades have adorned Crosby’s career. He was awarded the Albert King award in 1996 and has performed at the White House during both the Clinton and Bush administrations. He performed the Grammy awarded song, “Have A Little Faith” with Mavis Staples at the 2005 Grammy Awards. Additionally, he played with Pops Staples at the 1995 Grammy Awards in an all-star jam with Bonnie Raitt, Phil Upchurch, WahWah Watson, Isaac Hayes & Maria Muldaur. 
 
Darrell Lavigne (Keyboards/Vocals)
Lavigne has been performing on stages around the world, most notably New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Rotterdam JVC Jazz Festival Netherlands, and the Berlin Jazz Festival. He began his musical life at age 10, first on guitar then trumpet, but piano became his instrument of choice. “I wanted to explore harmony and the colors of music. Piano represented that for me.” Darrell’s influences came for the usual jazz sources as Monk, Bud Powell, Ahmad Jamal, Hancock, and Corea. Charlie Parker, Coltrane, and Miles Davis. Early musical exposure in addition to the mentoring by Ellis Marsalis and Edward “Kidd” Jordan helped Lavigne become one of the most sought-after pianists around. Darrell has gone on to record two albums with then Columbia Jazz Artist, Kent Jordan, write for one (Night Aire) and produce another (Out of This World). Over the years, Darrell has performed with artists BB King, BB King’s Blues Band, Kirk Whalum, Marion Meadows, George Duke, Hubert/Ronnie Laws, and Everette Harp to name a few. He continues to produce and write for a number of artists. Discography: Blue Orleans (Fertile Crescent, 2000); Kidd Jordan/IAQ-Kidd Stuff (Danjor); Michael Ward-After The Kiss (Sweet Music Records, 2006)

TOUR DATES
Mar 21---Burghausen Jazz Festival---Burghausen, Germany
Mar 28---Sac & Fox Casino---Powhattan, KS*
Apr 18---Gemeindesaal---Lubdewerra, Germany
Apr 19---Tanje Ju---Dresden, Germany
Apr 20---Vienna Blues Festival---Vienna, Austria
Apr 22---Blues Festival Basel---Basel, Switzerland
Apr 23---Scala--- Ludwigburg, Germany
Apr 24---Blue Note Idar---Oberstein, Germany
Apr 25---Harmonie---Bonn, Germany
Apr 26---Quasimodo---Berlin, Germany
Apr 27---Hamburg Blues Club---Hamburg, Germany
Apr 28---Musiktheater Piano---Dortmund, Germany
Apr 29---Colos-Saal---Aschaffenburg, Germany
Apr 30---La Pigalle---Paris, France
May 1---Under the Bridge---London, England
May 2---Blues Garage---Hanover, Germany
May 24---Great Lakes Center for the Arts---Petoskey, MI
May 29---Vorstin City---Hilversum, Netherlands
May 30---Duvel Blues Festival---Puurs, Belgium
May 31—Rib City---Raathe, Netherlands
Jun 12---The Devon Lakeshore Ampitheatre---Decatur, IL
Jun 13---Tinner Hill Music Festival---Falls Church, VA

*featuring Tito Jackson

It’s one thing to claim you are “proven,” it’s quite another to have the credentials to back it up. Comprised of five of the most formidable musicians on the blues scene today — guitarist Kid Ramos, vocalist Brian Templeton, keyboardist Anthony Geraci, bassist Willie J. Campbell and drummer Jimi Bott — the band has collectively amassed a slew of accomplishments; dozens of awards won, decades of years playing top-notch music, hundreds of recordings, thousands of hours on the road, and millions of fans worldwide. These five musicians have proven their worth to the world over decades of hard work.

The Proven Ones upcoming album, You Ain’t Done, expands the blues-rock template initially established with their debut effort, Wild Again. The latter garnered a 2019 Blues Music Award Nomination from the Blues Foundation for Best Contemporary Blues Recording and also brought Campbell, Geraci, and Bott individual nominations as well.

The upcoming album finds the band expanding their musical limits and making an even bolder statement. Produced, mixed, and engineered by Bott, and coproduced by the equally legendary Mike Zito, it was recorded at Dockside Studio in Maurice, LA (with additional recording at Roseleaf Recording in Portland, OR and Rear Window in Brookline, MA) and features songwriting contributions from each musician in the band.

“We wanted to stretch the boundaries for this record” Templeton explains. “For the most part we are all known as blues musicians, and rightly so, but we love many styles and naturally want to indulge in them as well. I think we’ve accomplished that with this record. There’s rock, soul, country, some Latin influence, a bit of pop, and, dare I say a punk vibe in parts as well. I believe it’s going to break down a few walls.”

Members of TPO hail from bands such as The Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Radio Kings, The Mannish Boys, and Sugar Ray and the Bluetones. The Proven Ones can claim credits on literally hundreds of recordings.  They have shared the spotlight with innumerable world class musicians at major music venues across the globe. Together, they make for a potent force all their own. Vivascene declared, “The familiarity between these musicians breeds a feeling of comfortability and a palpable camaraderie… that enhances each and every note they play.” Individually, their respective resumes place them in the upper echelon of contemporary blues players.

ABOUT THE PROVEN ONES

Kid Ramos is a recipient of The Orange County (CA) Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award in addition to 14 Blues Music Award nominations. He produced legendary pianist Floyd Dixon’s final recording as well as the accompanying documentary and has also appeared on numerous movie soundtracks.

Brian Templeton commands over 40 years as a stalwart presence as part of Boston’s formidable music scene. His credits include the legendary band the Radio Kings and the Original House of Blues Blue Monday Band, as well as collaborations with such notables as Jerry Portnoy, Sonny Rhodes, James Cotton, and Otis Grand.

Anthony Geraci is an original member of Sugar Ray and the Bluetones and Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters and has appeared on over 40 recordings. He received a Grammy Nomination for his album Super Harps. He also boasts numerous Blues Music Award nominations, including the Pinetop Perkins Piano Award five years in a row and an unprecedented 6 personal Blues Music Award Nominations in 2019. He was inducted into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame in 2016 with Sugar Ray and the Bluetones.

Willie J. Campbell has performed with an all-star list of bands and individuals, among them The Fabulous Thunderbirds and The Mannish Boys and has recorded with such luminaries as Sugaray Rayford, Smokin’ Joe Kubek, and Cheech and Chong. He has been nominated by the Blues Foundation for Best Instrumentalist 6 times.

Jimi Bott is widely known as one of the world’s best drummers. He has been nominated by the Blues Foundation for Best Instrumentalist an amazing 20 times - finally winning the Blues Music Award in 2015. He was also inducted into the Cascade Blues Association Hall of Fame in 2009 after winning the award for 12 consecutive years. The award is now named after him. He has been on over 100 recordings, lives in Portland, OR where he owns and operates Roseleaf Recording Studio.

You Ain't Done to be released via Gulf Coast Records April 17th

Great artists manage to excel in a particular format, but they never find themselves strictly confined either. Consequently, while Grant Dermody has been hailed as a harmonica player, singer, songwriter, and teacher with an approach intrinsically tied to acoustic blues and Chicago blues, his musical reach extends well beyond any singular genre. With three previous albums as a solo artist, another three recorded in tandem with his various bands and wide and varied appearances on nearly two dozen recordings by other artists — Eric Bibb, Dirk Powell, Dan Crary and Cedric Watson, among them — Dermody is now recognized the world over as one of the most profound and prolific harp players making music today.

My Dony, Dermody’s upcoming album (due May 8 on Thunder River Records) ought to entrench that reputation to even greater degree. Recorded live for the most part with a core group of a distinguished group of musicians — longtime friend, colleague and producer Dirk Powell (guitar, piano and harmony vocals), Jason Sypher (bass), Jamie Dick (drums), Corey Ledet (accordion), Kelli Jones (harmony vocals), and special guests, Rhiannon Giddens, Allison Russell, Amythyst Kiah. Co-produced by Dermody and Powell (their second co-production following 2015’s Sun Might Shine On Me), its 13 songs are infused with energy, urgency and absolute exhilaration, capturing Dermody’s ability to wring emotion out of every note and then back it up with powerful playing and the tight-knit arrangements that grace each of the offerings.

Growing up in Seattle, Dermody was given his first harmonica by his father at age 18. Jimmy Reed, Little Walter Jacobs, Sonny Boy Williamson, and Walter Horton offered his initial introduction to the blues, but it was seeing Sonny Terry and James Cotton live that showed him the huge sound and wide emotional range that the harmonica was capable of getting. After initially delving into electric blues, he soon found himself drawn more to acoustic sounds and a format consisting of harp, guitar, fiddle and mandolin.

After an extended sojourn to Alaska, Dermody returned to Seattle and studied with author/musician Kim Field who, in turn, encouraged him to investigate the sounds of Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter and Big Walter. “Kim showed me what good sounded like, sitting right across from you. He had that big, wide open tone, and he had the Chicago tongue-blocked vamping sound as well, he knew how to make it swing,” Dermody says in retrospect.

Dermody soon connected with a band called The Improbabillies, with whom he recorded a self-titled album in 1998. He later produced two ensemble efforts, Crossing That River (featuring 16 musicians) in 2003, followed by his sophomore set, Lay Down My Burden (which included 26 guest artists) in 2010.  The latter was recorded at seven different studios. Sadly, Lay Down My Burden marked the final recording of the legendary blues guitarist John Cephas, who duetted with Dermody for a sizzling live take on Skip James’ “Hard Time Killing Floor Blues.

In 2015, Dermody released Sun Might Shine on Me, a critically acclaimed effort that found him making his initial pilgrimage to Dirk Powell’s Breaux Bridge, Louisiana studio facility where he recorded with a core group of three musicians — Dermody. Powell, and Orville Johnson. Other musicians, including Cedric Watson, Rich Del Grosso and Jockey Etienne were brought in for added embellishment. The album was recorded mostly live in five days at Powell’s studio.

For the past 14 years, Dermody has had opportunity to play and record with some of the best in the business. He’s toured the U.S. and Europe, both on his own and in tandem with an ongoing trio that includes Orville Johnson and John Miller. The group has recorded two albums to date, Deceiving Blues in 2006, and We Heard the Voice of a Porkchop, released in 2011. A new effort by The Improbabillies and a duo effort with long-time musical colleague and acclaimed guitarist Frank Fotusky are also scheduled for release in the near future.

Having also worked with such blues legends as Honeyboy Edwards, Robert Lowery, Big Joe Duskin, John Jackson, John Dee Holeman, and Frank Fotusky, it’s little wonder that Dermody has been lauded with constant praise from his peers. “Grant Dermody is one of the greatest blues and roots harmonica players around,” Eric Bibb insists. “His playing reaches deep into the well of tradition and at the same time takes the music to exciting new places with a very personal sound. Working with him in the studio and on the stage is always a pleasure.”

It's also a credit to Dermody’s generosity of spirit that he’s always been willing to share his skills with his students and move the music forward and then bring it back around. He continues to teach harmonica in both private and group settings to students of all ages both here and abroad. His goal, he says, is to help students find their own voice on the instrument.

“I’ve got my own sound that keeps evolving, and I’m a work in progress as a harmonica player and a singer. I’m always moving forward musically”, Dermody maintains. “While there’s a ton of great harmonica players out there, I wouldn’t want to trade places with any of them. I’m very happy where I am now, on the right path.”

The Blues Music Foundation presented the 41st Annual Blues Music Awards via virtual ceremony on Sunday, May 3rd, 2020. A rising star in the international blues community, Sugaray Rayford, has won the prestigious B.B. King Entertainer of the Year and for the second consecutive year, nabbed the Soul Blues Male Artist Award. The singer was also nominated in four additional categories.

This past December, Rayford was nominated for a 2020 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album for the critically acclaimed Somebody Save Me, released in March 2019 on Forty Below Records.

These honors mark the latest in a series of awards that Rayford has won in the past year, including a pair of 2019 Muddy Awards for Best Performance and Best Recording, as well as a win for Blues Blast Magazine's Best Blues Band.

The accolades also follow a stream of critical kudos. Downbeat called Rayford a performer with “a soul-blues voice that has an emotional strength.” Albumism raved “A sound that’s undeniably fresh and inspired. Living Blues hailed him as “a soul singer who brilliantly weaves blues, jazz and gospel inflections into his soaring songs.” Blues Music Magazine agreed, describing Somebody Save Me as “an outstanding showcase of Sugaray Rayford’s great talent.”

Sugaray was blown away by his wins, "I am so honored and humbled that the fans of the blues have awarded me with The B.B. King Entertainer of the Year. And, winning Soul Blues Male Artist back to back years with the talent in that category is truly amazing! I am so grateful."

Eric Corne, Rayford’s writer and producer, added, “Seeing Sugar win The Entertainer of the Year on top of the Grammy nomination for “Somebody Save Me”, just makes me immensely proud."

Horton Records is pleased to announce the August 28th release of Back To Paradise:  A Tulsa Tribute to Okie Music.

In February 2020, a group of notable Tulsa musicians traveled to Leon Russell’s famed Paradise Studio at Grand Lake in Oklahoma to record the first album tracked there since 1978. Some of the biggest names in the industry recorded at Paradise Studio; Leon Russell, Bob Seger, and Freddie King, while even more musicians and creatives escaped to fellowship at this Okie oasis.

Tulsan Rick Huskey spent the last 30 years preserving and restoring the space, honoring its history while preparing for a new chapter. Upon entering the studio for the first time, the new crop of musicians couldn't help but feel that the vibe was still alive. Musician Jesse Aycock felt that "Walking into the studio for the first time was like walking into a time capsule. The good energy that once filled the room was left floating in the air. All that we had to do was breathe it in. Historically, players from this part of Oklahoma seem to have a different approach to music, the same way that Muscle Shoals, Memphis Chicago, Detroit, Austin and Nashville are known for having a sound. I think Leon and J.J tapped into a unique pulse in this area and I would like to think that it's still vibrating today."

Seventeen tracks written by Tulsa's finest were recorded over the course of four days – mostly live, with very few overdubs, and produced by Jason Weinheimer & Them Tulsa Boys. A total of 20 Tulsa musicians participated in the recording and the core band consisted of Paul Benjaman, Jesse Aycock, Grammy nominee John Fullbright, Paddy Ryan, and Aaron Boehler. About the process, Paul Benjaman stated that "Decisions on how to build the songs were quick and effortless. The language that these musicians have developed over the years from playing live together paid off in knowing what to do instinctively. Unpacking each song, finding the magic that made it work, and leaving space for each person to contribute was a natural process that led to 10+ hour days of music with friends."

The musicians who participated in the project chose the songs for the album. The tracks that will be singles and made into videos are; "I'll Make Love To You Anytime" (J.J. Cale), "If The Shoe Fits" (Leon Russell), "I Yike It" (The Gap Band), "Rock n Roll Gypsies" (Jesse Ed Davis)". John Fullbright states "One of the coolest things about driving there was thinking that Bob Dylan did the  exact same drive, George Harrison did the exact same drive. That was really neat. Tulsa's music scene is very talented and eclectic, and we are a city that does not forget ti's roots and past, and celebrates it and builds on it."

Executive Producer Brian Horton weighs in; "This is a project that we've all wanted to do for more than a decade. We think we've captured some of the spirit and energy that happens around town when you go to a live show.  These musicians love our regional history so much. This is a document of them paying tribute. We want people to check out today's musicians, but we also want them to appreciate the Oklahoma musicians that have made it possible to have a relevant music scene today."

Back to Paradise will be released by Horton Records on August 28th.
Available for sale through Bandcamp

Jerry Castle’s recent singles have seen the singer-songwriter tipped for bigger things. His heartfelt, booze-soaked Americana simmers with the energy of southern rock, pure country attitude and the emotive power of heartland rock. Though the release of his new album, Midnight Testaments, is still a couple of months away, he is already off to the races with major outlets jumping aboard to premiere the cluster of animated videos that Jerry has produced. Those that have participated thus far includes The Boot, Wide Open Country, PopMatters, American Songwriter, The Bluegrass Situation, and Glide Magazine.
  
Now Jerry builds upon his growing acclaim by sharing his new single "Make Do," out on Friday, Aug 21. The song opens with a gritty, spiraling guitar riff before Castle’s husky, world-weary vocal exudes the virtues of kicking back to forget about your problems.  It’s an anthem ready built for escapism, regardless of the cause of your troubles.
 
“I was set to release the album in April of 2020 but because of the Covid pandemic, the release ended up being delayed indefinitely.  In May of 2020, after two months of being quarantined, I was having a hard time keeping it together”, says Castle.  “I had to come to the realization that I had absolutely zero control over everything that was going on.  That’s when I sat down and wrote ‘Make Do’.  It’s a song about accepting things as they are and making the most of the hand you’re dealt”.

Midnight Testaments finds Castle revisiting and revitalizing his “Cosmic Country meets Appalachian Soul” sound. Jumpstarted by the boozy, bar-band bombast of “Tequila and Tears”, Midnight Testaments showcases Jerry at his best, matching his guitar skills with a deep driving voice that’s equally electric. The eleven-track collection is music for the highway, the heartland, the happy, and the heartbroken. Midnight Testaments is music for all hours.
 
Castle adds, “Life isn’t static and music shouldn’t be either.  I’ve never had any interest in writing or recording the same type of songs with the same energy over and over again. To me, each song should have a life of it’s own.”
 
Castle isn’t one for looking back, but his back-story gives some insight as to where he is now.  Raised in the rural Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, his music has taken him to living in Los Angeles and working as a songwriter in the heart of the Nashville scene. He’s released critically acclaimed independent albums and played thousands of shows. Highlights include a five-week run at the top of the Roots Music Folk Rock Charts with his single "She Kills", plus praise from Rolling Stone, who described his 2018 track "Lil Bit" as “one of the most instantly catchy – and danceable – ­songs about being pissed off this year.”
 
Throughout Midnight Testaments, Castle looks far beyond his Tennessee home for inspiration, creating a signature sound that plants one foot in his native Appalachia, while pointing the other foot toward broader influences.  Welcome to the world of “Cosmic Country meets Appalachian Soul.”  Welcome to the world of Jerry Castle.

Midnight Testaments will be released by Melrose Artists on October 16th

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The Bacon Brothers are pleased to announce the release of their new video for track "Bigger" which is off of their newly released  album, The Way We Love. Of the video produced and directed by Kevin Bacon, Kevin notes, “Spending lots of time in the basement these days made me want to put on a live show, but all I had were old toys. Lots of variable sizes and scales seemed to fit nicely into a song called 'Bigger.'”

The new album, The Way We Love, contains ten tracks, seven of which were produced by the brothers, two by Philadelphia producer/engineer Joe Nicolo, one produced by Saverio Principini. Two of the exceptional offerings were recorded live at Sony Hall in New York City. It’s also one of their most emotionally charged collections to date, and one of their most dynamic and diverse as well. 

With ten albums to their credit, and a career that's spanned over 23 years, it’s clear their band isn’t simply a sideline that supplements their day jobs. The Way We Love contains a series of songs that explore those intimate relationships with the people and ideals that become a source of both purpose and passion. True to form, the album finds the brothers covering a wide array of styles and sounds

To date, the Bacon's have released five videos for the new album. To their multitude of fans delight, they've put out  "Play!,"  "She-Zee-Zee (Easy on My Eyes),”  "The Way We Love." "Corona Tune" and enjoyed a 'World Wide Debut' at Ditty TV with "Bigger."

Fiercely devoted to making music, even from an early age (they cite such influences as the Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Motown, Led Zeppelin, Philly Soul, and James Taylor, with mentions from Michael of Pete seeger, Jimmy Rogers, Chet Atkins, and the Jim Kweskin Jug Band, and additional kudos to Michael from Kevin for his input,) the two siblings share a singular body of work that’s found them spending more than 20 years of working the road and paying their dues, resulting in nine albums – Forosoco (1997,) Getting There (1999,) Can’t Complain (2001,) Live: The No Food Jokes Tour (2003,) White Knuckles (2005,) New Year’s Day (2009,) Philadelphia Road (2011,) 36 Cents (2014,) and the eponymous, The Bacon Brothers (2018) -- spanning rock, soul, folk and Americana. Never content to be typecast, they’re fiercely devoted to the cause of making music, undeterred by fame, fortune or the pitfalls that frequently obstruct the path to success.

As far as their day jobs are concerned, Kevin Bacon is an award-winning actor with 80 films and dozens of television and stage credits to his name, resulting in numerous Emmy and Screen Actors Guild nominations cited in his resume. Kevin is getting ready to begin production on the second season of City on a Hill and continues his ongoing charity efforts with Sixdegrees.org. Older brother Michael is an Emmy-winning composer who is beginning work on the PBS program, FindingYour Roots-Season 7. Per Michael, "This has been a favorite project of mine, using mandolins, guitars, cello, voices. percussion and wooden flutes. It's gratifying to be a part of this iconic show for so many years."

Still, while it’s clear that Michael and Kevin don’t view the band as simply a sideline, their commitment is clear. Indeed, the high points have been many. Kevin points to a recent opening slot at The Grand Ole Opry, supporting The Band at Carnegie Hall, surveying the Texas landscape in the midst of a lightning storm, rocking the Stone Pony on the Jersey Shore and performing at the legendary Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa. For Michael, it’s been all about making their mark overseas, touring in Germany and Japan, and the fascination he feels performing for overseas audiences.

WATCH "BIGGER" HERE

Twin sister duo, The Bowmans, are proud to announce the release of their timely first single, "Digger," from their forthcoming Fall 2021 release, Scrutiny. The new release explores how they are dealing with forced separation due to the pandemic, Claire lives in Colorado, Sarah in Switzerland.

The album explores the twin's most challenging truths and exposes their darkest secrets. Each song will be discussed at length in their new podcast, A Bit*Challenging, which will be available on their YouTube channel.

The song "Digger," expresses a firm rejection of exploitative capitalism. We once identified democracy and capitalism as the American dream. But a toxic cultural mindset has emerged, and those who embrace these concepts have become disconnected and self-serving. In the song, these “Diggers” are called out for who they really are, and the destruction they cause. The story of the American digger sweeps you in with its personal lyrics and breathtaking harmonies, riding over an ominous sonic portrait that digs deep.

With harmonies that seem to come from one astonishing voice, The Bowmans share a rare, near telepathic musical bond. Sarah and Claire Bowman are a “rollercoaster” duo, whose music ranges from poignantly captivating to serendipitously joyful. Their songs are sophisticated and imaginative, and they deeply move and delight their audiences with uncanny, evocative, and unforgettable performances.

The Bowmans started creating songs as children, and had their first show at Theo's Java Hut in their hometown of Davenport, Iowa. They continued to perform their originals throughout college but soon abandoned conventional career paths and moved to New York City to focus on being full-time musicians. They embraced the local music scene, playing in clubs in Greenwich Village, the Lower East Side and Brooklyn. Following the release of their first album Far From Home on Mother West Records, they hit the road in Sarah's car first in the U.S. then in Europe. By 2011, they had played over 1000 shows in 48 states and seven countries. And by 2013, they had released four full-length albums.

A major career highlight was when they won a Paste Magazine completion that enabled them to perform on the Cayamo Cruise alongside Brandi Carlile, Emmylou Harris, Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt, Patty Griffin, Shawn Colvin, and others. They also appeared with Jim Lauderdale on The Tennessee Shines Live Radio Concert and were featured guests on the Whispering Bob Harris Show on BBC2 - UKRadio. There has been no shortage of praise for The Bowmans, they have been lauded by NPR - All Things Considered, No Depression, Paste, American Songwriter, and LA Weekly, just to name a few.

In 2012, Sarah and Claire's mother was diagnosed with advanced cancer. This heartbreaking news had a sobering effect on the sisters, causing them to take a break from their musical career. Sarah then moved to Switzerland to start a family and Claire to Berkeley, CA, where her focus shifted to painting. The eventual loss of their mother became the impetus for the sisters to reunite and create their most poignant songs to date, a body of work they’re calling Scrutiny. The record provided the inspiration for their new podcast, A Bit*Challenging, a forum that allows them to explore their songs in depth, giving their audience an enjoyable peek behind the curtain.

LISTEN TO "DIGGER" HERE

There are box sets and then there are BOX SETS. John Mayall’s ‘The First Generation’ set sits firmly in the latter category, being substantial both in the artifacts contained within and the superb music it encompasses.

It is the first time a set of this size has been released documenting John Mayall’s early years and not only does it have all the albums from his much-lauded formative career but it also has unreleased tracks aplenty. Featuring Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Mick Taylor, Harvey Mandel, Blue Mitchell, Jon Mark, and many more superlative musicians, this mammoth package contains 35 CDs in all, plus a beautiful hardback book and much more.

Not for nothing did John Mayall earn the moniker ‘Godfather of the British Blues’. For a short but compelling time in the ‘60s and ‘70s he recognised raw talent when he saw it, he took it in, he nurtured it and everyone thrived and benefitted as the result. Many of the best musicians of the period passed through the hallowed ranks of John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, and all are on show here in a stunning set crammed with musical highlights. Put together with John Mayall’s full co-operation, the full list of contents is as follows:

35 discs (Including 3 CD Singles & 8 unreleased discs) - newly remastered versions of the original Decca & Polydor albums

Music from 7 unreleased gigs (including Windsor 1967, Gothenburg 1968, Berlin 1969, San Francisco 1970)

28 unreleased BBC tracks featuring Eric Clapton, Peter Green, and Mick Taylor

Individually signed photograph

Hardback book including many rare photos & memorabilia & full gig listing for the period

Separate book including two years of fan club letters & correspondence

Two Replica Posters - Ten Years Are Gone and tour poster from 1968

Replica press pack for John Mayall Plays John Mayall

John Mayall is pleased to announce the release of his latest single, "I'm as Good as Gone" out on all platforms, Friday, November 20th via Forty Below Records in honor of his 87th birthday.

The Godfather of British Blues serves up a deep and funky groove for a song about love on the outs. Written by Grammy winner Bobby Rush, the track features Americana legend Buddy Miller on lead baritone guitar with Mayall mixing it up on Hammond B3 organ. Also, on hand are Mayall’s dynamic Chicago rhythm section of Greg Rzab on bass guitar and Jay Davenport on drums, along with Austin’s Carolyn Wonderland on guitar. The track was produced by Eric Corne and John.

John effuses, "as funky as you can get...It’s a feast for all guitar lovers, with Buddy Miller's  powerful baritone guitar leading the way.” And in response, Buddy said that "John gave us the roadmap and blueprint and remains a fearless inspiring soulful pioneer. What an honor to be a small part of a great project."

American Songwriter Magazine is hosting an exclusive premiere of the track today. Prolific for a man of any age, John's latest studio album is slated for a late spring / early summer release.

Never underestimate the power of a woman with her back against the wall. In March 2020, as Covid blew across the planet, the shutters came down on live venues and recording studios, and the music scene fell suddenly silent, Ghalia Volt faced the same dilemma as every other artist. What now? The answer was One Woman Band.

For Volt, the rebirth as a solo performer wasn’t a decision made lightly. Since the beginning, she’s been a musician who thrives on the buzz of the hook-up, surrounding herself with the best players and soaking up their vibe. In 2017, the Belgium-born songwriter’s taste for collaboration led her to New Orleans for the meeting with local blues legends Mama’s Boys that became her debut album, Let The Demons Out.

Two years later, the same spirit lured Volt to the fabled hill country of Coldwater, Mississippi, to hold her own at sessions with musicians like Cody Dickinson, Cedric Burnside, Lightnin’ Malcolm, and Watermelon Slim.

With the breakout success of 2019’s Mississippi Blend. a record that made the Top 3 in the Billboard Blues Chart on three separate occasions, it seemed the world was Volt’s for the taking -- her seven-year transformation from Brussels busker to the adopted daughter of American roots scene. Now, with One Woman Band, the journey takes a thrilling left-turn. and last March, she reconnected with that one-woman philosophy. “I started playing on a real drum kit,” she recalls. “Playing a kick, snare, and hi-hat plus a tambourine with my feet, while playing slide/guitar and singing at the same time.” 

Johnny Ironsights is pleased to announce the release of the first video off of his March 5th album, Murder Mountain. The title track arose from the lawless region of Humboldt County, California, known for marijuana cultivation and several disappearances and unsolved murders. "No one gives a damn what we do on Murder Mountain. No cops, no Feds to cannibalize this war." American Songwriter premiered the video; watch it here.

Ironsights' music channels the hard-living spirit and dark strangeness of the American underbelly. He crafts a unique sound that incorporates alt-country, goth, and punk. The drenched stereo reverb and pitch-shifting vibrato emanating from his Magnatone amp and Fender Jazzmaster help create his signature guitar tone. The new record draws on the uniquely American flavors of California, downtown Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, and the Redwood forest, where both the land and many of its inhabitants are at once dangerous, broken, and yet strangely noble.  

The songs were written and recorded during the pandemic and shortly after his father's death to cancer. These deeply personal stories find Johnny reflecting on his childhood, first love, and heartbreaks, and lamenting about loss, while always positive for brighter times ahead. "I've seen America through so many different kinds of folks and my bi-racial background, and I think that bleeds through into my music. I also wouldn't have written these tunes if not for the heartache. So I'm thankful for that." 

The record was mastered by three-time Grammy-winning engineer Gavin Lurssen (O Brother Where Art Thou?, Lucinda Williams, Game of Thrones).  

As a solo artist and bands, Ironsights has performed throughout the USA, Canada, Europe, and South Asia, where he played shows with such artists as Billy Corgan, Nels Cline, and The Damned.  He also composed the dark and creepy score to director Danielle Agnello's film Lime Salted Love, featuring Billy Drago (The Untouchables), Kate del Castillo (La Reina del Sur), and Kristanna Loken (Terminator 3).

In 2014, Johnny was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship and moved to India for nine months, where he performed acoustic concerts for the US State Department and foreign dignitaries. 

Ally Venable, the 21 year-old guitarist from Kilgore, Texas, is pleased to announce the release of her 4th long player, Heart of Fire via Ruf Records on February 26, 2021.

The pandemic might have silenced the music scene, shuttered the live circuit, and kept artists from their fans. But with Heart Of Fire, Ally Venable, is coming off the ropes swinging. Defying dark times and rolling up the amps, this fourth release from the acclaimed singer-songwriter is a record to rattle your speakers and signpost better times ahead. "My vision was to spread a positive message of love," says Venable. "The world needs that right now."

If Heart Of Fire finds Venable giving the globe some much-needed love, then the feeling is entirely mutual. Still, in her early twenties, Ally's two decades have moved as fast as her fingers, her path winding from childhood church choirs to the teenage influence of local heroes like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Miranda Lambert. Thus far, Ally has released four albums; No Glass Shoes (2016) and Puppet Show (2018) earned her international fans, Top 10 charting, and ETX Awards, but it was 2019's #2 Billboard-charting Texas Honey and house-rocking sets on that year's Blues Caravan tour that sent her to the next level. Now, with Venable's fanbase snaking further around the block every time she blows into town, Texas roots icon Mike Zito has no doubts, "Ally is the future of blues and the crossover music of American roots-rock."

Not even a global pandemic could derail her momentum. Working at the Bessie Blue Studio in Stantonville, Tennessee last February with world-renowned producer Jim Gaines, Heart of Fire finds Venable laser-focused on her songcraft, challenging herself to write unguarded honesty, even if it hurts. "On this album, I wanted to create a tone of overcoming struggles and persevering," she explains.

Like any battle, this record gets loud. Anyone who has left an Ally Venable show with ringing ears will come expecting rip-it-up guitar work, and Heart Of Fire is a lovely way to burn. In a world of electronic pop, this old-soul gunslinger riffs up a storm on the Led Zeppelin-worthy sting of "Hard Change" and "Do It In Heels," revs up the slinky hook of "Sad Situation" and drives the title track's intro with a heavy-booted wah Leah ick. "That song is about being in a state of sadness," she explains, "and someone comes along and brings you out of it, and then nobody can snuff out your flame."

The only player who could follow her fretwork is special guest Kenny Wayne Shepherd, who tears up "Bring On The Pain." As Venable says: "That song is about loving someone, staying true to yourself during the bad times and saying, 'No matter what's going on, my love won't change'. Kenny is one of my heroes, so I'm very honored he said yes to be a part of the song."

While nobody is better at squeezing fresh juice from the blues-rock genre, Venable's songwriting frequently forks into leftfield. There's the chain-gang stomp of "Hateful Blues," its lyric cursing a cruel lover. There's the pace-changing cover of Bill Withers' classic "Use Me,” reborn here with congas, rubberband bass, and a groovin' lick. And don't miss the impossibly wistful "Road To Nowhere," featuring Devon Allman dovetailing with Venable on the chorus harmonies. "Devon jumped right into the song, elevated it, and brought it to life," she remembers. "His vision for the song aligned perfectly with mine, and I'm so happy with how it turned out."

The same could be said for Heart Of Fire. Defiant, passionate, honest, and raw, this is the record these times demand from an artist who refuses to wait for the storm to pass but prefers to dance in the rain. "My goal for this album was to give an outlet for people," Venable considers. "That's really where the core of these songs comes from…"

A diverse mix of American roots music, out-of-the-box pop flourishes, gospel harmonies, and barroom rock & roll, Charlie Treat's The Comet spotlights a songwriter whose left-of-center music redraws the lines between genre and generations.

It's a collection of songs whose paradoxical twists and turns are as unique as the man who wrote them. Raised on a farm in New England, Charlie grew up listening to the music that suited his working-class surroundings — Delta blues, country classics, work songs, and Bob Dylan records — before traveling the country as a busker, accompanied by his acoustic guitar and 1988 Oldsmoble Cutlass. After a Kerouac-worthy series of milestones and mishaps led him back to the Northeast, he established himself as one of the region's folksinging heavyweights before heading south to Nashville, where he found a new home in a city that had become synonymous with Americana music. Charlie easily fit into that musical community, even as his own songs ventured into the genre's outermost orbits.

It was in Nashville that Charlie teamed up with producer Jesse Thompson to record the self-titled Charlie Treat EP. Released in 2018, the EP announced Charlie as a Nashville newcomer whose songs mixed organic, folky foundations with lush layers of pop/rock and poetry.  He promoted the record the old-school way: by rounding up his bandmates and hitting the stage, playing show after show at some of the city's most beloved venues. They were a chameleonic band, capable of performing a country-inspired gig one week (featuring guests on fiddle and pedal steel guitar) and giving themselves a poppy, synth-heavy makeover for the next performance. That diversity mirrored Charlie's own artistic tastes, which had moved beyond the world of American roots music to include the pop and shoegaze songs he heard on Nashville's ACME radio, the freeform sounds of the city's community-supported WXNA station, and the wide range of music that his Nashville friends had been making. By the time he began working on material for a full-length follow-up, Charlie was ready to explore new directions.

Working together in a basement rehearsal space, Charlie and his band spent months fine-tuning The Comet's unique sound. Jesse Thompson joined them, reprising his role as producer. The sonic exploration continued once the band entered the recording studio, where they were joined by guests like multi-instrumentalist Larry Hanson (Alabama, Righteous Brothers), Oliver Bates Craven (of the Stray Birds), Cy Winstanley (of Tattletale Saints), and gospel belters Amber Woodhouse (of Trigger Hippy) and Amanda Broadway. The result is Charlie Treat's most varied album to date, fusing the raw, honest sounds of a road-tested rock band with synthesized pop instruments, coed harmonies, densely layered arrangements, and even the rhythmic punch of hip-hop.

Gluing those sundry sounds together is Charlie himself: a versatile frontman and poetic lyricist whose songs paint vivid pictures of wild nights, rocky relationships, the uneasy relationship between humans and technology, and the strange truths discovered during extraordinary times. He's an old-school crooner on "Two Best People," a backwoods folksinger on "Steamshovel," and a left-field pop/rocker on "So Much Better." Already celebrated for his wide embrace of multiple musical styles, he hits a new high-water mark with The Comet, an album that's proudly weird and hard not to love.

Jane Lee Hooker deliver a shot of 100 proof Brooklyn rock ‘n’ roll with their new single & video for “Jericho." It's the first single off their forthcoming summer 2021 release.

JLH exploded out of New York City in 2015, and won acclaim in the U.S. and abroad with their debut album of revved-up blues covers, “No B!” The band were snapped up and signed to legendary German blues label Ruf Records. Their sophomore release, Spiritus, was released in 2017, to rave reviews worldwide. Classic Rock Magazine called it "fiery, just the right level of grubby, and a righteous kick in the shins."

Jane Lee Hooker toured extensively behind these records and played to packed houses across the U.S. and Europe, including Germany, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria and the Czech Republic.

"Jericho," their long-awaited single, features the band's signature blend of hard-edged bluesy rock ‘n roll. "Jericho" has been a crowdpleaser at JLH's live shows.  Singer Dana “Danger” Athens brought the song to the band, with lyrics that were especially relevant regarding the struggles and challenges that people have recently been facing. Says Athens, “Jericho is one of those songs that kind of wrote itself, the music and lyrics just poured out of me. A lot of songs have been written about the Battle of Jericho, it’s a timeless anecdote for having the strength inside to use our voices to break down the walls that divide us and change our world for the good.”

Matt Chiaravalle (Joe Bonamassa, Warren Zevon, Courtney Love,) produced and mixed Jericho, after previously working with the band on both “No B!” and “Spiritus.” A new Jane Lee Hooker EP will follow in Summer 2021 - and Jericho gives fans an early taste of what’s to come.

Award-winning songwriter. International road warrior. American roots outlaw. San Diego's Sara Petite is readying the release of Rare Bird on Feb 26th. To get the party started, tastemaker DJ Mojo Nixon of SiriusXM's Outlaw Country station, was the first to spin "The Misfits," and The Boot, the first outlet to premiere the video.

For the better part of two decades, Sara Petite has blazed her own trail, carving out a mix of forward-thinking country, bluegrass, amplified folk, and Springsteen-sized rock & roll. It's a sound that blurs the boundaries between genres, created by a charismatic frontwoman who's never been afraid to buck trends or speak her mind. With Rare Bird, her sixth record, she widens her range once again, filling the album's tracklist with highway anthems, heartland rockers, lushly-layered Americana ballads, and even a gospel-influenced tribute to civil rights leader John Lewis.

Raised in the rural farming town of Sumner, Washington, Petite launched her songwriting career after moving to San Diego. There, 2,000 miles away from Nashville, she developed her version of country music — one whose rough edges and raw, honest delivery owed as much to the dive bar as the honky-tonk. Starting with her 2006 debut, Coming Home, she funneled her personal experience into universal songs about loss, love, victories, vices, and the long journey toward authenticity. Too twangy for modern-rock radio and too rockin' for buttoned-up country fans, her music occupied its own sonic space. Petite didn't sound like anyone else; she just sounded like herself. A rare bird, indeed.

"We are the misfits… we are the thieves; we'll steal your heart with a broken melody," she sings in "The Misfits," a proud declaration of uniqueness and artistic drive that may as well serve as Rare Bird's theme song.

"That song is me," Petite explains. "I often think about the artists and great orators of our time who stick their neck out there because it's their soul's calling. Sometimes you're the lion, and sometimes you're the sacrificial lamb. I'm always attracted to authentic people — to the misfits who stand up for themselves and their truth."

Petite recorded Rare Bird with collaborators like fiddle legend Bobby Furgo (Leonard Cohen, Nancy Sinatra), guitarist Mike Butler (Billy Bob Thorton's Boxmasters), and members of her touring band. Rare Bird also marks the final appearance of Grammy-winning producer David Bianco (Tom Petty, Lucinda Williams, Bob Dylan), who began recording "The Misfits" with Petite before passing away during the album's early stages. After a multi-month break, Petite teamed up with co-producer/engineer Ben Moore to finish the record, taking a principal role in the songs' creation and their arrangements.

The result is her most fully-realized album to date. "Runnin'" mixes Telecaster twang with a cinematic, harmony-heavy chorus, while "Crash, Boom Bang" delivers roadhouse roots-rock with a wry vocal delivery worthy of Hayes Carll. Petite salutes her classic country influences during "Floating with the Angels," a love song laced with swooning pedal steel, then plants her flag in the sand with "Rare Bird," a gorgeously-arranged title track that finds its narrator longing to fly in formation with someone else. Together, these songs shine a light on the full reach of her songwriting chops, expanding upon the foundation laid down by previous releases like Tiger Mountain (2006,) Lead the Parade(2008,) Circus Comes to Town (2013,) the Top 40 Americana release Doghouse Rose (2010,) and Road Less Traveled (2016.)

Rare Bird is everything its title suggests: a career-defining album by an outlaw who's learned to soar not by mimicking others but by charting her own flight path.
 

JTM Music will release Rare Bird on Feb 26, 2021

Damon Fowler is proud to announce the release of his eighth album, Alafia Moon. It will drop via Landslide Records, March 26, 2021Florida's Gulf Coast has produced a plethora of distinctive musicians, from the blues of Tampa Red to jazz greats Cannonball and Nat Adderley to former Allman Brothers guitarist Dickey Betts to The Outlaws. Tampa's Damon Fowler, a masterful singer, guitarist and songwriter, has absorbed the best of and furthered the work of the region's definitive artists.  A hard-driving troubadour, his music is steeped with soul and representative of the many styles that make up American music's roots. He has gained the respect of his peers given his featured slot in Butch Truck's Freigh Train band and his side gig as guitarist in the Dickey Betts Band. Critics have compared Fowler's guitar work to Johnny Winter and Jeff Beck, while his slide guitar is reminiscent of the late Duane Allman. Fowler can play fiery guitar runs with the best of them, and his lyrical work on lap steel and dobro makes him a stand out performer among the legions of guitar heroes. His new release, Alafia Moon, combines all the influences that have shaped his distinctive blues career. 

On the strength of Fowler's hybrid of roots rock, blues, and sacred steel, the Florida native started wowing audiences with his musical exploits as a teenager, building a reputation as one of the hottest young players on the scene. Adding songwriting and vocal skills to his repertoire over the years has brought him many accolades, with music journalists extolling his originality and maturity as well as his technical guitar expertise. Allmusic.com raved that "Fowler's creative lap steel work is what sets him apart from the rest of the guitar heroes."  

Alafia Moon was produced by Fowler and George Harris (Cheap Trick, Rick Derringer, Brian Johnson - AC/DC.) Previous releases include: Riverview Drive (1999,) Roots and Branches (2000,) Live at Skipper's Smokehouse (2003,) Sugar Shack (2009,) Devil Got His Way (2011,) Sounds of Home (2014,) Damon Fowler Live (2015,) and Whiskey Bayou Session (2019.)

Jesse Aycock is pleased to announce that he will be releasing his latest effort on April 16th via Horton Records.

As a versatile multi-instrumentalist, Tulsa’s Jesse Aycock is an in-demand sideman who has lent his talents to several national acts over the years, traveling the world as a member of Hard Working Americans and supporting tours for musicians Elizabeth Cook and The Secret Sisters. With this self-titled release, Jesse stands center stage with thirteen beautifully executed songs, highlighting his significant gifts as a singer-songwriter. 

Fans of Jesse’s previous solo efforts will recognize this soulful artist’s signature blend of masterful musicianship, poetic lyricism, and thoughtful songwriting, and they won’t be disappointed with the album’s exploration of Jesse’s myriad influences. The lovely, mournful “Sadder Than a Sunset" reflects his 
acoustic, country-folk roots, while “Past Life” rocks a deep topic with an upbeat pop sensibility and “Under The Gun” swirls with a psychedelic refrain.

“I’ve been working on many of these songs over the last few years, but I could never land on something until they finally took shape. A handful came together very recently. I wrote "Second Chances Better Luck" late one night and had it demoed with parts and lyrics by sunrise. There were a few songs I was still finishing up as we were tracking them, which was a new experience for me. Luckily, I have faith in the creative process and great friends to work with in the studio. I find that when you let things happen organically, that’s when the magic happens,” Jesse says of the songwriting process. “Overall, I think this album is a little more personal and vulnerable than my previous albums. That’s partly why I decided to release it as self-titled. I think for the listener, it’s still abstract enough to find your own meaning.” 

Jesse plays guitar, steel guitar, keys, and even Mellotron on his latest album. He’s joined by good friends and fellow Tulsa musicians drummer Paddy Ryan, bassist Aaron Boehler, and keyboardist John Fullbright. Jason Crosby contributed keys and strings to several tracks, and Lauren Barth, Allison Moorer, and Jason Weinheimer, the record’s co-producer and engineer, contributed background vocals. The album was recorded at Weinheimer’s Fellowship Hall Sound in Little Rock, Arkansas, with additional tracks recorded at Paradise Studios in Tia Juana, Oklahoma (Leon Russell’s former recording compound on scenic Grand Lake.) 

In addition to his time with Hard Working Americans, The Secret Sisters, and Elizabeth Cook, Jesse has also toured with Scott Hirsch, John Fullbright, Travis Linville, and Samantha Crain. During his career, he’s shared the stage with musical luminaries like Tedeschi Trucks Band, Widespread Panic, Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, John Moreland, and Ian Moore. 

Previous solo releases include Life’s Ladder (2005) and Inside Out of Blue (2010.) Flowers & Wounds (2012,) was recorded in Tulsa at Leon Russell’s legendary Church Studios. Jesse’s longtime and sorely missed friend and former bandmate, Neal Casal (Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Hard Working Americans,) played guitar and George Sluppick (CRB, JJ Grey & Mofro,) supplied drums, with additional contributions from David Hildago (Los Lobos,) and Tulsa legend Jimmy Karstein. 

After a long and difficult year, Jesse Aycock is a light at the end of a dark tunnel for listener and musician alike. 

“Making this record was healing, difficult and beautiful. It's been a challenging year, filled with loss and heartbreak. When everything around you seems to fall apart, you have to lean into something,” says Jesse. “Music has always been that for me. Recording these songs helped ground me.” .

No Offense, Nevermind, Sorry, the latest release from Tulsa-based Pilgrim, leaves no doubt that frontman and guitarist, Beau Roberson, is a gifted songwriter whose powerhouse vocals are a perfect match for his profound lyrics. It’s all here – redemption, betrayal, loss, and love. Each song a perfectly crafted musical short story waiting to unfold.

Growing up, the Roberson house was full of music. Beau’s mom was a piano teacher who, according to Beau, was always singing - everything from Aretha Franklin to Willie Nelson. Never a fan of labeling, even as a kid, Beau’s musical influences ranged far and wide.“The first two CDs I ever bought with my own money were two ‘Greatest Hits’ collections, Bob Dylan and War,” he notes.

You can hear those diverse influences in his writing. It’s difficult to fit No Offense, into the tight confines of any one genre. But make no mistake; this album is a superb collection of eloquent songs from a very promising talent whose music truly belongs on a national stage.

“You knew just what you were doing/breaking his heart by fooling around with mine,” Beau sings on “Out of Touch,” his vocals conveying hurt, longing and regret in a few, deceptively simple lines. “Pray for You” is a beautiful tribute to the powerful sense of purpose, awe and redemption that can accompany the birth of a child, while “Hallelujah Moment” is a heartfelt love song with a catchy refrain. More than a few of us will recognize ourselves in the bluesy, funky “Backslider.”

Recorded at Leon Russell’s former Paradise Studio at Grand Lake in Tia Juana, Oklahoma, Roberson was joined by a remarkable lineup of talented Oklahoma musicians. The group included: John Fullbright (keys), Jesse Aycock (steel), Paddy Ryan (drums), Aaron Boehler (bass) and Stephen Lee (guitar). The album was engineered by Jason Weinheimer and Zachariah Reeves of Fellowship Hall Sound, mixed by Jason Weinheimer.

Roger Chapman is proud to announce that his new record, Life in the Pond, will be unveiled by Ruf Records on June 25, 2021.

A studio album by Roger Chapman is always an event. Since ’66, when the British singer-songwriter emerged as the voice of his generation with the seminal Family band, through every twist of his four-decade solo career, Chappo’s output has defied music industry protocol, challenged genre, and held up a mirror to the times.

Chappo’s latest effort, Life In The Pond reunites him with faces from his past – including Poli Palmer as co-writer/producer and guest guitar from Geoff Whitehorn, while connecting the dots between his early influences and taking the pulse of modern life. “There’s nostalgia for the different musical styles that influenced my life,” he says. “American rock from the ’50s to now. British R‘n’B from the ’60s, like Georgie Fame, the Stones, Zoot Money. Folk. Blues. Motown. Stax. Blue Note jazz. Classical. Americana. Country. A whole mess of influences. Mostly it’s anger at politicians that’s kept me fired up. But I’m also influenced by daily happenings, world news, people, acquaintances. It’s all in the lyrics.” 
 
Born in the Midlands city of Leicester, the 24-year-old singer joined The Farinas in 1966 and forged a dynamic writing partnership with lead guitarist Charlie Whitney. But the critical juncture came when the band renamed themselves, Family, moved down to London, and dreamt up a distinctive sound that swirled jazz, blues, folk, prog and psychedelia into their distinctive sound that swirled into their classic 1968 debut album, Music in a Doll’s House.
 
Cherished by transatlantic fans, championed by DJ John Peel, Family released seven albums before disbanding in 1973. Chappo didn’t miss a beat, partnering again with Charlie Whitney in their new outfit, Streetwalkers. But Chapman’s long-awaited solo career beckoned, leading him to Germany. Over the next two decades, he released over a dozen full-length releases.

With 2009’s Hide Go Seek championed by fans and press alike, Chappo could have chosen that release as the swansong to a stellar career. In 2011, the singer told the Rock Legacy website that “I’ve tried retiring over the past ten years or so," and dropped a few hints he was considering stepping back from the spotlight – most notably with a 2012 live album pointedly titled Maybe The Last Time. 

Throughout 2013, Family were a towering presence on the British scene. Alongside the shows, fans welcomed the release of Once Upon A Time: a definitive Family compilation, gathering the band’s entire catalogue – including outtakes, alternative versions and rarities found in Chappo’s loft – on a 14-disc boxset whose mouthwatering presentation scored the Grand Design award at the 2013 Progressive Music Awards. 

Life In The Pond ties all the threads together. Writing alongside Palmer, with stunning guest guitar from long-term collaborator Geoff Whitehorn, this latest album finds Chapman’s voice in vintage form and his musical radar more receptive than ever.

Opening with the rootsy groove, vocal grit, and brass licks of “Dark Side Of The Stairs,” the album’s mood roams from hypnotic seven-minute epic “Nightmare #5” to “Rabbit Got The Gun’s” dystopian soul-funk. “Having Us A Honeymoon” opens with a snatch of Mendelssohn’s "Wedding March"before honky-tonk piano leads a lusty East End singalong. At the other extreme, "On Lavender Heights” is a hushed stunner, Chapman using little more than his voice, with a dash of keys and strings, to carry a flash of genuine tenderness.

And while the lyrics can be biting, there’s a wistfulness to the closing “Naughty Child” that suggests that, even at 79, Chapman’s wide-eyed idealism remains intact, “When the world was young and foolish,” he sings. ‘When the world was running wild…”)

The world has turned a few times since ’66, but Roger Chapman still has something to say – and with Life In The Pond, his voice as an artist is more vital than ever. “I’m very pleased and grateful that Poli gave me the opportunity,” he says, “because I think we really came up with the goods on this album.”

Robben Ford is pleased to announce the upcoming release of Pure on August 27, 2021 via earMUSIC (distributed by BFD / The Orchard in North America.) This will be the first wholly instrumental studio album since 1997's Tiger Walk. Album pre-orders commence today as do pre-saves for "White Rock Beer...8 Cents", the first single that drops Friday, May 14th.

With nine unique tracks, Pure features the guitar virtuoso's tremendous music vocabulary of jazz, blues and rock. Pure seamlessly blends a soulful west coast vibe with bluesy hard rock stylings. Some of the exceptional guest musicians featured are Nate Smith, Toss Panos, and Shannon Forest.

About the album, Robben says “Pure is unlike any recording I’ve ever done. I’ve always been a traditionalist in the way I’ve worked in the studio, bring a great band into a great room with a great engineer, track songs for three to five days, do any overdubbing necessary, then, mix and master. I started Pure in that same way. But, somehow the influence of other musicians on the music, which is inevitable, always felt a little off. It became clear to me that I had to shape this new music myself from the ground up. My engineer and co-producer, Casey Wasner, proved invaluable in making that happen and most of the music you’ll hear in this recording was accomplished by the two of us working together in his studio, Purple House, getting the right shape and feel to the music, then adding bass and drums after the fact. Having worked in this way, I feel that Pure is perhaps the most complete representation of my personal musical vision. Previous recordings having been products of a period of development that lead to the music presented here. It’s been very satisfying to have shaped my own compositions so thoroughly and to deliver something so completely my own.”

The five-time Grammy nominee has played with artists as diverse as Joni Mitchell, Jimmy Witherspoon, Miles Davis, George Harrison, Phil Lesh, Bonnie Raitt, Michael McDonald, Bob Dylan, John Mayall, Gregg Allman, John Scofield, Susan Tedeschi, Keb Mo, Larry Carlton, Davis Staples, Brad Paisley, and many others.

Robben's last album, Purple House (2018), featured a remarkable collection of songs that utilized Ford’s enlightened approach to composition and production. Exploring the range of the studio with a fresh perspective, he weaves in and out of surprising musical moments, ear-wormy hooks, and thoughtful lyrical themes. His sophisticated approach to the blues is evident throughout, yet the record is far more diverse regarding song structure and style.

In 2015, Ford released Into The Sun, which debuted at #2 on the Billboard Blues Chart and was also nominated for a Grammy in the Contemporary Blues category. It featured guests on that release were Warren Haynes, Keb’Mo, Robert Randolph, ZZ Ward, Sonny Landreth and Tyler Bryant.

An important and essential component of Robben’s career is his commitment to teaching and passing on what he’s learned over the past 40 years to current and future musicians. His instructional videos and clinics over this time have culminated in a collaboration with TrueFire and the birth of the Robben Ford Guitar Dojo. The wealth of his expertise and creativity is generously presented in these state-of-the-art productions, and will be, for years to come.

The Blues Foundation will bring an elevated viewing experience to blues fans worldwide with the 2021 Blues Music Awards. Presented by Global Electronic Technology, the 42nd Annual Blues Music Awards (BMAs) will be broadcast Sunday, June 6 at 4:00 pm CT on Mandolin, the streaming platform chosen by blues musicians and blues fans everywhere. The 42nd Blues Music Awards coincides with the 42nd annual celebration of Black Music Month, which recognizes the immeasurable influence of Black artists and their music on America's musical traditions.

Big Llou will host blues music’s most acclaimed awards program with announcements of award winners across 25 categories.  Program highlights will include surprise performances and special guest appearances and performances.

Widely recognized as the highest honor bestowed by the blues community, the BMAs applaud the past year’s exceptional achievements in blues music recording, performance, and songwriting. The expansive list of nominees reflect the widening influence of blues music and blues artists.  Topping the nomination chart this year again is Rick Estrin & the Nightcats, Sugar Ray & the Bluetones, Shemekia Copeland, and John Németh.  Nominees include many well-known acts, both in and out of the blues world. Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Famers Dion and Elvin Bishop, rising Americana star Rhiannon Giddens, and Blues Hall of Famer Bettye LaVette are each BMA nominees this year.

The complete list of Blues Music Award nominees can be found on The Blues Foundation’s website here and listen to the BMA Nominee Spotify Playlist here.
 
Fans can purchase general admission tickets or VIP tickets that include admission to the pre-show virtual Blues Lounge sponsored by Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise featuring Art Tipaldi’s lively backstage conversation with Elvin Bishop, Thornetta Davis, Dion DiMucci, Harrison Kennedy, and Sugaray Rayford.
 
This online experience will give viewers a chance to share their enthusiasm and comments with fellow blues fans watching worldwide as they celebrate blues’ biggest night together.
 
Only members of The Blues Foundation are eligible to vote for the BMAs.  Voting closed on March 12, 2021, at 11:59 pm CT.  Blues Foundation membership costs as little as $25 per year. Visit www.BLUES.org and click on “Join” to learn about membership, donations and to help keep the blues thriving around the world.
 
The Blues Foundation is a world-renowned Memphis-based organization whose mission is to preserve blues heritage, celebrate blues recording and performance, expand worldwide awareness of the blues, and ensure the future of this uniquely American art form. Founded in 1980, the Foundation has approximately 4,000 individual members and 180 affiliated blues societies representing another 50,000 fans and professionals worldwide. Its signature honors and events — the Blues Music Awards, Blues Hall of Fame inductions, International Blues Challenge, and Keeping the Blues Alive Awards – make it the international hub of blues music.  The Blues Foundation’s COVID – 19 Blues Musician Relief Fund and HART Fund provide financial and medical assistance for musicians in need, while Blues in the Schools programs and Generation Blues Scholarships expose new generations to blues music. The Blues Hall of Fame Museum, located in Downtown Memphis, adds the opportunity for blues lovers of all ages to interact with blues music and history. Throughout the year, the Foundation staff serves the global blues community with answers, information, and news.

Before enjoying an exciting evening hosted by Big Llou and performances by Blues Music Award nominees and other special guests, revel in a special happy hour: Backstage with Art Tipaldi and Friends. 

The Blues Foundation is excited to have Big Llou host this year’s Blues Music Awards. Enjoy performances by this year’s nominees and other special guests. Some of the friends stopping by the LRBC VIP Blues Lounge are Elvin Bishop, Thornetta Davis, Dion DiMucci, Harrison Kennedy, and Sugaray Rayford.

Ticket Options
Buy Livestream ticket here
Buy VIP ticket here

The irrepressible spirit of the blues was on full display during The Blues Foundation’s 42nd Blues Music Awards (BMAs) presented by Global Electronic Technology when winners across twenty-five (25) categories were announced. Broadcasted virtually due to COVID precautions, the show’s highlights included heartfelt video statements from many of the winners as well as lively performances from several past BMA winning artists. Awarded by The Blues Foundation’s members, the BMAs are widely recognized as the highest honor given to blues musicians. The 42nd Blues Music Awards coincides with the 42nd annual celebration of Black Music Month which recognizes the immeasurable influence of Black artists and their music on America's musical traditions.

Shemekia Copeland was the show’s big winner, snagging three awards including the coveted B.B. King Entertainer of the Year Award.  Copeland was recognized with the Contemporary Blues Female Artist award as she was in 2020, and also took the prize for Contemporary Blues Album, with Uncivil War. Christone “Kingfish” Ingram continued his winning streak from 2020 when he won five awards with two 2021 awards, winning both Contemporary Blues Male Artist and Instrumentalist – Guitar. Blues fans tuning into the show were wowed by two stellar performances by “Kingfish” and heard his heartfelt personal acceptance speeches. Other multiple award winners were Elvin Bishop and Charlie Musselwhite, whose album, 100 Years of Blues, won awards for Album of the Year and Traditional Blues Album, and Mike Zito, who won in the Blues Rock Artist category as well as the Blues Rock Album category for Mike Zito and Friends – Rock ‘n’ Roll:  A Tribute to Chuck Berry.

Blues’ intergenerational traditions were underscored when Blues Hall of Famers Bettye LaVette won for Soul Blues Female Artist and Bobby Rush took the prize for Acoustic Blues Album with Rawer than Raw. Rush, who performed during the show, appeared onstage to accept his award. Kenny “Beady Eyes” Smith, Instrumentalist – Drum winner, continued the blues legacy of his father, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, who won 16 BMAs. Newcomer King Solomon Hicks was awarded Best Emerging Artist Album for Harlem. Other standouts included Rick Estrin & the Nightcats’ win for Band of the Year and Walter Trout’s win for Song of the Year, “All Out of Tears.”

The show’s host, perennial favorite, Big Llou, kept the show moving with his trademark spirited banter. In addition to the tremendous performances by Bobby Rush and Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, viewers were treated to outstanding performances by past BMA winners John Németh & the Blue Dreamers, Shaun Murphy, Don Bryant, Watermelon Slim, and Southern Avenue. Memphis’ heritage as “The Home of the Blues” was showcased when Rodd Bland, son of Blues Hall of Famer Bobby “Blue” Bland, and the famed Royal Studio family, Boo, Yvonne, and Lorraine Mitchell appeared to announce the BMA winners.

The Blues Foundation’s President Patricia Wilson Aden stated, “We are proud to continue the Blues Music Awards’ time-honored tradition in 2021. Although we were not able to gather for a live performance, the global blues community came together virtually for an awesome celebration of the best of the blues. We applaud all of this year’s winners and are grateful for the support of everyone who made the 42nd Blues Music Awards a one-of-a-kind experience.”

2021 Blues Music Awards Winners

B.B. King Entertainer of the Year
Shemekia Copelan

Album of the Year
100 Years of Blues - Elvin Bishop and Charlie Musselwhite

Band of the Year
Rick Estrin & The Nightcats

Song of the Year
“All Out of Tears” - written by Walter Trout, Marie Trout, and Teeny Tucker
(performed by Walter Trout)

Best Emerging Artist Album
Harlem, King Solomon Hicks

Acoustic Blues Album
Rawer Than Raw, Bobby Rush

Blues Rock Album
Mike Zito and Friends - Rock ‘n’ Roll: A Tribute to Chuck Berry, Mike Zito

Contemporary Blues Album
Uncivil War, Shemekia Copeland

Soul Blues Album
That's What I Heard, Robert Cray Band

Traditional Blues Album
100 Years of Blues, Elvin Bishop and Charlie Musselwhite

Acoustic Blues Artist
Keb' Mo'

Blues Rock Artist
Mike Zito

Contemporary Blues Female Artist
Shemekia Copeland

Contemporary Blues Male Artist
Christone "Kingfish" Ingram

Soul Blues Female Artist
Bettye LaVette

Soul Blues Male Artist
Curtis Salgado

Traditional Blues Female Artist (Koko Taylor Award)
Rory Block

Traditional Blues Male Artist
John Primer

Instrumentalist - Bass
Danielle Nicole

Instrumentalist - Drums
Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith

Instrumentalist - Guitar
Christone "Kingfish" Ingram

Instrumentalist - Harmonica
Kim Wilson

Instrumentalist - Horn
Jimmy Carpenter

Instrumentalist - Piano (Pinetop Perkins Piano Player Award)
Anthony Geraci

Instrumentalist - Vocals
Ruthie Foster

Robben Ford is pleased to announce the release of his new single "Balafon" off of his upcoming August 27th release, Pure via earMUSIC (distributed by BFD / The Orchard in North America.)  About his new single, Robben states, “Balafon was one of the first two songs written for Pure. I wanted a beautiful chordal melody and then a shift to a very strong “twangy” riff to contrast. Between, there is a pensive moment to set up a powerful guitar climax!”

With nine unique tracks, Pure is Ford's first wholly instrumental studio album since 1997's Tiger Walk. It features the guitar virtuoso's tremendous music vocabulary of jazz, blues, and rock. Some of the exceptional guest musicians featured are Nate Smith, Toss Panos, and Shannon Forest.

About the album, Robben says “Pure is unlike any recording I’ve ever done. I’ve always been a traditionalist in the way I’ve worked in the studio, bring a great band into a great room with a great engineer, track songs for three to five days, do any overdubbing necessary, then, mix and master. I started Pure in that same way. But, somehow the influence of other musicians on the music, which is inevitable, always felt a little off. It became clear to me that I had to shape this new music myself from the ground up. My engineer and co-producer, Casey Wasner, proved invaluable in making that happen and most of the music you’ll hear in this recording was accomplished by the two of us working together in his studio, Purple House, getting the right shape and feel to the music, then adding bass and drums after the fact. Having worked in this way, I feel that Pure is perhaps the most complete representation of my personal musical vision. Previous recordings having been products of a period of development that lead to the music presented here. It’s been very satisfying to have shaped my own compositions so thoroughly and to deliver something so completely my own.”

The five-time Grammy nominee has played with artists as diverse as Joni Mitchell, Jimmy Witherspoon, Miles Davis, George Harrison, Phil Lesh, Bonnie Raitt, Michael McDonald, Bob Dylan, John Mayall, Gregg Allman, John Scofield, Susan Tedeschi, Keb Mo, Larry Carlton, Davis Staples, Brad Paisley, and many others.

Robben's prior release, Purple House (2018), featured a remarkable collection of songs that utilized Ford’s enlightened approach to composition and production. Exploring the range of the studio with a fresh perspective, he weaves in and out of surprising musical moments, ear-wormy hooks, and thoughtful lyrical themes. His sophisticated approach to the blues is evident throughout, yet the record is far more diverse regarding song structure and style.

In 2015, Ford released Into The Sun, which debuted at #2 on the Billboard Blues Chart and was also nominated for a Grammy in the Contemporary Blues category. It featured guests on that release were Warren Haynes, Keb’Mo, Robert Randolph, ZZ Ward, Sonny Landreth and Tyler Bryant. 

An important and essential component of Robben’s career is his commitment to teaching and passing on what he’s learned over the past 40 years to current and future musicians. His instructional videos and clinics over this time have culminated in a collaboration with TrueFire and the birth of the Robben Ford Guitar Dojo. The wealth of his expertise and creativity is generously presented in these state-of-the-art productions, and will be, for years to come.

TOUR DATES

JUL 10 SAT
Blues Express w/Bill Evans @ 7:30pm 
Differdange, Luxembourg

JUL 13 TUE
Montreux Jazz Festival w/Bill Evans @ 7:30pm 
Montreux, Switzerland

JUL 14 WED
Stupinigi Sonic Park w/Bill Evans @ 9:00pm 
Nichelino, Italy

JUL 16 FRI
Sopron drum festival w/Bill Evans @ 7:30pm 
Sopron, Hungary

AUG 13 FRI
Waukesha Rotary BluesFest @ 7:30pm 
Delafield, WI, United States

AUG 14 SAT
Memorial Hall OTR @ 8:00pm 
Kelly Richey
Cincinnati, OH, United States

AUG 15 SUN
City Winery Chicago @ 7:00pm 
Chicago, IL, United States

AUG 17 TUE
City Winery Philadelphia @ 7:30pm 
Philadelphia, PA, United States

AUG 19 THU
Center For Arts In Natick @ 8:00pm 
Natick, MA, United States

AUG 20 FRI
StageOne at FTC @ 7:30pm 
Fairfield, CT, United States

AUG 21 SAT
Daryl's House @ 8:00pm 
Pawling, NY, United States

Album will be available in Red or Black Vinyl / Digital / CD

Pre-order Pure here.

Pre-save Pure here.

DISCOGRAPHY here

CONNECT
Website / Facebook / Instagram / Youtube / Spotify 

Robben Ford is pleased to announce the release of his new single "A Dragon's Tail." About the single, Robben says that “A strong guitar and bassline and a singing melody set up a long, blazing guitar solo. This thing rocks!” The single is off the wildly anticipated album, Pure, to drop August 27, 2021, via earMUSIC (distributed by BFD / The Orchard in North America.) Pure will be the first wholly instrumental studio album since 1997's Tiger Walk, and it's available for pre-order now. Pure features the guitar virtuoso's tremendous music vocabulary of jazz, blues, and rock. Pure seamlessly blends a soulful west coast vibe with bluesy hard rock stylings. Some of the exceptional guest musicians featured are Nate Smith, Toss Panos, and Shannon Forest.

About the album, Robben says, “Pure is unlike any recording I’ve ever done. I’ve always been a traditionalist in the way I’ve worked in the studio, bring a great band into a great room with a great engineer, track songs for three to five days, do any overdubbing necessary, then mix and master. I started Pure in that same way. But, somehow, the influence of other musicians on the music, which is inevitable, always felt a little off. It became clear to me that I had to shape this new music myself from the ground up. My engineer and co-producer, Casey Wasner, proved invaluable in making that happen, and most of the music you’ll hear in this recording was accomplished by the two of us working together in his studio, Purple House, getting the right shape and feel to the music, then adding bass and drums after the fact. Having worked in this way, I feel that Pure is perhaps the most complete representation of my musical vision. Previous recordings have been products of a period of development that lead to the music presented here. It’s been very satisfying to have shaped my compositions so thoroughly and to deliver something so completely my own.”

The five-time Grammy nominee has played with artists as diverse as Joni Mitchell, Jimmy Witherspoon, Miles Davis, George Harrison, Phil Lesh, Bonnie Raitt, Michael McDonald, Bob Dylan, John Mayall, Greg Allman, John Scofield, Susan Tedeschi, Keb Mo, Larry Carlton, Davis Staples, Brad Paisley, and many others.

An important and essential component of Robben’s career is his commitment to teaching and passing on what he’s learned over the past 40 years to current and future musicians. His instructional videos and clinics over this time have culminated in a collaboration with TrueFire and the birth of the Robben Ford Guitar Dojo. The wealth of his expertise and creativity is generously presented in these state-of-the-art productions, and will be, for years to come.

TOUR DATES

AUG 13
Waukesha Rotary BluesFest
Delafield, WI

AUG 14
Memorial Hall QTR
Cincinnati, OH

AUG 15
City Winery Chicago
Chicago, IL

AUG 17
City Winery Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA

AUG 19
Center for Arts in Natick
Natick, MA

AUG 20
StageOne at FTC
Fairfield, CT

AUG 21
Daryl's House
Pawling, NY

Andrew Leahey and the Homestead are proud to announce the upcoming release of American Static, Vol. 1, the first offering from a two-volume project spanning 18 original songs. Vol. 1 will be released via Mule Kick Records on October 22, 2021, with Vol. 2 arriving in early 2022.

Hailed by Rolling Stone for their "celebratory mix of sharp storytelling and fist-pumping rock & roll swagger," Andrew Leahey & the Homestead are a timeless band for the modern age, rolling a decade-spanning wealth of influences — the heartland hooks of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, the sweeping guitars of George Harrison, the power-pop of Cheap Trick, the piano craft of Harry Nilsson — into a contemporary sound.

It's a sound that transcends genres and generations. A longtime staple of the Americana and rock & roll communities in Nashville, Leahey has also earned a home on pop/rock radio with singles like "Start the Dance" and "Airwaves" (both taken from his international breakthrough, 2019's Airwaves) and regularly performs with outlaw country artist Elizabeth Cook as the songwriter's lead guitarist.

An expansive double album released in two volumes, American Static veers between larger-than-life rock anthems, Beatles-inspired piano ballads, and 1980s-influenced pop revivalism, with production by Jon Estes (Steelism, John Paul White) and a guest appearance by Sadler Vaden (Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit). Many of Vol. 1's songs came to life during Leahey's year-long "Live & Online" livestream residency, which found the Homestead playing 52 weekly shows throughout the Covid-19 era. Those shows became a Thursday night staple for thousands of fans, landing Leahey a spot in the Top 40 of Pollstar's Livestream chart.

American Songwriter premiered American Static, Vol. 1's lead single, "Good at Gone," days before Andrew Leahey & the Homestead's recent performance at the Americana Music Festival, likening the track to Tom Petty's work. The remainder of American Static, Vol. 1 offers a similar mix of electric guitar, stacked harmonies, and cinematic hooks, showcasing Leahey's talent as a vocalist, storyteller, and multi-instrumentalist.

"This project came together while we were all stuck at home," says Leahey, who wrote all 18 tracks. "I certainly felt like a static American, shut indoors for a year. But there's a real sense of movement to that title, too. Imagine a radio dial that's being turned, with static occurring between stations. That static is simply the noise you have to hear before you find something better. To me, American Static represents both sides of the coin. It's an album about immobility and transition — about the things that linger in our way, and the paths we take past them."

World Party is proud to announce that Goodbye Jumbo will be reissued on vinyl via Seaview Records on Oct 29, 2021. This past year has already seen vinyl reissues of Private Revolution and Bang! – and an expanded Dumbing Up.

World Party is Karl Wallinger; Karl Wallinger is World Party. Musical associates have come and gone, helping the Welsh-born multi-instrumentalist bring his creative ideas to life, but World Party has always been the product of his musical vision.

A list of Karl Wallinger’s early musical influences won’t turn up many surprising names. But what the Prestatyn, Wales-born musician did with those influences resulted in something unique and special. Strong echoes of The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and Sly Stone – to name a few – can be found in the music of World Party, but the group/project has always sported a sound and sensibility that sets it apart.

After working as musical director for the West End production of The Rocky Horror Show, Karl Wallinger joined The Waterboys in 1983. Band leader Mike Scott had recruited him as a keyboardist, but by the time of sessions for 1985’s This is the Sea, Wallinger took on a far more important role in the group, playing multiple instruments, singing, and developing arrangements and orchestrations. He received co-credit for writing the album’s opening track, “Don’t Bang the Drum,” but his contributions went far beyond that, including a major (yet uncredited) role in the writing of what would become The Waterboys’ best-known song, “The Whole of the Moon.” Frustrated, Wallinger left the group and started his own project, World Party.

Its title a statement of liberation and purpose, 1987’s Private Revolution featured Wallinger doing nearly everything: singing, writing, producing and playing most instruments. While a cover of Bob Dylan’s “All I Really Want to Do” was a nod toward one of his heroes, the album as a whole is an expression of the artistic vision of its creator. The rousing single “Ship of Fools” served notice that World Party had arrived; it charted in several countries and was the subject of a popular MTV video. But Wallinger was just getting started.

1990’s Goodbye Jumbo represented a great leap forward. Building on the creative success of World Party’s debut, Wallinger’s second album featured a dozen songs, every one of which sounded like a potential hit single. The record’s standout track, “Put the Message in the Box” distilled all of World Party’s myriad virtues into four minutes of bliss. Setting a pattern that would become a fixture of World Party releases, the album was greeted by near-unanimous critical acclaim.

Released in 1993, Bang! was Wallinger’s third album as World Party. Seamlessly combining funk, psychedelia, rock, soul and chiming ear-candy pop, it was another critical success. The album spawned three singles including the fan favorite “Is it Like Today?”

Egyptology, World Party’s fourth album, was released in 1997. Perhaps Wallinger’s most fully-realized effort, it showcased his seemingly limitless knack for crafting finely wrought, timeless pop songs full of hooks and heartfelt lyrics. The record’s breakout tunes included the singles “Beautiful Dream” and the ballad “She’s the One.” The latter took on a life of its own when Robbie Williams scored a worldwide hit with his nearly note-for-note remake in 1998.

The 2000 World Party album, Dumbing Up was Wallinger’s first release after leaving Chrysalis Records. While featuring some overt pastiches of some of Wallinger’s influences – in particular The Beatles on “Another 1000 Years” – it successfully worked hip-hop textures into the single “Here Comes the Future.” In 2006 a revised version of the album was released.

Wallinger suffered a debilitating aneurysm shortly after the release of Dumbing Up; he eventually worked his way back to health, returning to music five years later. That return was highlighted by a set at the 2006 Bonnaroo Festival. The next year, he compiled a World Party best-of, Best in Show. In 2008 Wallinger was featured (with Peter Gabriel, Tim Finn, Jah Wobble, Sinéad O’Connor and many others) as part of the project/album Big Blue Ball.

The massive five-disc Arkeology appeared in 2012, featuring a staggering 70 previously-unreleased tracks from throughout World Party’s history; the release underscored Wallinger’s prolific and productive nature. And World Party has remained busy ever since. For a headlining Royal Albert Hall gig in 2012, Wallinger took the opportunity to survey World Party’s deep catalog of hits, fan favorites and little-heard rarities. World Party toured extensively throughout the U.S. in 2014-15.

2021 has seen a flurry of World Party activity, with vinyl reissues of Private Revolution and Bang! – and an expanded Dumbing Up – appearing this past Spring. A special pressing of Egyptology, complete with colored vinyl, is in the works for early 2022. Meanwhile, with his home and studio now moved from London to Hastings, Karl Wallinger is at work recording a new album of World Party soon-to-be classics.

Track Listing
1, Is It Too Late
2. Way Down Now
3. When the Rainbow Comes
4. Put the Message In the Box
5. Ain't Gonna Come Till I'm Ready
6. And I Fell Back Alone
7. Take it Up
8. God On My Side
9. Show Me to the Top
10. Love Street
11. Sweet Soul Dream
12. Thank you World

On his latest album, The Sun Is Shining Down, out January 28th via Forty Below Records, Blues legend John Mayall teams up with a stellar cast to deliver a funky, soulful affair punctuated by brass, violins, harmonica, and electric ukulele.

Special guests include The Heartbreakers’ Mike Campbell, fast-rising roots rocker Marcus King, Americana icon Buddy Miller, Scarlet Rivera of Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Review, Chicago blues guitar mainstay Melvin Taylor and Hawaiian ukulele star Jake Shimabukuro. Also on hand is Mayall’s longtime dynamic Chicago rhythm section of Greg Rzab on bass guitar and Jay Davenport on drums with Austin’s multi-talented and charismatic Carolyn Wonderland on guitar.

Mayall's current single, "Chills And Thrills," features guitarist Mike Campbell, made its debut in Rolling Stone Magazine.  They called it "a stomper that barrels down the blues-rock highway, fueled by Campbell’s lead guitar." Check it out here. "I'm as Good as Gone" had also been released as a single and was premiered exclusively in American Songwriter. Written by Grammy winner Bobby Rush. the track features the extraordinary fretwork of Buddy Miller and Mayall on Hammond B3 organ. LIsten to it here.

The album was recorded at Strawhorse Studios and also at Robby Krieger’s (The Doors) Horse Latitudes studio with Grammy-nominated Producer Eric Corne, The Sun is Shining Down is Mayall’s 5th studio album for Forty Below Records, a fruitful partnership that began with 2014’s A Special Life.

“I couldn’t be happier with the new record,” exclaims Mayall. “I can’t wait to share it with my fans. Each of these special guests brings something unique to the album, and our team works so well together. I think you can hear that chemistry in the music,” raves Mayall.

The album explores a range of styles and eclectic instruments. Scarlet Rivera’s violin beautifully compliments two Mayall originals, the timely “Got to Find a Better Way” and a spirited reboot of the Mayall classic “Deep Blue Sea.” Mike Campbell sounds like a natural-born Bluesbreaker on the funky Bernard Allison cut “Chills and Thrills,” and Marcus King sizzles throughout the soulful “Can’t Take No More,” another Mayall original.
 
Buddy Miller’s baritone tremolo guitar adds a unique and memorable flair to the Bobby Rush composition “I’m as Good as Gone.” At the same time, Jake Shimabukuro’s electric ukulele is nothing short of astonishing on “One Special Lady.” Melvin Taylor proves why he’s been wowing Chicago blues audiences on “Hungry and Ready” and “Driving Wheel” for decades. Finally, Carolyn Wonderland brilliantly concludes the record with a sensitive moving performance on the title track.
 
As significant as each of these guest turns is, however, they can’t overshadow Mayall’s own spirited vocals, iconic harmonica, and lyrical keyboard work on The Sun is Shining Down. “John shines throughout this album, exuding joy and gratitude that are infectious. We all want to give that back to him,” adds producer Eric Corne.

Sugaray Rayford is back with In Too Deep, a modern take on retro-soul that explores the themes of love, loneliness & pertinent social issues of today. This collection of poignant material will drop via Forty Below Records on March 4, 2022. To whet the appetite, Soul Tracks is hosting the exclusive premiere of "Invisible Soldier" here.

A chance meeting in Memphis in 2018 laid the groundwork for a unique musical partnership between soul-blues powerhouse Sugaray Rayford and producer, songwriter Eric Corne. Combining classic soul melodies with funky R & B grooves, raw blues power, and mashed-up with modern sensibilities, the pair's first collaboration, Somebody Save Me, earned Rayford a 2020 Grammy nomination. Later that year, Rayford took home Blues Music Awards for 'Soul Blues Male Artist' and 'B.B. King Entertainer of the Year.'

The summer of 2021 took things further, with the release of the adventurous new single "Homemade Disaster." The song found its home on multiple retro-soul and new blues playlists on Spotify, with PopMatters declaring that the track "will appeal to fans of Gary Clark Jr. and Chicano Batman."

Now they are back with In Too Deep, Rayford's second full-length effort for Forty Below Records.

The album opens with "Invisible Soldier," a song inspired by Rayford's struggles with insomnia from PTSD. The track serves as a reminder that our cities and communities are full of veterans struggling with the aftershocks of war and how it's invisible to most fellow citizens because they're in plain clothes.

Rayford, a 10-year Marine, explains, "I shared with Eric some of what I was going through, and he asked me what I thought about putting it in a song, and that's where "Invisible Soldier" and "In Too Deep" came from. I wanted to sing about social issues as well as just general feelings of love and loneliness and everything in between."

Rayford is a dynamic performer known to put his band through its paces with abrupt feel and style changes. Rayford thrives on funky up-tempo grooves, as evident in another standout song, "Miss Information," which has already received airplay on BBC2's The Blues Show with Cerys Matthews. The song explodes out of the blocks with African flavored horns and percussion on top of a Farfisa organ, wah-wah guitar, and layered harmonies. Rayford delivers a tour de force performance like only he can, making some heavy points while keeping it fun.

In "Please, Take My Hand," Rayford raises the voices of generations who've struggled and persevered with love in the face of oppression, accompanied only by a spare bass drum, handclaps, and cowbell.

Rayford reveals a whole other side on the soulful and sensual "No Limit to My Love," expressive orchestral harp, horns, flutes, and strings along with some of the funkiest lead guitar this side of Bobby Womack, courtesy of Eamon Ryland. It could fit just as easily next to Silk Sonic as Bobby Blue Bland.

"Golden Lady of the Canyon" is a lush soul-country flavored ballad infused with strings, horns, and Stax-style guitar work by Mavis Staples' bandleader Rick Holmstrom. Rayford's soulful croon rising and falling plaintively; it's sure to please fans of the title track from his Grammy-nominated album, Somebody Save Me. 

Grant Dermody & Fotusky are pleased to announce the January 14, 2022 release of Digging in John's Backyard. Dermody, a modern master of the blues harmonica, and guitarist Fotusky, one of the premier acoustic blues guitar stylists in the nation, have finally joined forces to record the album inspired by their shared connection to the late John Jackson, the Virginia bred country blues guitarist and master of the Piedmont style who gave up in 1949, only to be "rediscovered" in the 1960's. As a matter of fact, Grant and Frank might never had met if not for John Jackson.

Grant’s journey on the harmonica started with the wide open, amplified Chicago sound. He first started studying and playing acoustic blues - Piedmont and Delta style, when he was hired to teach harmonica in the mid-1990’s. It was then that he first met John Jackson and John Cephas. The two master bluesmen from Virginia would become great friends and mentors, and the strongest of musical influences. Grant never got to record with John Jackson, but John Cephas played on Grant's first two albums, modestly refusing any pay for his participation.

Frank's connection to John Jackson has a similar trajectory: he was drawn to John Jackson's music, eventually got to meet him and they became great friends. John was not only a musical mentor to Frank; he impressed upon him the great human quality of kindness. Both Grant and Frank can attest to that fact that John not only nurtured them musically, but spiritually as well. It's interesting to note that Grant and Frank didn't meet until after John passed away 2002. Frank and Grant finally got together to record what they do as a duo and to honor John Jackson who got them started, hence, Digging in John’s Backyard was born.

Katie Henry is pleased to announce the January 28th release of On My Way via indie blues giant, Ruf Records.

Leading up to the new release was Henry's 2018 debut, the Blues Blast and IBMA-nominated. High Road. What followed was a starburst of media acclaim, including Henry Yates of Classic Rock, NME, and The Guardian, saluted "a runaway talent you need to keep up with."

Now, with her sophomore release, On My Way, Katie has found another gear. Whether slinging her trusty Gibson SG, hammering the keys, or hollering up a storm, these ten original songs, co-written with bassist and slide-guitarist Antar Goodwin, announced her as an alchemist who creates gemstones from the base metals of American roots.   

The New Jersey songwriter certainly paid her dues, banging on doors, playing piano until her fingers bled, and winning over audiences, one show at a time. With fiery guitar chops and natural charisma, she was soon an NYC favorite. Those there remember songs of various genres; blues, rock, R&B, funk, pop, soul, and country, and her stage presence evoked Bonnie Raitt and Janis Joplin at their most magnetic. The story goes that at one early show, a fan astutely observed: "It's like she's got John Lee Hooker in her pocket!"

And while High Road was the introductory handshake, On My Way is the profoundly personal second album on which Katie gives you her beat-up heart. The album, recorded in May 2021 at Brooklyn's Degraw Sound, was produced by Ben Rice (guitarist.) In addition, Antar Goodwin (bass/slide guitar,) Kurt Thum (piano/organ,) Greg Wieczorek (drums/percussion,) plus British harp ace Giles Robson fleshed out the line-up.

"We recorded the album live during the pandemic," reflects Katie, "and it was so fun to be able to record in a room with people after feeling isolated for such a long time. The majority of the album was recorded live, and I love that feeling. It's like capturing lightning in a bottle."

Katie Henry's eyes are firmly on the horizon. "Catch me if you can," she sings on the closing track of the same name, and it's not just a challenge to her peers but an invitation to her growing army of fans as she forges ahead. "A lot of these songs are about letting go," she considers. "And how scary, but ultimately liberating, it can be.”

Big Chief Monk Boudreaux's album, Bloodstains & Teardrops has been nominated for a Grammy in the 'Best Regional Roots Album' category. The album, released on May 21, 2021, by Tab Benoit’s Whiskey Bayou Records, was produced by Benoit and Rueben Williams.

The oldest living Mardi Gras Indian Chief, Boudreaux is the elder of elders in a tradition dating back to the 1880s. He is a cultural hero,a recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Award, and a well-loved American musical legend. His vast discography includes many records with the Golden Eagles, collaborations with Anders Osborne, Galactic, John Gros and 101 Runners. Nodding to history but clearly thriving in present day, this living legend has performed on Saturday Night Live with Robbie Robertson and has currently been enjoying airplay on Sirius XM's B.B. Kings Bluesville station.

On Bloodstains & Teardrops, the Caribbean cultures of Jamaica and New Orleans collide. The island and the swamp, both find inspiration from the music of the slaves in New Orleans Congo Square. Chief Monk demonstrates its similarities in lyrical, musical, and cultural content. On his journey from the island​ ​to​ ​the​ ​swamp ​he​ ​is​ ​joined​ b​y an array of musical legends including Tab Benoit, Michael Doucet, and Johnny Sansone as well ​as a host of Jamaican​ ​and​ ​Louisiana​ ​musicians​.​

For this project, Monk traveled to Jamaica, finding his Reggae groove with local island musicians. "My manager Rueben Williams suggested we go to Jamaica and make a record, when I got there, I found that Bob Marley had been a fan of mine for many years."

Monk recorded with the reggae band and a toasting-style backup vocalist at Tad’s International Limited studio in Kingston. The six songs he cut, reflected on the inspiration he received from being in Jamaica and seeing the parallels to his New Orleans home. The lines between blues, swamp music and reggae become blurred as Monk developed his songs.

Bloodstains & Teardrops is a beautifully produced album from a near-octogenarian cultural and musical icon. On this recording, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux successfully blurs the lines between blues, swamp music and reggae, imparting wisdom along the way.

The Bacon Brothers are eager to announce the tour dates for their upcoming 'Out of Memory Tour.' The band will be embarking on an East Coast run commencing April 3rd in Ridgefield, CT. Tickets go on sale Friday 12/17 at 10am EST at baconbros.com. Kevin stated, "We're excited to get back out and play live. We've pulled some new tunes together, and we like nothing better than sharing new music with people because you never know how they will react!" Michael Bacon opines, "It feels good to get back in the saddle, vocal exercising, building up callouses, and hanging with my brother and our amazing band."

The pandemic was a fertile time creatively for the brothers. They released a new album, The Way We Love, out of which came an array of accompanying videos. In April 2020, they released the video for "She-Zee-Zee (Easy on My Eyes.") AmericanSongwriter premiered the video for "The Way We Love" in May 2020. "Corona Tune" was premiered by PopMatters in July 2020. In September 2020, the video for "Bigger" was presented as a World Premiere by Ditty TV. And lastly, American Songwriter premiered the brother's most recent video, "British Invasion," in July 2021. While in the midst of producing music videos, Kevin & Michael have also spent the past year serving as judges in the American Songwriter Magazine 2021 Lyric Competition.

On September 11th, The Bacon's performed at the 9/11 Memorial for The Grand Ole Opry's 20th Anniversary September 11th tribute. Watch their moving performance of "Unhappy Birthday" here.

Fiercely devoted to making music, even from an early age (they cite such influences as the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, Motown, Led Zeppelin, Philly Soul, and James Taylor, with mentions from Michael of Pete Seeger, Jimmy Rogers, Chet Atkins, and the Jim Kweskin Jug Band, the two siblings share a singular body of work that's found them spending more than 20 years of working the road and paying their dues, resulting in ten albums – Forosoco (1997), Getting There (1999), Can't Complain (2001), Live: The No Food Jokes Tour (2003), White Knuckles (2005), New Year's Day (2009), Philadelphia Road (2011) 36 Cents (2014), the eponymous, The Bacon Brothers (2018,) and The Way We Love (2020.)

When not making music, Kevin Bacon is an award-winning actor with 80 films and dozens of television and stage credits to his name, resulting in numerous Emmy and Screen Actors Guild nominations cited in his resume. Kevin has recently been filming City on a Hill - Season 3 for Showtime. Emmy-winning composer, Michael Bacon, is back working again on 'Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates' a program that has been a PBS staple for the past 15 years.

THE OUT OF MEMORY TOUR
April 3----Ridgefield, CT----Ridgefield Playhouse
April 5----Ardmore, PA----Ardmore Music Hall
April 6 & 8----Annapolis, MD – Ram’s Head On Stage
April 11 & 12----Alexandria, VA----The Birchmere
April 14----Plymouth, NH----Flying Monkey Performance Center
April 15----Brownfield, ME----Stone Mountain Arts Center
April 16----Beverly, MA----Cabot Theatre

Palm Springs Life has announced the debut of the Oasis Music Festival presented by Agua Caliente Casinos. It will take place from Wednesday, January 26, through Sunday, January 30, 2022. The Oasis Music Festival will include all genres of music and will take place at more than thirty live entertainment venues throughout Palm Springs.

The historic Plaza Theatre will serve as the main concert stage, with participation from more than thirty music venues throughout Palm Springs. Proceeds from ticket sales will go towards the Palm Springs Plaza Theatre Foundation.

The Festival will feature an eclectic lineup of artists, including The Milk Carton Kids, The White Buffalo, Y La Bamba, plus a jazz series presented by the Palm Springs International Jazz Festival featuring Arturo Sandoval, Dee Dee Bridgewater & Bill Charlap, John Beasley & Monk’estra with Alicia Olatuja, and more.

Palm Springs, long-known for its celebrity and swank, has a vast musical history. From the performances of the Rat Pack in the 1950s to the enormity of today’s Stagecoach and Coachella Music Festivals, the Greater Palm Springs Area is a mecca for live music

“We are thrilled to release the long-anticipated news of the inaugural Oasis Music Festival," said Taly Fantini, Director of Events at Palm Springs Life. “This festival will allow people to discover historic Palm Springs through its music history."

Liz Garro, the music curator of the Oasis Music Festival and owner of The Alibi Palm Springs, said, “The Plaza Theatre talent reflects Palm Springs music history and highlights a  wide-ranging mix of current artists."

Kim Crandal, the event producer of the Festival, said, “There is something for everyone. Our Festival will offer over 300 acts of all genres at more than 30 locations, and for the Jazz lover, there will be no better way to spend your Sunday than at the Plaza.” For more information on Oasis Music Festival, go to oasismusicfestival.com.

Artists

The Milk Carton Kids * The White Buffalo * Lee Fields & The Expressions * Emily Rose & the Ramblers * Y La Bamba * The Dip * Thee Sacred Souls *The Flusters * Courtney Chambers * Blasting Echo * Vinny Berry Connection * Giselle Woo & the Night Owls * Shadow Mountain Band * Fabulous Yachtsmen * Nutty * Gand Band * Arturo Sandoval * Dee Dee Bridgewater * John Beasley MONK’estra & Alicia Olatuja * Nacho Bustillos & Quinto Menguante * Oasis DE Noche w/Nacho Bustillos * Super Sonido w/Alfa Alpha * Dave Audé * Morabito * Flannery Exchange - Precious Byrd * Lance Conrad Quartet * Jason Collings * Janet Klein & Her Parlor Boys * Alf Alpha & Friends

Sugaray Rayford is readying the release of "Please Take My Hand" on January 14, 2022. It's the latest single off of In Too Deep, Rayford's new full-length, dropping March 4, 2022, via Forty Below Records.

In "Please Take My Hand," Rayford raises the voices of generations who've struggled and persevered with love in the face of oppression, accompanied only by a spare bass drum, handclaps, and cowbell. Rayford tells Relix Magazine, “This song is about unity regardless of color, religion, race, or creed. We all live on the same planet, so we are all brothers and sisters." Relix is hosting the exclusive premiere of "Please Take My Hand" here.

A modern take on retro-soul, In Too Deep explores the themes of love, loneliness & pertinent social issues of today. The album features the partnership between the soul-blues powerhouse and producer/songwriter Eric Corne. The pair's first collaboration, Somebody Save Me, earned Rayford a 2020 Grammy nomination. Later that year, Rayford took home Blues Music Awards for 'Soul Blues Male Artist' and 'B.B. King Entertainer of the Year.'

The summer of 2021 saw the release of the adventurous single "Homemade Disaster." The song found its home on multiple retro-soul and new blues playlists on Spotify, with PopMatters declaring that the track "will appeal to fans of Gary Clark Jr. and Chicano Batman."

In Too Deep opens with "Invisible Soldier," a song inspired by the 10-year Marine veteran's struggles with insomnia from PTSD. The track serves as a reminder that our cities and communities are full of veterans struggling with the aftershocks of war and how it's invisible to most fellow citizens because they're in plain clothes. Soul Tracks hosted the world premiere and stated that “'Invisible Soldier' was a musical expression of the battles that our troops fight long after the guns fall silent." "Invisible Soldier" has also been the recipient of playlist love from Spotify's 'All Funked Up' and 'Retro Road Trip,' and Apple Music's 'Roadhouse.'

Rayford is a dynamic performer known to put his band through its paces with abrupt feel and style changes. He thrives on funky up-tempo grooves, as evident in another standout song, "Miss Information" premiered in American Songwriter who stated that “Rayford’s voice emerges with a depth that few can replicate. Spiritually, Rayford’s lyrics lean into his gospel and blues influences while embracing today’s sentiments.”  The track has already received airplay on BBC2's The Blues Show with Cerys Matthews and on BBC6 Craig Charles Funk & Soul Show. “Miss Information” has also been playlisted on Spotify's 'Got Blues,' 'In The Name Of The Blues," Apple Music's 'Roadhouse,' and YouTube's 'Grown Folks Choice.

Rayford reveals a whole other side on the soulful and sensual "No Limit to My Love." The track features expressive orchestral harp, horns, flutes, and strings along with some of the funkiest lead guitar this side of Bobby Womack, courtesy of Eamon Ryland. It could fit just as easily next to Silk Sonic as Bobby Blue Bland.

"Golden Lady of the Canyon" is a lush soul-country flavored ballad infused with strings, horns, and Stax-style guitar work by Mavis Staples' bandleader Rick Holmstrom. Rayford's soulful croon rising and falling plaintively; it's sure to please fans of the title track from his Grammy-nominated album, Somebody Save Me.

While not mentioned directly, you can view many of the songs through the lens of the pandemic. Such is the case with the Jackson 5 reminiscent, Gospel tinged "Gonna Lift You Up"; "Outta breath/Outta luck/The mountain's steep/And you feel stuck/Don't be broken-hearted/The world is just in flux/Keep on movin’/Don't ever give up/Gonna Lift You Up."

Corne's production paints unique vignettes with each arrangement to suit the mood of the lyric and Rayford's deft interpretations and portrayals. Corne enlisted some serious heavyweight friends to help him orchestrate the strings and horns on the record, with violinist Eric Gorfain (Dionne Warwick, REM) and from Rayford's current band saxophonist Aaron Liddard (Amy Winehouse), respectively. Also on hand are three mainstays of Corne's studio work, Taras Prodaniuk (Lucinda Williams), Matt Tecu (Jacob Dylan), and Sasha Smith (Priscilla Ahn,) along with Rayford's live Musical Director Drake "Munkihaid" Shining.

Sugaray Rayford's live shows are wild dance parties, but in essence, he is a galvanizing uniter. Some conversations may be had, and some self-reflection may occur, but people leave feeling a sense of joy and togetherness at the end of the day. This shines through on the album's closer, the slinky, funky "United We Stand." Then, as the album fades, Rayford takes us home with concert banter and good vibes, a feeling that lingers, tempting the listener to hit play again.

An impressive assembly of blues music masters, ranging from Blues Hall of Famers to rising stars, will gather in Memphis on Thursday May 5th, for the 43rd Annual Blues Music Awards. Presented by The Blues Foundation, the BMAs honor the past year’s exceptional achievements in blues music recording, performance, and songwriting, as well as supporting the blues rich cultural traditions. This celebratory evening is recognized internationally as the blues world’s premier event brings nominees to town and many on stage to perform.
 
The event takes place at Memphis’ Renasant Convention Center, (255 North Main Street), where a Blue Carpet will lead to the theater. The Blue Carpet pre-show commences at 5pm. Tickets range from individual seats for $150 to Premium tables (seats 10) for $1800. Ticket sales are now open and can be purchased by clicking here.

Topping the list of talented BMA contenders is Tommy Castro, with five nominations, B.B. King Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year, Band of the Year (with The Painkillers), Contemporary Blues Album, and Blues Rock Artist. Castro previously won Band of the Year (2010), B.B. King Entertainer of the Year (2008 & 2010), was a two-time winner for Contemporary Blues Album (2010, 2008), as well as winning Contemporary Blues Male Artist (2010). This is Castro's fourth nomination for the B.B. King Entertainer of the Year award and his first nomination for Album of the Year.
 
And behind Tommy Castro in the nomination count is Tom Hambridge and Chris Cain, each receiving four nominations. Hambridge is up for Instrumentalist – Guitar, and has three entries for Song of the Year, a win he previously captured with a track co-written with Buddy Guy. Finishing the quadruplet nominations is Cain, with nods in both Contemporary categories (Male Artist and Blues Album). Further, this is Cain’s third nomination for Instrumental - Guitar and first nomination for Album of the Year (Raisin’ Cain).
 
Some of the past winners hoping to reclaim awards are Sugaray Rayford (B.B. King Entertainer of the Year), Eric Bibb (Acoustic Blues Artist), Mike Zito (Blues Rock Album), Kingfish (Contemporary Blues Album), Keb’ Mo’ (Acoustic Blues Artist) Ruthie Foster (Contemporary Blues Female Artist), Kim Wilson (Instrument – Harmonica), Danielle Nicole (Instrumentalist – Bass), and Kenny Neal (Contemporary Blues Male Artist).
 
Mike Finnigan, who passed away last August, was posthumously nominated for the Pinetop Perkins Player Award (Instrumentalist – Piano). In addition, Wee Willie Walker & The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra have been nominated for Album of the Year and Soul Blues Album for Not In My Lifetime. Walker passed in 2019 just three days after finishing the album’s recording session.
 
The International Blues Challenge (IBC), taking place this year from May 6-9, has proved to be a fertile breeding ground for up-and-coming blues artists. Previous IBC winners nominated for this year’s Blues Music Awards include Altered Five Blues Band, Selwyn Birchwood, Eden Brent, Kevin Burt, Zac Harmon, Diunna Greenleaf, Dave Keller, Dave Keyes, Mr. Sipp, J.P. Soars, Gabe Stillman, GA-20's Matt Stubbs, and Jontavious Willis. Freshman BMA nominees who once competed as IBC Solo/Duo Challengers are Veronica Lewis and Memphissippi Sounds. Lewis is also the youngest nominee this year at just 18 years old.

The night before the BMAs, The Blues Foundation’s Blues Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony takes place Wednesday, May 4, 2022, at Memphis’ Halloran Centre at the Orpheum (225 South Main Street). Following a 5:30pm cocktail reception, the inductions begin at the Halloran Theater. Tickets, which include ceremony and reception admission, begin at $75 each and, as with any other musical event or charitable donation, they are non-refundable. The 2022 class of inductees will be announced in the coming weeks.
 
The complete list of Blues Music Award nominees can be found below and on The Blues Foundation’s website — www.blues.org. The ballot will be open for voting to current Blues Foundation members only until 11:59 pm CST on Friday, March 18th. To become a Blues Foundation member, visit www.blues.org. Upon membership confirmation, new and renewing members will be sent instructions on how to access the 2022 Blues Music Awards Ballot.
 
Major funding for the 43rd Blues Music Awards is provided by ArtsMemphis, Tennessee Arts Commission, and Memphis Tourism. Special thanks to partners Memphis Airport Authority and DittyTV.
 
The Blues Foundation is a world-renowned Memphis-based organization whose mission is to preserve blues heritage, celebrate blues recording and performance, expand worldwide awareness of the blues, and ensure the future of this uniquely American art form. Founded in 1980, the Foundation has approximately 4,000 individual members and 173 affiliated blues societies representing another 50,000 fans and professionals worldwide. Its signature honors and events — the Blues Music Awards, Blues Hall of Fame inductions, International Blues Challenge, and Keeping the Blues Alive Awards — make it the international hub of blues music. Its HART Fund provides the blues community with medical assistance for musicians in need, while Blues in the Schools programs and Generation Blues Scholarships expose new generations to blues music. The Blues Hall of Fame Museum, located in Downtown Memphis, adds the opportunity for blues lovers of all ages to interact with blues music and history. Throughout the year, the Foundation staff serves the global blues community with answers, information, and news.
 
43rd Blues Music Award Nominees

B.B. King Entertainer of the Year
Tommy Castro
Eric Gales
Mr. Sipp (Castro Coleman)
J.P. Soars
Sugaray Rayford

Album of the Year
Holler If You Hear Me, Altered Five Blues Band
Not In My Lifetime, Wee Willie Walker & The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra
Pinky’s Blues, Sue Foley
Raisin’ Cain, Chris Cain
Tommy Castro Presents A Bluesman Came To Town, Tommy Castro

Band of the Year
Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra
J.P. Soars and the Red Hots
Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials
Sugaray Rayford Band
Tommy Castro & The Painkillers

Song of the Year
"Fragile Peace and Certain War", written & performed by Carolyn Wonderland
"Holler If You Hear Me", written by Tom Hambridge (performed by Altered Five Blues Band)
"I'd Climb Mountains", written & performed by Selwyn Birchwood)
"Real Good Lie", written by Jim Gaines, Christine Vitale, Larry Batiste, Anthony Paule (performed by Wee Willie Walker & The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra)
"Somewhere", co-written by Tommy Castro & Tom Hambridge (performed by Tommy Castro & The Painkillers)

Best Emerging Artist Album
GA-20 Does Hound Dog Taylor: Try It... You Might Like It!, GA-20
Just Say The Word, Gabe Stillman
Live On Beale Street: A Tribute To Bobby "Blue" Bland, Rodd Bland and the Members Only Band
Welcome To The Land, Memphissippi Sounds
You Ain't Unlucky, Veronica Lewis

Acoustic Blues Album
Dear America, Eric Bibb
Land of the Sky, Catfish Keith
Let’s Get Happy Together, Maria Muldaur
Let Loose These Chains, Hector Anchondo
The Trio Sessions, EG Kight

Blues Rock Album
Alafia Moon, Damon Fowler
Dance Songs For Hard Times, The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band
Resurrection, Mike Zito
Tinfoil Hat, Popa Chubby
Unemployed Highly Annoyed, Jeremiah Johnson

Contemporary Blues Album
662, Kingfish
Damage Control, Curtis Salgado
Holler If You Hear Me, Altered Five Blues Band
Raisin’ Cain, Chris Cain
Tommy Castro Presents A Bluesman Came To Town, Tommy Castro

Soul Blues Album
Let’s Have A Party, Gerald McClendon
Long As I Got My Guitar, Zac Harmon
Not In My Lifetime, Wee Willie Walker & The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra
You Get What You Give: Duets, Dave Keller
You Gotta Have It, Tia Carroll

Traditional Blues Album
Be Ready When I Call You, Guy Davis
Bob Corritore & Friends: Spider In My Stew, Bob Corritore
Boogie w/ R.L. Boyce (Live), R.L. Boyce
Little Black Flies, Eddie 9V
Pinky’s Blues, Sue Foley

Acoustic Blues Artist
Eric Bibb
Kevin Burt
Guy Davis
Doug MacLeod
Keb’ Mo’

Blues Rock Artist
Albert Castiglia
Tommy Castro
Tinsley Ellis
Ana Popovic
Joanne Shaw Taylor

Contemporary Blues Female Artist
Vanessa Collier
Thornetta Davis
Ruthie Foster
Danielle Nicole
Carolyn Wonderland

Contemporary Blues Male Artist
Selwyn Birchwood
Chris Cain
Christone "Kingfish" Ingram
Kenny Neal
Mr. Sipp (Castro Coleman)

Soul Blues Female Artist
Annika Chambers
Trudy Lynn
Terrie Odabi
Kat Riggins
Vaneese Thomas

Soul Blues Male Artist
William Bell
Don Bryant
John Nemeth
Johnny Rawls
Curtis Salgado

Traditional Blues Female Artist (Koko Taylor Award)
Rory Block
Sue Foley
Rhiannon Giddens
Diunna Greenleaf
EG Kight

Traditional Blues Male Artist
Cedric Burnside
Super Chikan
Taj Mahal
Sugar Ray Norcia
Jontavious Willis

Instrumentalist - Bass
Willie J. Campbell
Larry Fulcher
Jerry Jemmott
Scot Sutherland
Danielle Nicole

Instrumentalist - Drums
Danny Banks
June Core
Tom Hambridge
Derrick D'Mar Martin
Chris Peet

Instrumentalist - Guitar
Christoffer "Kid" Andersen
Chris Cain
Laura Chavez
Anson Funderburgh
Eric Gales
J.P. Soars

Instrumentalist - Harmonica
Billy Branch
Bob Corritore
Jason Ricci
Brandon Santini
Kim Wilson

Instrumentalist - Horn
Mindi Abair
Jimmy Carpenter
Marc Franklin
Regi Oliver
Nancy Wright

Instrumentalist - Piano (Pinetop Perkins Piano Player Award)
Eden Brent
Mike Finnigan
Dave Keyes
Veronica Lewis
Jim Pugh

Instrumentalist - Vocals
Thornetta Davis
Ruthie Foster
John Nemeth
Sugaray Rayford
Curtis Salgado

Michelle Malone is pleased to announce the upcoming release of her new album, 1977 on April 22, 2022 via SBS Records, distributed by BFD/The Orchard. And to kick-off the campaign, Americana Highways premiered the first single, "Not Who I Used to Be".

A mainstay of American roots music for more than 30 years, Michelle Malone has built an award-winning career as a songwriter, road warrior, and modern-day guitar hero. Her music is ingrained in the sounds of the American South, mixing the rebellious stomp of roadhouse Rock 'n Roll with the raw grit of Blues, the holy-rolling rasp of gospel, the slow-motion swagger of country-soul, and the organic warmth of folk music. Proudly based in Atlanta, Georgia, she's always worn her influences on her sleeve — but her music is unmistakably her own.

With 1977, Michelle returns to her roots as a singer/songwriter. This is an organic, stripped-down album that finds her looking to the past to help make sense of the present. Informed by artists like Neil Young, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, and Fleetwood Mac — all of whom were mainstays on the FM radio during the late 1970s, back when Michelle first picked up her guitar and began to play along — 1977 tones down the amplified bombast of her previous albums, focusing instead on a reflective mix of acoustic guitar, timeless melodies, and unforced arrangements. It's a reminder that Michelle Malone's songs always pack a punch, regardless of the decibel level.

"I'm a big fan of 1970s music, especially singer/songwriters from the Laurel Canyon scene," she explains. "1977 is the year I started playing guitar — the year I started becoming ME — so music from that era has always felt special. It takes me back to a place that was safe, sound, and comforting. That's the sound I was drawn to when I was beginning to write this record."

Michelle had already spent decades on the road by the time she began writing 1977, regularly playing more than 200 shows a year. Most of those shows took place in clubs and noisy bars — places where her skills as a show-stopping vocalist and hotshot slide guitarist enabled her not only to express herself, but to rise above the clamor of the room, too. Along the way, she turned a number of heroes into genuine fans, from music industry legend Clive Davis (who personally signed Michelle to her major-label record deal with Arista, years before she launched her own label and kickstarted her journey as a do-it-yourself independent) to collaborators like Gregg Allman, Shawn Mullins, and the Indigo Girls. The New York Times rightfully hailed her as "the kind of singer and songwriter who can jolt things into overdrive," while Rolling Stone praised her "soulful ballads and rowdy, riffy blasters."

Sarah Jane Nelson is pleased to announce the April 29th release of her new full-length, Shelby Park. Nelson’s latest effort includes songs about marriage, divorce, motherhood, beauty, and self-acceptance. She even tackles the issue of sexual assault with the hauntingly brave and beautiful, “Smile Pretty.” Straddling the worlds of Americana and Classic Country, she sings truthfully and from the heart.

Alot has been going on professionally for Sarah Jane. Her latest video, "I Wish I Missed You" premiered in The Boot and has been added to CMT.com, watch it on CMT here. Sarah Jane recently won the country division in the MerleFest Chris Austin Songwriting Contest and has been a finalist for the International Songwriting Competition and Kerrville New Folk Festival.

Born in southern Arkansas, Sarah Jane grew up with loving parents who would flirt and sing in harmony to 1960’s break-up songs by Elvis Presley and Skeeter Davis. Summers were spent with her Mammy and Pappy traveling to bluegrass festivals in their motorhome, the little curly-haired girl dancing to the fiddles and banjos, embraced by the tight-knit bluegrass community. Her father’s work takes the family to the bayou of Monroe, Louisiana, and the utopia is interrupted when her idyllic home breaks up, rocked by infidelity that nobody saw coming. Her world turned upside down, she retreats to the radio, back to her sad country songs, stories woven around her pain.

A month after high school graduation, Sarah Jane won America’s Miss T.E.E.N. beauty pageant, moved to NYC, and started performing in plays and musicals. Within a few short years, she made her Broadway debut in Julie Taymor’s The Green Bird and starred in SWING on Broadway and the 1st National Tour. Then life took priority over career, she got married, had children, moved to Nashville, and then got divorced. As a newly single mother, Sarah Jane turned back to the country and gospel music from her childhood, writing her way to resilience, through grief, and toward love.

Nelson’s latest collection, Shelby Park, was recorded at The Rukkus Room in Nashville and produced by Sarah Jane Nelson, Jamie Tate (Taylor Swift, Thomas Rhett & Justin Moore.) Sarah Jane wrote seven songs solo and paired up with I’m Not Broken co-writer Kenny Foster for three tunes. For the heartfelt love letter from mother to child, “Mama Loves You” Nelson co-wrote with fellow single mom and East Nashville songwriter, Katie Boeck.

Sugaray Rayford is pleased to announce the release of In Too Deep out March 4, 2022 via Forty Below Records. This new release finds Rayford teaming up again for a second outing with songwriter / producer Eric Corne.  

Rayford is a dynamic performer known to put his band through its paces with abrupt feel and style changes. He thrives on funky up-tempo grooves, as evident in another standout song, "Miss Information" which has already received airplay on BBC6 from the The Blues Show with Cerys Matthews and "Gonna Lift You Up" which has been embraced by The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Show, also on BBC6. The record is off to a roaring start in the U.S. at AAA radio with a performance planned for the Non-Comm Convention at WXPN / Philadelphia in May.

There has been no shortage of playlist love from a variety of Spotify playlists that include, 'All Funked Up', 'Feelin' Good', 'Retro Road Trip', 'Got Blues', and 'In The Name Of The Blues'. The album also captured the cover & top spot on the Spotify Nu Blue Playlist. The record is the featured album on Apple Music's Soul / Funk page as well as having three songs, two of which are in the top positions on Apple's 'Roadhouse' playlist. Lastly the album nabbed a spot on YouTube's 'Grown Folks Choice’. All this has translated to Sugaray's Spotfy receiving over 100,000  listeners per month. Apple is roadhouse.

Soul Tracks hosted the world premiere and stated that “'Invisible Soldier' was a musical expression of the battles that our troops fight long after the guns fall silent." Premiered by Relix, "Please Take My Hand", raises the voices of generations who've struggled and persevered with love in the face of oppression. A World Premiere for "No Limit to My Love" was hosted by Americana network Ditty TV. Other premieres have included "Gonna Lift You Up", in  American Blues Scene and "Miss Information" in American Songwriter.

And the critics rave....

“Rayford’s voice emerges with a depth that few can replicate. Spiritually, Rayford’s lyrics lean into his gospel and blues influences while embracing today’s sentiments.”  - American Songwriter

"Rayford gives voice to people who have faced struggles with oppression." - Relix

“Sugaray Rayford’s the total package – brilliant songwriting, energetic performanvces, inimitable vocals – and In Too Deep reveals every facet of his marvelous gifts to us.” No Depression
 
“'Invisible Soldier' is a musical expression of the battles that our troops fight long after the guns fall silent." - Soul Tracks
 
What makes “In Too Deep” a joy to experience is that the blues according to Rayford strays far from a down and out mood while boldly addressing what is pertinent to humanity. Four and three-quarter stars out of Five. - Urban Music Scene

The 12 honorees of The Blues Foundation's Blues Hall of Fame's 42nd class encompass over 70 years of music, spanning from Lucille Bogan in the 1920s & 1930s, Little Willie John in the 1950s & 1960s, and Johnnie Taylor from the 1950s through the 1990s. This year's inductees in the Blues Hall of Fame's five categories — Performers, Non-Performing Individuals, Classics of Blues Literature, Classics of Blues Recording (Single), and Classics of Blues Recording (Album) — demonstrate how the blues intersects with a wide variety of American music styles: soul, blues, R&B, and rock' n' roll.

The new Blues Hall of Fame performers aren't just exceptional musicians, but they also are educators, innovators, entrepreneurs, and activists determined to leave their mark on the world.

Lucille Bogan recorded some of the most memorable songs of the pre-World War II era, recording from 1923-1935 for Okeh, Paramount, Brunswick, Banner, Melotone, and other labels. Her songs were covered by B.B. King, John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson, Jimmy Rogers, Memphis Minnie, and others, ​but she became more well known for the controversial themes her music embodied. Little Willie John was a soul, blues, and rock 'n' roll star whose meteoric rise and tragic fall ended when at age 30 he died in prison. Labeled as a "singer's singer" by none other than B.B. King, this blues and ballad vocalist extraordinaire had his first national hit while still a teenager. Ten of his records crossed over to the pop charts, which landed him three appearances on Dick Clark's American Bandstand. Johnnie Taylor spent his early years as a solo performer singing gospel, although his first recording was as a member of the doo-wop group, The Five Echoes. ​While signed to Stax from 1966-1974, he recorded his breakthrough single "Who's Making Love." His next biggest hit came with the 1976 platinum-selling "Disco Lady." Later, Taylor took his gospel-influenced blues, soul, and funk to Malaco, where he found a new home for his music until the end.

While he never met Elvis Presley, Otis Blackwell is best known for writing Presley's massive hits, "Don't Be Cruel," "All Shook Up," and "Return To Sender." He's also credited as writing "Breathless" and "Great Balls of Fire" for Jerry Lee Lewis as well as the Little Willie John/Peggy Lee hit, "Fever." He recorded for RCA Victor, the Jay-Dee label, and others but avoided the limelight finding his niche in songwriting. Mary Katherine Aldin has spent the past 60 years behind the scenes in the blues and folk music worlds, as a voice on the radio and as compiler or annotator of blues and folk reissue albums for Rhino, Vanguard, MCA/Chess, Columbia, and other labels. She was nominated for a GRAMMY® for her liner notes for The Chess Box by Muddy Waters. Aldin also served in various editorial positions at Living Blues, Blues & Rhythm, and others and secured publishing rights for artists at Folklore Productions. She was inducted into the Folk DJ Hall of Fame in 2018 and is still broadcasting for KPFK's "Roots Music & Beyond."

Bo Diddley’s Bo Diddley is 2022’s Classic of Blues Recording: Album, which compiled 12 of his groundbreaking singles on Chess Records’ Checker subsidiary. There are five Classic of Blues Recording: Singles receiving Hall of Fame induction: Sonny Boy Williamson II’s 1951 single “Eyesight to the Blind” the first release by the master harmonica player and singer, Bobby “Blue” Bland’s 1957 hit “Farther Up the Road,” Roy Brown’s 1947 release “Good Rocking Tonight” hit No. 1 on the R&B charts when covered by Wynonie Harris, B.B. King’s “Rock Me Baby” released in 1964 was one of his biggest hits on the Billboard pop charts, and the exuberant “Rollin’ and Tumblin’” released in 1950 by the Baby Face Leroy Trio.

Entering the Blues Hall of Fame as a Classic of Blues Literature is Red River Blues​: The Blues Tradition in the Southeast, written by British author Bruce Bastin and hailed as an acclaimed work of blues scholarship.

The Blues Foundation’s 2022 Blues Hall of Fame Inductees

Performers:
Lucille Bogan
Little Willie John
Johnnie Taylor

Individuals – Business, Production, Media, Academic:
Mary Katherine Aldin
Otis Blackwell

Classic of Blues Literature:
Red River Blues: The Blues Tradition in the Southeast by Bruce Bastin (University of Illinois Press, 1986)

Classic of Blues Recording - Album:
Bo Diddley – Bo Diddley (Chess/Checker Records, 1958)

Classics of Blues Recording – Single or Album Track:
“Eyesight to the Blind” - Sonny Boy Williamson II (Trumpet, 1951)
“Farther Up the Road” - Bobby “Blue” Bland (Duke, 1957)
“Good Rocking Tonight” - Roy Brown (DeLuxe, 1947)
“Rock Me Baby”  B.B. King (Kent, c. 1964)
“Rollin' and Tumblin' “ - Baby Face Leroy Trio (Parkway, 1950)
 
Due to the global shutdown in 2020 that forced The Blues Foundation to cancel in-person fundraisers, the celebration of the 2020 Blues Hall of Fame Inductees will officially take place along with the 2022 ceremony. Honorees include Billy Branch, Eddie Boyd, Syl Johnson, Bettye LaVette, George "Harmonica" Smith, Victoria Spivey, Ralph Peer, and more. Read the original 2020 press release here.  
 
The Blues Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, held this year in conjunction with the Blues Music Awards and International Blues Challenge week, will occur on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, at the Halloran Centre (225 S. Main St., Memphis). A cocktail reception honoring the BHOF Inductees and Blues Music Awards nominees will begin at 5:30 p.m., with the formal inductions commencing at 6:30 p.m. in the Halloran Theater. Tickets, including the ceremony and reception, are $75 each and are available with Blues Music Awards tickets here.

Coinciding with the Induction Ceremony, ​The Blues Foundation's Blues Hall of Fame Museum will showcase several special items representing the 2020 and 2022 class of inductees. These artifacts will be on display for public viewing beginning the first week of May and will remain on view for visitor enjoyment for the next 12 months.

The Blues Hall of Fame Museum, built through the ardent support and generosity of blues fans, embodies all four elements of The Blues Foundation's mission: preserving blues heritage, celebrating blues recording and performance, expanding awareness of the blues genre, and ensuring the future of the music.

The museum's current exhibit in the upstairs gallery features the work of music photographer Jérôme Brunet. This exhibition features blues legends and Blues Hall of Famers such as B.B. King, Robert Cray, Etta James, Mavis Staples, Honeyboy Edwards, and Johnny Winter to name just a few. Museum visitors can also explore the permanent exhibits and individualized galleries that showcase an unmatched selection of album covers, photographs, historical awards, unique art, musical instruments, costumes, and other one-of-a-kind memorabilia. In addition, interactive displays allow guests to hear the music, watch the videos, and read the stories about each of the Blues Hall of Fame's over 400 inductees.

The museum will re-open in late April with amended hours that will be listed here. Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for students with I.D.; free for children 12 and younger and for Blues Foundation members. Membership is available for as a little as $25 per person; to join, visit www.blues.org. The Blues Foundation's Blues Hall of Fame Museum is located at 421 South Main Street in Memphis, TN.

Dana Fuchs is proud to announce the release of eighth album, Borrowed Time on April 29th. It's her fourth release for German indie Ruf Records.

With her feet planted on both sides of the blues-rock divide, Dana Fuchs is one of the fiercest voices in modern-day roots music. She's equal parts soul singer and bluesy belter, funneling her own story — a tale of small-town roots, family tragedy, trials, and triumph — into the amplified anthems and haunting ballads that fill albums like Bliss Avenue and Love Lives On. With her newest project, Borrowed Time, she digs deep into her southern rock upbringing, saluting the loud, guitar-driven sounds that sound-tracked her childhood years in rural Wildwood, Florida.  

Wildwood was a small place for someone with such big ideas. Raised by an outspoken family of Irish-Catholic New Yorkers, Fuchs didn't fit in with the conservative culture of her hometown, and she developed a rebellious reputation at a young age. Music helped level her out. "My first-grade teacher took me under her wing," she says of those early days in the Deep South. "I just loved music, so she took me to her Baptist church on the black side of town, where I was exposed to a lot of soul. That sound stuck with me."

Equally influential were the bands that her older siblings preferred, from British classic rockers like The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin to American acts like Lynyrd Skynyrd. This was music that sounded like home, full of gospel-sized grit and bluesy bombast. At the same time, it offered a glimpse of a larger universe that lay beyond Wildwood's borders. At a young age, Dana learned that rock & roll wasn't the story of the American South. It was the story of the modern world.  

Borrowed Time explores similarly universal territory. Arriving several years after Love Lives On — her tribute to Memphis staples like Stax/Volt, Hi Records, and Sun Studios, with groove-driven soul songs that served as a backdrop for personal lyrics about her family's struggle with addiction and mental illness — the new album gazes outward, replacing the autobiographical spirit of previous records with tracks that follow other characters' paths. "This is my first time telling so many other people's stories," she admits. "Over the past two years, most people have realized there's no going back to normal. And really, do we want to? I went back to school and had a baby during the pandemic, so I hope I'm coming from a greater place of wisdom and empathy when I create music now. It was time to get out of myself and deliver songs from another person's viewpoint. We're all on this planet together, after all, living on borrowed time."

"Nothing You Own," with its rasped vocals and guitar arpeggios, was inspired by a report about impoverished South Africans in a Cape Town slum, while the mid-tempo "Call My Name" turns the tale of two women riding out the Liberian War in a refugee camp, into a universal story about love and companionship. "Double Down on Wrong," which opens the album with rock & riffs and four-on-the-floor percussion, even takes aim at the politicians who've sown distrust and discord into our everyday lives. To find a musical backdrop for those stories about beauty, suffering, and humanity, Fuchs let go of the reins at Tom Ruf’s behest, and hired an outside producer for the first time. She found a "walking encyclopedia of all genres of music" in producer Bobby Harlow, who encouraged her to focus not on the genre-bending mix of influences that permeated her earlier work, but on the rock & roll that first captivated her attention back in the Bible Belt.  

Along with bandmates like bassist Jack Daley and guitarist Jon Diamond — the latter of whom had taken Fuchs under his wing during her early days in New York City, guided her early exploration of blues music, and co-produced her first four albums — Fuchs headed to snowy Michigan. There, joined by guitarist and recording engineer Kenny Tudrick (The Detroit Cobras), drummer Todd Glass and keyboardist Jordan Champion, the group recorded Borrowed Time in eight inspired days. "We tracked everything live, and it was our first time recording an album with another guitar player," Fuchs explains. "We were going for that rootsy, Stonesy rock & roll sound, so it was like having Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards in the band. The guys would just start jamming, and suddenly, a song that was written on acoustic guitar would turn into this big rocker, and we'd record it on the spot. The most takes we did of a single song until we got it right was three. It was the fastest album I've ever made."

For fans who first discovered Dana Fuchs in the off-Broadway musical Love, Janis (where she portrayed Janis Joplin) or the Golden Globe-nominated film Across the Universe (where she sang The Beatles' "Helter Skelter"), Borrowed Time also makes plenty of room to highlight her show-stealing voice. The UK's Classic Rock Magazine praised those vocals as "juke-joint dirty and illicit, evoking Joplin, Jagger and a cigarette bobbing in a glass of bourbon," while PopMatters enthused, "Dana Fuchs has one of those unmistakable voices, one perfect for exploring the confluence of blues and soul, the places where Otis Redding and Janis Joplin rub elbows and where the night and smoke get thick." The praise is well-deserved, with Fuchs turning Borrowed Time into a showcase not only for her raw, rock-inspired rasp, but also the southern twang of "Lonely Lie" ("that's my tribute to Lucinda Williams, who took country to this this dirgey place that I love," she says) and the gruff, Springsteen-sized delivery of the album's title track.  

You can take the singer out of Wildwood, but you can't take the Wildwood out of the singer. Decades after her musical awakening in small-town Florida, Dana Fuchs pays proper tribute to the sounds of the south — particularly the loud, seat-shaking slash-and-burn of rock & roll — with Borrowed Time. "In my genre, you're never going to do a show without someone asking for 'Freebird,'" she says with a laugh. "Instead of covering Skynyrd, I just made my own southern rock album." Borrowed Time also finds her reuniting with Ruf Records, returning Fuchs to the label's roster after the independent release of Love Lives On.  

With songs that emphasize support and sisterhood during times of struggle, Borrowed Time is an album for the present, inspired by the incendiary music of the past. "This marks the beginning of Chapter 2, in music as well as in life," says Fuchs. "I'm going out into the world and writing about the people who share it with me. My own story is always going to be in there, too, but this is the first album where other people's stories are informing my own emotions."

The Bacon Brothers are readying the release of the first single off their forthcoming summer EP, Erato, due out July 8th. The first track, "In Memory (Of When I Cared)" to be released on April 8, 2022, was co-written with Desmond Child and Void Stryker.

Bound by blood and a mutual love of American roots music, The Bacon Brothers have spent the past quarter-century in a creative whirl, funneling their shared DNA into a genre-bending sound. They call that sound "Forosoco" — a blend of folk, rock, soul, and country influences, delivered by two songwriters who were born to collaborate — and it's taken the siblings across the world, from shows in Japan to performances at American landmarks like Carnegie Hall and the Grand Ole Opry.
 
The Bacon Brothers turn a new page with their eleventh release, Erato, whose five songs showcase the duo at their diverse peak. It's an EP of dynamic contrasts: quiet moments and big payoffs, organic instrumentation and electronic textures, self-penned songs and high-profile collaborations. For Michael and Kevin Bacon, it's also the continuation of a story that began long ago in Philadelphia, where the two siblings were raised on a soundtrack of 1970s singer/songwriters, Philly soul singers, and classic rock bands.  
 
"We're still exploring the sound we began making 25 years ago; we've just gotten a lot better at it," says Michael, whose success as an Emmy-winning composer mirrors his brother's own accolades as an A-list Hollywood actor. "Music is a life's work. It's a universe of things yet to know. It's exciting to be doing stuff we couldn't have done 20 years ago — to know that we've come so far, yet still have so much left in the tank."

"We're a songwriting band, and the songs lead the way," Kevin explains. "We're not beholden to a specific sound. We just write the songs and let them point us in the right direction. That's how we've done it since the very beginning."
 
The general Bacon Brothers writing routine usually found the pair writing separately then singing their own compositions. So, bringing in a co-writer was a new experience and a welcome one at that. "In Memory (Of When I Cared)" finds the siblings teaming up with songwriting legend Desmond Child for a track that splits the difference between minor-key rock & roll and modern-day pop. "Desmond has a gift for writing magnetic songs that people get trapped inside of," Michael says of Child, a Songwriters Hall of Fame icon whose songwriting credits include Bon Jovi’s "Livin' on a Prayer," Aerosmith's "Crazy," and Joan Jett's "I Hate Myself For Loving You." Working with a co-writer was a rare experience for the Bacons, whose previous 10 albums were almost exclusively written by Kevin and Michael. In Desmond Child, they found more than just a collaborator — they found validation in their strengths as prolific craftsmen, too.

Pre-save the single here.

UPCOMING SHOWS

April 5----Ardmore, PA----Ardmore Music Hall
April 6 & 8----Annapolis, MD – Ram’s Head On Stage
April 11 & 12----Alexandria, VA----The Birchmere
April 14----Plymouth, NH----Flying Monkey
April 15----Brownfield, ME----Stone Mountain Arts Center
April 16----Beverly, MA----Cabot Theatre
June 24----Rochester, NY----Rochester Intl. Jazz Festival

Forty Below Records announces the signing of celebrated Blues and Roots musician Joe Louis Walker. A Blues Hall of Fame inductee and six-time Blues Music Award winner, NPR described Walker as “a legendary boundary-pushing icon of modern blues”. His 2015 release Everyone Wants a Piece was nominated for the Contemporary Blues Grammy. Walker dueted with B.B. King on his Grammy Award-winning Blues Summit album and played guitar on James Cotton’s Grammy winning album Deep in the Blues.

Regarded as one of the greatest bluesmen of his generation, Walker’s output spans the gamut of American Roots music. His playing "blows all over the map…gutbucket blues, joyous gospel, Rolling Stones-style rock crunch, and aching R&B. Walker’s guitar playing is fine and fierce." opines Billboard.

A brilliantly lyrical guitarist, soulful singer and prolific songwriter, Walker has toured extensively throughout his career, performing at the world’s most renowned music festivals and earning a legion of dedicated fans. He has recorded with Ike Turner, Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal,  and Steve Cropper, opened for Muddy Waters and Thelonious Monk, hung out with Jimi Hendrix, Freddie King, Mississippi Fred McDowell, and was a close friend and roommate to Mike Bloomfield.

Walker’s 1986 debut album Cold Is the Night on HighTone Records announced his arrival in stunning fashion, and his subsequent output for Verve, Alligator, Hightone, and others has only served to further establish Walker as one of today's leading bluesmen. The New York Times raved, "Walker is a singer with a Cadillac of a voice. His guitar solos are fast, wiry and incisive, moaning with bluesy despair." Rolling Stone simply calls him "ferocious." Walker long ago earned his rightful place among the pantheon of legendary electric blues singer/guitarist/songwriters like B.B. King, Buddy Guy and Luther Allison. Blues Revue calls Walker "one of contemporary blues' most dynamic and innovative. musicians, releasing consistently exciting music... soulful, heartfelt and spellbinding." Living Blues effused, "His fretwork is indelibly stamped with his own trademark blend of emotional heat and impeccable precision. Even at his most flamboyant, Walker sounds as if he's playing ideas, not just notes. 

Already at work with Producer Eric Corne (John Mayall, Walter Trout, Sugaray Rayford), new music is expected this fall with a full-length album following in early 2023.

The Renasant Convention Center was packed with blues musicians, fans, and music-world luminaries on May 5th, anxious to see who would be the winners at the 43rd Annual Blues Music Awards. Besides awarding honors in 25 categories, the BMAs, as is its tradition, featured performances from many nominees, with the gala ending in a jubilant all-star jam.
 
Tommy Castro was the evening’s top award winner, earning three BMAs, first for the B.B. King Entertainer of the Year (which he won previously in 2010 and 2008) and for Album of the Year for Tommy Castro Presents A Bluesman Came to Town, and lastly for taking home the honors for Band of the Year with his band, Tommy Castro & The Painkillers.
 
This year, Sue Foley was one of the two double winners, capturing Traditional Blues Album for the first time and winning Traditional Blues Female Artist – Koko Taylor Award, repeating her 2020 win. Fresh off his Grammy win, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram took home Contemporary Blues Male Artist for the third consecutive year. He was also awarded Contemporary Blues Album, which he previously won a BMA for in 2020.
 
Song of the Year was awarded for the first time to Selwyn Birchwood with “I’d Climb Mountains," which he also recorded. Making their BMA debut for Best Emerging Artist Album was Rodd Bland & The Members Only Band for LIVE ON BEALE STREET: A Tribute to Bobby “Blue” Bland.

Retaining their titles were seven-time BMA winners Keb’ Mo for Acoustic Blues Artist and Curtis Salgado for Soul Blues Male, Danielle Nicole won Instrumentalist Bass. Jimmy Carpenter captured Instrumentalist - Horn and, Mike Zito claimed the Blues Rock Album with Ressurection.
 
Re-gaining their BMA crowns were Eric Bibb for Acoustic Blues Album, Albert Castiglia for Blues Rock Artist, Annika Chambers for Soul Blues Female, and Jason Ricci for Instrumentalist – Harmonica.
 
Winners of multiple BMA Awards making their debut in a category were Taj Mahal for Traditional Blues Male Artist, Tom Hambridge for Instrumentalist – Drums, and Eric Gales for Instrumentalist – Guitar. In addition, Mike Finnegan won Instrumentalist – Piano (Pinetop Perkins Piano Player Award), and John Nemeth took home Instrumentalist – Vocals. Lastly, Zac Harmon was awarded Soul Blues Album for Long As I Got My Guitar.

Here is the complete list of Blues Music Award winners:
 
Acoustic Blues Album            Dear America, Eric Bibb
Acoustic Blues Artist              Keb’ Mo’
Album of the Year                  Tommy Castro Presents A Bluesman Came to Town, Tommy Castro  
B.B. King Entertainer              Tommy Castro
Band of the Year                     Tommy Castro & The Painkillers
Best Emerging Artist Album    Live on Beale Street: A Tribute to Bobby “Blue” Bland,  
                                                Rodd Bland & the Members Only Band
Blues Rock Album                  Resurrection, Mike Zito
Blues Rock Artis                     Albert Castiglia
Contemporary Blues Album   662, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Contemporary Blues Female Artist   Vanessa Collier
Contemporary Blues Male Artist  Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Instrumentalist-Bass              Danielle Nicole
Instrumentalist-Drums           Tom Hambridge
Instrumentalist-Guitar            Eric Gales
Instrumentalist-Harmonica    Jason Ricci
Instrumentalist-Horn             Jimmy Carpenter
Instrumentalist Pinetop Perkins Piano Player: Mike Finnigan
Instrumentalist-Vocals          John Nemeth
Song of the Year                   “I’d Climb Mountains,” written & performed by Selwyn Birchwood
Soul Blues Album                  Long As I Got My Guitar, Zac Harmon
Soul Blues Female Artist       Annika Chambers
Soul Blues Male Artist           Curtis Salgado
Traditional Blues Album        Pinky’s Blues, Sue Foley
Traditional Blues Female Artist Koko Taylor Award: Sue Foley
Traditional Blues Male Artist  Taj Mahal

The Blues Music Awards represented just one of the many highlights of the Blues Foundation’s exciting Blues Music Week, kicking off on May 4th with its Blues Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The BHOF inductees included pre-war performer and songwriter Lucille Bogan, the soul, blues, rock ‘n’ roll star Little Willie John, renowned songwriter, artist Johnnie Taylor, and legendary songwriter Otis Blackwell.
 
Classic recordings that the Blues Hall of Fame honored this year were Sonny Boy Williamson II’s “Eyesight to the Blind,” Bobby “Blue” Bland’s “Farther Up the Road,” Roy Brown’s “Good Rocking Tonight,” B.B. King’s “Rock Me Baby,” “Rollin’ and Tumblin’” by the Baby Face Leroy Trio as well as Bo Diddley’s classic album, Bo Diddley. This year’s non-performing inductee was Mary Katherine Aldin, who worked as an editor, disc jockey, compiler, and annotator of blues and folk reissue albums. The Classic of Blues Literature entrant was Red River Blues: The Blues Tradition in the Southeast, written by British author Bruce Bastin.
 
Judith Black, President, and CEO of the Blues Foundation, effused: “What an amazing reunion after nearly three years of separation. It was an awards evening filled with awesome music, wonderful fellowshipping, and exciting honors. It was apparent everywhere you looked that people were thrilled to be back and, I am sure they could tell we were ecstatic to welcome everyone back.”
 
The Blues Foundation is the world-renowned Memphis-based organization whose mission is to preserve blues heritage, celebrate blues recording and performance, expand worldwide awareness of the blues, and ensure the future of this uniquely American art form. Founded in 1980, the Foundation has over 4,000 individual members and 175 affiliated blues societies representing 50,000 fans and professionals worldwide. Its signature honors and events — the Blues Music Awards, Blues Hall of Fame inductions, International Blues Challenge, and Keeping the Blues Alive Awards — make it the international hub of blues music. Its HART Fund provides the blues community with medical assistance for musicians in need, while Blues in the Schools programs and Generation Blues Scholarships expose new generations to blues music. The newly created COVID-19 Blues Musician Emergency Relief Fund has already come to the rescue for close to 100 blues musicians in need of financial assistance for basic necessities such as housing and utilities. The Blues Hall of Fame Museum, located in Downtown Memphis, adds the opportunity for blues lovers of all ages to interact with blues music and history. The Foundation staff serves the global blues community with answers, information, and news throughout the year.

Freedy Johnston is pleased to announce the release of "There Goes a Brooklyn Girl", the first single off of his forthcoming album, and premiered previously by The Big Takeover.

On September 9th, Forty Below Records will release Johnston’s 9th album, Back on the Road to You. It’s a record steeped in wit, humor, pathos, love, and friendship drenched with memorable, infectious melodies. Johnston recorded the album in Los Angeles with producer Eric Corne after setting up house in nearby Joshua Tree. The new surroundings seem to have imbued the album’s mood and instrumentation with echoes of The Byrds, Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, and Neil Young. Joining Johnston in the studio were Aimee Mann, Susanna Hoffs of The Bangles, and long time collaborator, Susan Cowsill, along with an all-star roots music band, including Doug Pettibone (Lucinda Williams), Dusty Wakeman (Jim Lauderdale), Dave Raven (Shelby Lynn) and Sasha Smith (Priscilla Ahn).

In 1994 Rolling Stone named Johnston the ‘Songwriter of the Year’, describing him as “A master storyteller, (who) sketches out full-blown tragedies in a few taut poetic lines.” Adding, “He joins that elite cadre of songwriters—Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Elvis Costello—whose brilliant pop compositions turn magical with the addition of a defiantly idiosyncratic singing voice.” 

The lead-off single, “There Goes a Brooklyn Girl'' is a case in point. Jangly hook-laden guitars tug at a heart beat drum pattern, propelled by intermittent finger snaps. Along with Johnston’s uncanny lyrical charm and sweet sentimental harmonies it evokes the image of “a never-ending love story. She's the hip girl in the office who lives with her musician boyfriend out in Williamsburg. He tends bar until 4. It can't last. But at least a song comes out of it,” Johnston quips.

Freedy Johnston has taken an unpredictable path throughout his 30-year career. It's a true underdog story. He has a wicked gift for turning a melodic phrase with equal parts' heart on his sleeve' troubadour and weaver of mysteries. The Kansas native released his first two records with the widely respected indie label Bar/None. Can You Fly made many 'Best of the Year' lists, including, The New York Times, Billboard, and Spin Magazine, to name a few. Robert Christgau for The Village Voice called it "a perfect album," and Playboy declared it "the best album by a new male singer-songwriter in at least a decade." Can You Fly was also cited in music critic Tom Moon's book, 1,000 Recordings To Hear Before You Die.

All the critical acclaim helped Johnston land a four-album major-label deal with Elektra Records. Butch Vig was brought onboard to produce 1994's This Perfect World. The album opened with the hit "Bad Reputation" and included other standouts such as the title track and "Evie's Tears." It garnered more critical acclaim for Johnston, who recorded three additional records for Elektra, 1997's Never Home (produced by Danny Kortchmar), 1999's Blue Days Black Nights (produced by T-Bone Burnett), and 2001's Right Between the Promises (produced by Cameron Greider).

Freedy Johnston is one of those rare singer-songwriters who counts critics among his biggest fans — and whose heroes consider him a peer. Not bad for a self-proclaimed "geek in glasses who never left his room. Back on the Road to You is a return to grace for this gifted songwriter. It embodies the sound of an American original reminding us that he is still considered one of the best songwriters of his generation.

One act came from France and the other from Phoenix, but they both proved to be outstanding at this year’s International Blues Challenge finals, which took place May 9th in Memphis’ historic Orpheum Theatre.

The Wacky Jugs, representing France Blues, left Memphis with a first-place finish in the Band Division, while T.C. Carter Band took home the Gibson Guitar Award for Best Band Guitarist (Piedmont Blues Preservation Society.) Eric Ramsey from the Phoenix Blues Society triumphed in the Solo/Duo Division and also took home the Memphis Cigar Box Guitar Award.

Jhett Black from The San Angelo Blues Society picked up the Lee Oskar Harmonica Award for the Best Harmonica Player and also came in second place in the solo/duo division. Winning the Best Self-Produced CD was Memphis Lightning for their album, Borrowed Time.

Receiving recognition too at this year’s IBC Awards in the Band Division was Cros (Phoenix Blues Society), capturing 2nd place, and coming in third was Soul NIght featuring D.K. Harrell (Mississippi Delta Blues Society of Indianola). 

New President and CEO, Judith Black effused, “It’s been a great return for the IBC. Congratulations to all of the winners and everyone who competed. We hope that this year’s IBC was the launch of many amazing blues artists’ careers."

While the Challenge served as a centerpiece of IBC Week, The Blues Foundation also presented a varied line-up of unique events. This year’s recipients of the Foundation’s highly esteemed Keeping the Blues Alive Awards were celebrated at a special ceremony. Other highlights included screenings of the documentaries, Blues Trail Revisited, and Blues on Beale, the Jerome Brunet Into the Light photography exhibit, and the IBC Silent Auction.

On Thursday, May 5th, The Blues Foundation presented its other signature event, the Blues Music Awards. The winners for the 43rd annual BMAs can be found at Blues.org.

The International Blues Challenge is sponsored by Americana Music Association, ArtsMemphis, Blues Festival Guide, Blues Matters, BMI, Canadian Consulate, European Blues Union, Folk Alliance International, Hohner Harmonica, Lancit Digital Media, Lansky Bros., Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, Living Blues, Memphis Airport Authority, Memphis Music Hall of Fame, Memphis Tourism, Rock n’ Soul Museum, Silky O'Sullivan's, Ted Reed Productions, and the TN Arts Commission.

The Blues Foundation is a world-renowned Memphis-based organization whose mission is to preserve blues heritage, celebrate blues recording and performance, expand worldwide awareness of the blues, and ensure the future of this uniquely American art form. Founded in 1980, the Foundation has approximately 4,000 individual members and 173 affiliated blues societies representing another 50,000 fans and professionals worldwide. Its signature honors and events — the Blues Music Awards, Blues Hall of Fame inductions, International Blues Challenge, and Keeping the Blues Alive Awards — make it the international hub of blues music. Its HART Fund provides the blues community with medical assistance for musicians in need, while Blues in the Schools programs and Generation Blues Scholarships expose new generations to blues music. The Blues Hall of Fame Museum, located in Downtown Memphis, adds the opportunity for blues lovers of all ages to interact with blues music and history. Throughout the year, the Foundation staff serves the global blues community with answers, information, and news.

COMPLETE LIST OF INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE’S 2022 WINNERS

BAND DIVISION
Winner: The Wacky Jugs
2nd Place Band: Cros
3rd Place Band: Soul Night featuring D.K. Harrell
 
SOLO/DUO DIVISION
Winner: Eric Ramsey
2nd Place: Jhett Black

GIBSON GUITAR AWARD (BEST BAND GUITARIST)
T.C. Carter
 
MEMPHIS CIGAR BOX GUITAR AWARD (BEST SOLO/DUO GUITARIST)
Winner: Eric Ramsey

LEE OSKAR HARMONICA AWARD (BEST HARMONICA PLAYER)
Winner: Jhett Black

BEST SELF-PRODUCED CD
Winner: Memphis Lightning - Borrowed Time

The Bacon Brothers are proud to announce they will be hitting the road this summer with dates on both coasts. This tour will be in support of their soon to be released EP, Erato.

The Bacon Brothers have spent the past quarter-century in a creative whirl, funneling their shared DNA into a genre-bending sound. They call that sound Forosoco - a blend of folk, rock, soul and country influences, delivered by two songwriters who were born to collaborate - and it's taken the siblings across the world, from shows in Japan to performances at American landmarks like Carnegie Hall and the Grand Ole Opry.

The Bacon Brothers turn a new page with their eleventh release, Erato, whose five songs showcase the duo at their diverse peak. It's an EP of dynamic contrasts: quiet moments and big payoffs, organic instrumentation and electronic textures, self-penned songs and high-profile collaborations. For Michael and Kevin Bacon, it's also the continuation of a story that began long ago in Philadelphia, where the two siblings were raised on a soundtrack of 1970s singer/songwriters, Philly soul singers, and classic rock bands.
 
"We're still exploring the sound we began making 25 years ago; we've just gotten a lot better at it," says Michael, whose success as an Emmy-winning composer mirrors his brother's own accolades as an A-list Hollywood actor. "Music is a life's work. It's a universe of things yet to know. It's exciting to be doing stuff we couldn't have done 20 years ago — to know that we've come so far, yet still have so much left in the tank."
 
On Erato's title track, the brothers appeal directly to the goddess of romantic poetry for inspiration. "Send me lightning in a bottle, Erato," they sing, their voices stacked together in harmony, their melodies flanked by layers of jangling guitar and folk-pop instrumentation. Unfolding like a summoning of the muse herself, it's one of countless highlights on a record that also makes room for the stripped-back soul of "Dark Chocolate Eyes," the atmospheric acoustics of "Karaoke Town," and the summery island-pop of "Let Me Happen To You."
 
"We're a songwriting band, and the songs lead the way," Kevin explains. "We're not beholden to a specific sound. We just write the songs and let them point us in the right direction. That's how we've done it since the very beginning."

This time around, The Bacon Brothers' songs point the duo toward unexplored territory. "Let Me Happen To You" grew out of a piece of unused music Michael had originally composed for a television show two decades earlier. "Michael has another musical life as a composer," Kevin notes, "and turning one of his instrumental compositions into a lyrical song is not something we've ever done before." Likewise, "In Memory (Of When I Cared)" finds the siblings teaming up with songwriting legend Desmond Child for a track that splits the difference between minor-key rock & roll and modern-day pop. "Desmond has a gift for writing magnetic songs that people get trapped inside of," Michael says of Child, a Songwriters Hall of Fame icon whose songwriting credits include Bon Jovi’s "Livin' on a Prayer," Aerosmith's "Crazy," and Joan Jett's "I Hate Myself For Loving You." Working with a co-writer was a rare experience for the Bacons, whose previous 10 albums were almost exclusively written by Kevin and Michael. In Desmond Child, they found more than just a collaborator — they found validation in their strengths as prolific craftsmen, too.
 
Another unexpected collaborator was Kevin's son, Travis Bacon, who produces the track "Karaoke Town." "I wrote it on acoustic guitar," Kevin remembers, "but I also knew that I could support the song's simplicity with a bigger, darker, more electronic arrangement, which is right in my son's wheelhouse."

With its balance of warm acoustics and digital flourishes, "Karaoke Town" represents a rare collaboration between father and son, proof that the apple doesn't fall far from the family tree.
 
Erato was recorded in various cities across the country, from producer Joe Nicolo's studio in Pennsylvania to Travis Bacon's studio in Los Angeles. Two songs were finished in Atlanta, their recording sessions sandwiched between shoots for one of Kevin's film projects. From his home studio in New York, Michael added cello and autoharp to several other tracks. Members of The Bacon Brothers' longtime road band appear on the record's title track, while a handful of first-time collaborators contribute to other songs, turning Erato into one of the band's most diverse records yet. It's also interesting to note that the cover of the EP was also drawn by Kevin.
 
"We're always trying to break out of our specific habits and try something new," Kevin says. "We're two songwriters who have a lot of different influences, and we've learned to embrace that reality. As long as it comes from us, it sounds like us."
 
"If you're an athlete or a dancer, you usually have to launch a new career by the time you're 40," Michael adds. "We're lucky. We're still moving forward and getting better, and that's where we like to be."
 
The family that picks together sticks together. With Erato, Michael and Kevin Bacon — brothers, songwriters, frontmen, and multi-instrumentalists — prove their staying power once again.
 
PRE-SAVE ERATO

TOUR DATES
Jun 24---Rochester, NY---Rochester International Jazz Festival
Jun 25---New York, NY---City Winery
Jun 26---Atlantic City, NJ-–Sound Mind Music Festival
July 14---Minneapolis, MN – Dakota Jazz
July 30---Caroga Lake, NY – Sherman’s Park
July 31---Waterville, ME – Waterville Opera House
Aug 2----Ocean City, NJ – Ocean City Music Pier
Aug 5----Plymouth, NH – The Flying Monkey (Rescheduled)
Aug 6----Brownfield, ME – Stone Mountain Arts Center (Rescheduled)
Aug 7----Beverly, MA – The Cabot (Rescheduled)
Aug 24--San Juan Capistrano, CA – The Coach House
Aug 25--Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern
Aug 26--Agoura Hills, CA – The Canyon
Aug 27--Napa, CA – Blue Note Napa
Aug 28--Napa, CA – Blue Note Napa
Sep 9----New Braunfels, TX – Gruene Hall
Sep 10--The Woodlands – Dosey Doe
Sep 11---Lubbock, TX – Cactus Theater

Dennis Johnson is pleased to announce that he will be releasing his fourth full-length album, Revelation, on July 15, 2022. The video for the first single, "Going Down" was premiered by American Blues Scene.

Known as a world-class slide guitar player, Johnson delivers an album of blues rockers, roots standouts mixed with gospel and country elements, and a slide guitar infused emotional instrumental. "I learned a lot making this record, from arranging and finding great grooves to recording unique guitar tones," Johnson explained. "It always is about getting the groove first. Then, if you can find it, the rest flows naturally."

The rhythm section on the album is anchored by legendary drummer Anton Fig (Late Night w/David Letterman, Joe Bonamassa). Playing piano and B3 on the album is Bob Fridzema (Walter Trout, Joanna Shaw Taylor.) Bassist Jonathan Stoyanoff (Joe Craven) provides basslines and backing vocals. Engineer Chris Bell (Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Samantha Fish, The Eagles) mixed nine songs for the album, and Kevin Shirley (Joe Bonamassa, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin) mixed a final track.

Johnson's evolution as a slide guitarist comes from years of dedicated work. "In the past few years, I have focused on articulations with a slide - types of vibrato, sliding up or down to a note, and moving the slide at various angles like a lap steel player to connect notes - which my made my playing way more expressive," Johnson explained. "This resulted from years of dedicated practice motivated by a passion for slide guitar. I like to work on my weaknesses as a player and turn them into strengths."

A significant shift in Dennis Johnson's guitar tone occurred on this album. "I like notes to bark, as Larry Carlton would say. Give me a Fender Tweed Deluxe with a 5e3 circuit and set it to where the amp is relatively clean with a light touch, but when you play a little harder, the amp breaks up. Its emulative of the human voice changing at different volumes." You can hear precisely that in the song "Revelation." The guitar tone starts off relatively clean but slowly changes to a more broken-up tone as the song progresses. Dennis explained, "There were no pedals used on the track, just a difference in how hard my fingers touch the string. It showcases why the touch sensitivity of Leo Fender's 5e3 circuit on the Tweed Deluxe is genius."

"To evolve as an artist, you take chances and learn new things. So I went exciting new directions on this record." Dennis Johnson says of his new album Revelation. "I am thrilled with the results. This is a stellar rockin' record."

TRACK LISTING

    Going Down
    Talk to You
    Revelation
    Salvation Bound
    32-20 Blues
    Please Don't Go
    Lonesome Valley
    Ramblin
    Two Lights
    Don't Give a Thing

Merle Jagger is proud to announce the forthcoming release of Trash Talking Guitars on July 15th via JTM Music.

It's often said that it's all in a name when it comes to summing up a person's stance. If that's the case, Merle Jagger says all that needs to be shared about alt-country, rockabilly, swing, and retro-loving guitar-based band Merle Jagger. Helmed by Mark Christian, whose own reputation as a top-notch axeman for hire provides considerable prominence, the trio includes drummer Johnny Ray and bassist Gabe Davis.  
 
The origins of the name may seem somewhat obscure, but given their influences — specifically, guitars greats Joe Maphis, Jimmy Bryant, Roy Buchannan, Danny Gatton, and Merle Travis (the latter of whom loaned his name to the budding band… one can only guess where the other half of the moniker came from) — their signature sound is quickly evident. Moreover, these musicians galvanized a style of guitar playing that became a standard for country music in the many years to come.  
 
Consequently, it became embossed in the sound that marked Merle Jagger's debut, Rancho Los Angeles, a series of classic country-flavored jams and instrumental offerings. Nevertheless, Christian realized that performing endless instrumentals on the road wouldn't be enough to bring the band the broader recognition they sought and deserved.  
 
That brings us to the present and Trash Talking Guitars. This new album finds Christian stepping into the dual role of singer and guitarist while still retaining that instrumental acumen that inspired him and his colleague early on. Dubbing their new approach, "Ranch Rock," the songs echo a classic country style flush with tears-in-the-beers ballads flush with loss and heartbreak. Not that they've forsaken their emphasis on instrumentals entirely; the album's final entry, "Ranch Rock Revival," delivers a vigorous work-out that's certain to leave listeners dazzled.  
 
The new album finds Christian teaming up with producer/engineer Michael Dumas, a veteran studio wiz best known for overseeing most of Dwight Yoakum's early albums at his fabled Mad Dog Studios in Burbank, California. Christian and Dumas share a lengthy relationship that stretches back to the early millennium when they worked together overseeing the efforts of any number of bands and artists at Mad Dog before the studio's closing.  
 
Trash Talking Guitars was recorded at Horse Latitude Studios in Glendale, the facility Dumas built for Doors guitarist Robbie Krieger when he served as the live sound engineer for the Doors reunion tours. It was only natural then that the two men opted to reconvene. Indeed, Christian credits the input of Dumas and the members of Dwight Yoakum's band, who he had worked with during those previous sessions and productions, inspiring him to create the original concept for his Merle Jagger band.  
 
"My vision for Trash Talking Guitars was drawn from my love for the country, rock, and country/rock sounds of the '70s," Christian says in reflecting on the new album. "It was a time when recording technology and artistic freedom of expression reached an all-time high."

Not surprisingly then, Trash Talking Guitars emphasizes riffs, solos, guitar lines, classic melodies, and vocal harmonies that reflect sounds of a vintage variety. Likewise, the background vocals share a similar style, one that layers harmonies in ways reminiscent of the way The Eagles, Wings, Waylon Jennings, Pink Floyd, Merle Haggard, the Allman Brothers Band, and Pure Prairie League would tailor their's back in the day.  
 
Their early endeavors brought the band's efforts to fruition. The instrumentals Merle Jagger offered its audiences early in their career proved the potential. Indeed, their live concerts built an audience that enabled them to achieve a popular following and subsequent success. One night, after a sold-out show, a representative from an independent label showed up and signed them on the spot. From that point on, the momentum began to build. Once Rancho Los Angeles was released in 2006, it quickly drew interest from several college radio stations throughout the U.S. Legendary D.J. Nic Harcourt featured Merle Jagger's music on his show on KCRW in Los Angeles. It soon became evident that the band's country guitar instrumentals provided the impetus for a fresh new sound that could attract indie fans' ears.  
 
The critics reacted positively as well. All Music Guide described their approach with enthusiastic accuracy: "Perhaps this L.A.-based trio of session musicians called their exuberant electric hillbilly experiment "Merle Jagger" because "Mick Haggard" didn't have the right ring to it, but the hybrid idea is clear and brilliant -- fusing bluegrass, hard country-rock, and jazz into an instrumental cauldron that is unlike anything any of those particular genres has heard before. Driven by Mark Christian's blazing, lightning-fast electric guitar, banjo, and mandolin, this disc is a sh*tkicker's dream, a near hour of fast-paced, raucous party music that flies in the face of much of today's ultra-slick country-pop. Think Johnny Cash on speed, and you're off to a good start on the slammin' opening track, "Ranchero," and on “Ranch Party." They crank it up even more for the appropriately titled “Hillbilly No. 9," which makes you wonder how incredibly rockin' the other eight were. "In Through the Out Take" is a little more conventionally bluesy, but "Trash Tornado" is a place where surf guitar wears a cowboy."
 
Another reviewer called it "Hillbilly tunes blended with influences from the country and rock scene of the past decades…A derivation of country star Merle Haggard and rock symbol Mick Jagger. But Merle Jagger is more. The eclectic electric guitar of Christian fueled up with flat-picking treasures & banjo sounds and topped with influences from Jimi Hendrix, or Keith Moon, is the trademark of this all-instrumental band. Performing all original tunes, the distinct sound of this band is certainly something to look out for."

Nathan Kalish is pleased to announce that his latest effort, Great Big Motel Bed in the Sky, will be released on July 22nd via JTM Music.

A multi-instrumentalist, producer, engineer, and wandering storyteller, Kalish was born in Milwaukee, WI, to missionary parents, who constantly moved the bulk of his formative years. By the time he graduated high school, Kalish had already lived in many different cities across Europe and the USA. By the time Kalish had graduated high school, he had already lived all over the Midwest and Western Europe, and directly after the wall fell in Eastern Europe. He then spent over a decade performing music across both, playing bars and honky-tonks for 200+ shows a year. Now he lives and creates in Nashville, TN.  
 
On his latest full-length album, Great Big Motel Bed in the Sky, Nathan explores loss and love while being accompanied by his band, The Derechos. It's an imperfect lyrical balance between sincerity and absurdity, with a sonic mix of harmony and grit. Produced by Kalish, this Is a 10-song effort tracked in 3 days at Trace Horse Studios and mixed by Kalish at the Maroon Lagoon. It is a collection inspired by psychedelic folk-rock and cosmic country sounds from the United States of Americana and beyond.
 
Great Big Motel Bed is in many ways a follow-up to his critically acclaimed 2020 album Songs for Nobody, which many outlets praised; American Songwriter awarded the album 4 out of 5 stars and stated, "Kalish rattles you to the core and is unafraid to make you squirm ─ or at least jolt you awake." On this effort, the themes of Kalish's writing focus more inward on himself than outward, like the social commentary that has often been a more significant part of his previous albums. Most of the same core musicians of The Derechos returned to the studio. These Nashville aces included Adam Kurtz on pedal steel (Joshua Ray Walker, Sarah Shook), drummer Danny Pratt (The Flying Buffaloes), bassist David Guy (Amanda Shires), Zach Vinson on keys, Adam Meisterhans (Tyler Childers, John R Miller, Kelsey Waldon) stepping in on a few extra guitar parts and singing backup,
 
The opening song is "Rich Man's World," which sounds like Marc Bolan in a Nudie suit taking cynical jabs at the culture of wealth and [ower and those who worship it. "Past the Everglades" is a song about working so hard for something that, after the struggle, you end up feeling like you no longer want it after all. On the track "Ballad of Soules," Kalish writes from the perspective of his late and longtime touring bassist Eric Soules contacting him from the afterlife (AKA the great big motel bed in the sky). Finally, on the track "Unavailable Women," Kalish makes fun of his bad luck with love in a musical style somewhere between Buddy Holly and California country.
 
Nathan's extensive back catalog of independent releases and hard-touring work ethic have landed him on stages with Lucinda Williams, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and Lucero, to name a few. As a result, he's earned accolades from Rolling Stone Country, Billboard, American Songwriter, Saving Country Music, and several other international press outlets. Further, his writing has been compared to Tom Petty, John Prine, Gram Parsons, and Paul Westerberg.
 
Even with unexpected curves and bumps in the past two years, Nathan Kalish's committed relationship with the road still has many more miles to go with a busy 2022 planned. Great Big Motel Bed in the Sky will mark an important chapter in Kalish's creative journey, which is constantly in transit.

Emanuel Casablanca is pleased to announce the upcoming release of the new album, Blood on My Hands, on August 19, 2022.

Emanuel’s debut album, Blood On My Hands, allows him to shine in the spotlight, share his skills and allow his talents as a singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist to advance to front and center. It’s an eloquent and expressive set of sixteen songs, each offering different sides of his persona and bringing his ideas and intents to the surface. To aid in the delivery, Emanuel enlisted an exceptional cast of collaborators, they included guitar greats Eric Gales, Paul Gilbert, Albert Castiglia, saxophonist Jimmy Carpenter, and vocalist Kat Riggins.

“I made it a point with this album to try to explore the essence of an imperfect past,” Emanuel insists. “There are things that I’ve done that I’ve tried to repent for, and in exorcising those demons, I’ve attempted to come clean and reveal my true self, despite all the flaws and imperfections.”  The material runs the gamut from the insistent sounds of “My Nerves,” “Shaky Tables,” “Afraid of Blood,” “Testify,” and “Devil’s Blood,” to the riveting blues of “Bloodshot Eyes” and “Annabel.”

Emanuel singles out several tracks that bear special significance. He describes the emphatic title track as a reflection of a time and place in his life. He calls the steady and insistent “In Blood” a song he particularly enjoys performing in concert. The slash and burn assault, “Sunday Talks,” dates from 2014, a track he’s played live but has never recorded. On the other hand, the tender, acoustic ballad “Like A Pulse” is among his newest entries. “It’s about my love for my girlfriend Natalija,” Emanuel explains. “It’s about the way she inspires me and manages to keep me moving.”

A series of fortuitous circumstances ensured that there would no longer be any doubt about his commitment. One of the musicians he fell in with was Kevin Jenkins, the bassist for blues singer Shemekia Copeland and a man who became a mentor. Emanuel began writing songs. A chance encounter with Rolling Stone Ron Wood at his art studio in Soho led, in turn, to an invitation to attend a concert by Bernard Fowler. A meeting with Fowler’s manager widened his horizons. He soon found himself traveling in the company of Eric Gales, Doug Wimbish, and other professional musicians who were among the leading lights of New York City’s flourishing music community.  

Emanuel found his reputation on the rise, both in New York and West Germany, where he spent time with extended family. A record label came calling, eventually leading Emanuel to record his first EP; It’s Getting Strange. The record won well received, with All About Jazz declaring, “Emanuel Casablanca is a singer-songwriter from Brooklyn who displays a classic sense of experience that belies his relatively young age while invoking prime characteristics of iconic blues and soul artists. The result is a solid and innovative album that carries more down-home southern-based traits than a metropolitan-manufactured product.”  Music Mecca cited his skill for delivering “hard-hitting and old-school blues riffs that would make his predecessors proud.” Master & Dynamic magazine called him “a rising entrepreneur determined to keep the blues genre alive in our current cultural zeitgeist. With electrifying guitar riffs and transcendent lyrics mined from blues and Hip-Hop heavyweights….”  

And thus a new chapter begins on August 19th, with the release of Blood on My Hands.

TRACK LISTING

    Afraid of Blood
    In Blood (featuring Paul Gilbert)
    Blood On My Hands (featuring Eric Gales)
    Like A Pulse (featuring Kat Riggins & Sanga of The Valley
    Bloodshot Eyes (featuring Albert Castiglia)
    Nashville (featuring Felix Slim)
    Sunday Talks
    Thicker Than Blood
    Anna Lee (featuring Jimmy Carpenter)
    Testify (featuring Brother Dave)
    Devil's Blood (featuring Felix Slim)
    Blood Money
    Fantasies
    My Nerves
    Shaky Tables
    Rottenpockets

The Bacon Brothers have had a productive summer; they're on tour, supporting their new EP, Erato, and have also premiered their latest video, "Dark Chocolate Eyes," via People.com. Kevin wrote, directed, and edited the new video that features gorgeous home movie footage of his wife, Kyra Sedgwick, and their two kids when they were babies. Kevin also wrote the song produced this Spring by Joe Nicolo at his Philadelphia studio.

In August, Kevin and Michael will be filming Apple TV's Carpool Karaoke at an undisclosed location. Carpool Karaoke is a series made famous by late-night host James Corden that finds pop culture stars belting out popular tunes in the comfort of their car while driving around the town. Some of the guests in the series include Adele in London, Paul McCartney in Liverpool, and in New York City, Madonna. The Bacon Brothers episode will premiere this Fall.

Kevin and Michael have spent the past quarter-century crafting their sound and releasing records. Erato, the brother's 11th release, is a diverse 5-song set of dynamic contrasts: quiet moments and big payoffs, organic instrumentation and electronic textures, self-penned songs, and high-profile collaborations. It's also the continuation of a story that began 25 years ago in Philadelphia, where the two siblings were raised on a soundtrack of 1970s singer/songwriters, Philly soul singers, and classic rock bands.

The band's tour commenced in April and will continue through the fall. For more information, visit Baconbros.com.

TOUR DATES

July 30---Caroga Lake, NY – Sherman’s Park
July 31---Waterville, ME – Waterville Opera House
Aug 2----Ocean City, NJ – Ocean City Music Pier
Aug 4----North Truro, MA - Payomat Performing Arts Center
Aug 5----Plymouth, NH – The Flying Monkey (Rescheduled)
Aug 6----Brownfield, ME – Stone Mountain Arts Center (Rescheduled)
Aug 7----Beverly, MA – The Cabot (Rescheduled)
Aug 24--San Juan Capistrano, CA – The Coach House
Aug 25--Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern
Aug 26--Agoura Hills, CA – The Canyon
Aug 27--Napa, CA – Blue Note Napa
Aug 28--Napa, CA – Blue Note Napa
Sep 9----New Braunfels, TX – Gruene Hall
Sep 10--The Woodlands – Dosey Doe
Sep 11---Lubbock, TX – Cactus Theater

More dates coming soon....

Lauren Anderson is back, with her third album in three years, Burn it all Down, out September 9, 2022.

A singer, songwriter, and blues disciple, Anderson makes music that transcends any ordinary encounter. She engages her audiences to find common ground and share experiences that are common to them all. "My goal in live performance is to offer people a good time, but also to give them something that will resonate long after," she says. "I enjoy the exuberance and joy in making music, but I also like sharing the backstories of my songs and the emotions and experiences that allow people to relate and connect in ways they can appreciate and understand." Indeed, Lauren has many personal experiences to draw upon and stories she shares with her audiences, inspiring those who see her to draw inspiration and encouragement.

The new album's fiery and frenetic title track also bears special significance. "It's a make-believe prequel to Chris Stapleton's song 'Midnight Train to Memphis,'" she explains. "I had to learn that song for a Stapleton showcase show I was participating in last fall. Stapleton's song found him describing what it "s like to be stuck in jail, but it never told the full story about how he got there. As a result, I began wondering about the backstory, and I found myself writing this song. I drew it from the perspective of a waitress and bartender who works at a dive bar. She's underpaid, disrespected, and treated poorly by a boss who doesn't care. As a result, the main character convinces her co-workers to help her burn the bar down, and they all end up being happily carted off to jail." Not that she advocates others follow that lead, but she is both dedicated and determined to express herself in ways that can resonate with fans and followers.

Burn it all Down isn't about destruction — it's about advocacy, and doing away with old-fashioned ideas and creating new possibilities in their place." It's little wonder then that American Blues Scene heralded her as "a determined dynamo of a performer adept at both blues and ballads." Blues Blast Magazine opined that Lauren has a strong voice with a touch of grit…" while Making a Scene declared, "Anderson stakes her claim as an ever-evolving songwriter whose music modernizes and reinterprets the bluesy, boundary-breaking females who came before her." But, of course, none of these accolades ought to surprise anyone who has witnessed her exceptional live performances or heard her previous recordings.

Lauren's never been shy about sharing her influences. She draws her inspiration from an eclectic array of artists, including Bonnie Raitt, Etta James, Eva Cassidy, Nina Simone, Whitney Houston, Beyonce, and the Pointer Sisters, the many. Yet, simultaneously, she refuses to be bound by any parameters. That's been evident throughout a career that's found her accorded 2015's Female Vocalist of the Year honors from the Midwest Music Awards and taking home a first-place win in the 2018 Wing Dang Doodle Competition.

Anderson's output reflects her energy and enthusiasm. Her catalog includes three EPs — Do & Hope, The Game, and Won't Stay Down — her full-length debut, 2015's Truly Me, and last year's sophomore set Love on the Rocks, which debuted at #14 on the Billboard Blues Chart, #4 on Roots Music Report and #21 on the NACC Blues Charts. In addition, the title track placed on Spotify Editorial Playlists and surpassed 200,000 streams in the first six months.

Music has played an essential role in Lauren's life since early on. Born in Chicago, she was raised in a family where it was enjoyed and embraced. Not surprisingly, she started taking classical piano lessons at age eight. Soon after, she was singing in a choir and engaged in classical voice training, even while still in high school. After attaining a bachelor's Degree in music, she earned a Master's Degree in Music Therapy from the University of Kansas. She worked in a pediatric unit for seven years at The University of Kansas Hospital. After graduation, Lauren became a music therapist, working with children and at-risk youth. At the same time, she began to realize that live performance was her true calling. Anderson briefly considered becoming an opera singer but quickly decided that the world of popular music was far more suited to her style. She initially performed solo but later recruited a band to accompany her on the road. Soon thereafter, Lauren recorded a pair of singles at iconic Ocean Way Studios on Nashville's famed Music Row. In  2017, she moved permanently to the Music City and began to tour full-time. Her efforts have clearly paid off. A dedicated devotee to making and sharing her music, Lauren Anderson knows how to share insights, instincts, and enjoyment in equal measure.

Sweet Undertow is pleased to announce their inspiring debut album, Skeletone Machine, to be released Sept 16th via Mother West. The album captures years of frontman Eddy Undertow’s guitar-in-hand globetrotting and inquisitive artist’s ear. It’s a cinematic document of a wide-eyed quest for something universal yet tantalizingly undefined, channeled through authentic, bluesy Americana.
 
“There are songs about love, lust, death, lonesomeness, and anger,” mulled Eddy. “I try to create moods and paint with lyrics, trying to evoke images in peoples’ minds. But also, y’know, shake their asses.”
 
Skeletone Machine operates on multiple levels. Its genre-blending, blues-based tunes delve deep into the human condition through metaphor and memory yet is equally just a helluva good time. And Eddy is at once a guitar-slinging adventurer who finds meaning and music even in life’s easy-to-miss mundanities, and the garrulous MC at center-stage is having more infectious fun than anyone in the room.
 
Growing up in Chicago and its suburbs, the local punk scene, and his big brother’s Metallica collection were early influences alongside a trove of vintage blues records that somehow profoundly resonated with the fledgling guitarist. His dad had seen these artists growing up in San Francisco and South Side, Chicago, whose records formed a soundtrack of Eddy’s early life. So after briefly singing for a high school punk band, he picked out his first notes on a stolen guitar along with Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Elmore James, Magic Sam, and John Lee Hooker.
 
Fascinated by the sensation of finding himself, literally and metaphorically, in diverse, unfamiliar contexts, Eddy escaped suburbia asap. After a spell as a wildland firefighter, he wandered Asia, and Europe guided only by urge and opportunity, a guitar his sole constant. He played to bemused patrons of off-piste Crimean bars and in an orphanage in now war-torn Ukraine; fronted a proband in Ho Chi Minh City and partied through the slums of Mumbai, and was once paid in counterfeit shoes to perform a single song at a Carpathian Mountains disco.
 
In 2016, this lifelong yearning led Eddy to where he’d first felt its addictive incongruity: San Francisco, where he’d traveled for his grandfather’s funeral as a child. “This place is crazy still, but it’s beautiful,” he said. Eddy’s early, lonely days in the Bay Area birthed what would become Sweet Undertow, including the band’s evocative name.  

Eddy honed his creations in a spartan cell in a former convent, sharing them with musician neighbors and future bandmates. Sweet Undertow – completed by bassist John “Big Bottom” Eckstrom, guitarist Jim Semitekol, and drummer Dave Tavel – started landing gigs citywide and soon, by popular demand, commanding headlining slots.
 
Skeletone Machine was recorded at the all-analog studio of producer John Vanderslice (Death Cab for Cutie, Deerhoof, Spoon) and finished the day before the 2020 lockdown shuttered the world. The resulting record embraces multiple enduring American genres with an endearing honesty stripped raw by what Eddy calls “years of wildness,” both literal – stalked by a leopard in the Himalayas, lost in the Wyoming Rockies – and metaphorical, with all the loves, lives, and myriad human interactions along the way. The title Skeletone Machine marvels at how, even as we’ve become tethered to soulless devices, music and intangible mortal magic somehow still seep out. (“Where does the machine end, and where do I begin again?” implores the title track).
 
Skeletone Machine is one of those rare records that manages to stay stylistically and spiritually coherent without ever retracing its steps. Its earthy blues flecked with folk and, in places, conjuring Johnny Cash, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Tom Waits, it’s an unusually philosophical collection that unashamedly asks more than it answers. And it’s this open-ended curiosity, filtered through multiple lifetimes of immersive experience, that sets it apart.

Every great artist has a moment when they realize who they are; Jeremiah Johnson has come into his own with his new release. HI-FI DRIVE BY. Get ready for a high-fidelity sonic explosion that combines Johnson’s master guitar work, songwriting skills, and uniquely powerful vocals into ten tracks of pure brilliance. From the first track, featuring Victor Wainwright, to the third track featuring Brandon Santini, and to the last note of the epic final track, HI-FI DRIVE BY delivers more hooks for days. Every song is carefully crafted with multiple layers of tasty musicianship, with new audio delights to discover every time you give this first-class release a spin.  

HI-FI DRIVE BY taps into the talents of the highly talented musicians in his hometown of St. Louis, MO. Johnson wanted to go back to the blues and rock n roll basics, tapping St. Louis Legend, co-producer Tom Maloney, and producer Paul Niehaus IV. The trio began assembling some of the best horn players, backing vocalists, and percussionists in St. Louis to create the excellent thick layers of musicianship tastefully captured on HI-FI DRIVE BY. This is the first release Johnson has worked with co-writers (Maloney and Niehaus IV,) and the results are stunning..  

HI-FI DRIVE BY is Johnson's career-defining release, his masterpiece, and firmly establishes him at the top of his game. He has arrived and exceeded all expectations with this latest effort.  

ABOUT JEREMIAH JOHNSON
Born and raised in St. Louis, Jeremiah Johnson blends the sounds of the south, with Mississippi River blues and a touch of country flair. Emotionally charged and powered by the common man’s passion for life and all the struggles in-between, Johnson is known for writing songs with meaning, a powerfully persuasive voice and master-class musicianship. Johnson has released three chart toping releases, Straitjacket (#6 Billboard - August 2018), Heavens to Betsy (#1 Billboard - April 2020), Unemployed Highly Annoyed (#4 Billboard - November 2020). Combined with his previous two releases, GRIND (#8 November 2015), Blues Heart Attack (#5 August 2016); Johnson’s five releases have all been in the top 8 of the Billboard Blues Album Charts.  Jeremiah Johnson is a 2022 Blues Music Award Nominee for the best blues rock album, Unemployed Highly Annoyed.  Over the last four years, Johnson has toured the US and performed nearly two hundred European shows, opening for Mike Zito and as a featured artist in the 2020 Ruf’s Blues Caravan.  He was recently a featured artist on the Nov 2021 Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise.

MUSICIANS
Jeremiah Johnston     Lead Vocals, Lead Guitar
Paul Niehaus IV          Bass Guitar, Wurli, Piano & Guitar
Joe Meyer                   Drums
Tom Maloney               Guitar & Piano
Tony Antonelli              Percussion & Backing Vocals
Kasimu Taylor              Trumpet
Frank Bauer                 Tenor Sax
Kevin O'Conner            Baritone Sax
John Covelli & Dave Dickey  Trombone
Kevin Buckley               Strings
Victor Wainwright          Piano - track 1
Brandon Santini            Harmonica - track 3
Allie Vogler                    Backing Vocals
Emily Wallas                  Backing Vocals
Mattie Schell                  Backing Vocals

Singer, songwriter, and acclaimed harmonica player Grant Dermody's devotion to the blues naturally leads him in different directions. While his last album, Digging in John's Backyard, found him collaborating with guitarist Frank Fotusky on a set of songs that paid tribute to John Jackson, a foremost practitioner and proponent of Piedmont blues, his upcoming effort, Behind the Sun, finds him returning to electric blues with a full band and the inspiration and influence of Louisiana, the place where it was recorded. The title references a Muddy Waters song while capturing the sentiment and sincerity that shine through in each of its 15 tracks.  
 
As he's done in the past, Dermody worked with an A-list of outstanding musicians, including longtime colleague and acclaimed guitarist Dirk Powell, accordion player Corey Ledet, bassist Lee Allen Zeno, drummer Gerard St. Julien, and backing vocalists Teka Briscoe and Ahyris Navarre. So too, the album encapsulates the distinctive sounds of Louisiana, environs that inspire its take on Americana and the blues in particular.  
 
Dermody points pridefully to the fact that everyone involved were Louisiana artists — "Louisiana musicians, the graphic designer, the photographer. Everybody."
 
What's more, Dermody is quick to tout the credentials of his fellow musicians. Powell is a four-time Grammy Award winner and widely recognized as one of the most skilled musicians operating in today's traditional realms, a multi-talented instrumentalist adept at guitar, banjo, fiddle, and piano. Zeno's credits span hundreds of albums, including recordings by Sonny Boy Williams, Irma Thomas, Solomon Burke, and others that span styles ranging from soul to zydeco. He and St. Julian also toured with Buckwheat Zydeco for many years. "It's like they breathe in sync," Dermody insists. "They're just so locked in and cool to work with." So too, he notes that Ledet, a Grammy nominee, has been cited as the heir apparent to Clifton Chenier, the accordionist hailed as the King of the Zydeco.
 
So too, it's evident that the admiration extends both ways. "Playing music with Grant is like entering another world, where there's no pain or suffering, only joy, and happiness," Ledet maintains.
 
Naturally, given that mutual admiration and respect, everything fell into place from the outset. "We just did everything live in the studio, which is where all the magic happens," Dermody recalls. "It's like when you start playing, and it all clicks, then you know, you're gonna get it all down right from the start. Everybody's smiling and feeling good. And the jokes start flying around. The four of us had never really played together before, but we just went in and took the time to feel each other out. But that didn't take long. Before we knew it, everybody had settled into a pretty easy groove."

That's evident at the outset, from the blustery boogie of "Trouble No More" and "Don't Boss Me," through to the demonstrative determination found in "Forgive Me," the insistent instrumental "Lost John," the solid stomp of "Footsteps in the Hall," the assertive strains of "Tell Me" and the steady stride of "She Come Running." Other offerings find them varying the pace, courtesy of the mellow ramble that permeates "Mourning Dove" and the acapella gospel sound soaring through "Time Ain't Due."
 
Of its fifteen songs, nine are original compositions, including four by Dermody, three by Powell, one by Powell, Zeno, and Dt. Julien is a traditional tune adapted by Dermody and covers courtesy of Muddy Walters, Rick Estrin, Jimmy Reed, Kim Wilson, and Otis Rush.   
 
Dermody himself provides his analysis of the proceedings. "Behind the Sun, like the place where it was recorded, brings the silent heat, the harping cold, the joy of life, love, and community, and the pain of losing parts and pieces of each and all of it," he says philosophically in summing up the sentiment. "We recorded live, so it all was created and lived in that very moment. It tells a story that came long before us, but one which we add to because it's a part of us in the multitude of ways that we both lived and loved."  

The new album continues the momentum maintained by Diggin' in John's Backyard, which spent fourteen weeks in the Roots Music Report top fifteen and eventually made its way to the chart's top five, where it's remained ever since.  
 
Given that diligence, it also ought to come as no surprise that after four previous albums as a solo artist, another three recorded in tandem with his various bands, and innumerable appearances as a special guest on nearly two dozen recordings by other artists — Eric Bibb, Dirk Powell, Dan Crary, and Cedric Watson, among them — Dermody is now recognized the world over as one of the most profound and prolific harp players making music today.
 
Others echo those accolades. "Grant Dermody's harmonica is so rich, full, and alive, you could live in it. With your family. And your kids. Because it's also in a great school district," American Blues Scene once wrote. Americana Highways added its praise, saying, "Grant Dermody successfully mines a deep shaft of the traditional vein heavy on juke joint greasy blues, and though he could explore more deviant & lowdown strains he does an admirable job — spirited & authentic." All About Jazz put it more succinctly. "Grant Dermody is a national treasure!" it declared.
 
It's all part of a trajectory that Dermody has maintained from early on. Growing up in Seattle, he was given his first harmonica by his father at age 18. Jimmy Reed, Little Walter Jacobs, Sonny Boy Williamson, and Walter Horton offered their initial introduction to the blues. Still, seeing Sonny Terry and James Cotton live captured his imagination and showed him what the big sound really was. After initially delving into electric blues, he soon found himself drawn more to acoustic sounds and a format consisting of harp, guitar, and mandolin. After an extended sojourn to Alaska, he returned to Seattle and studied with author/musician Kim Field who, in turn, encouraged him to investigate the sounds of Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, and Big Walter. For the past 15 years, Dermody has played and recorded with some of the best in the business, such as blues legends Honeyboy Edwards, Robert Lowery, Big Joe Duskin, John Jackson, and John Dee Holeman.

The swamps of Louisiana, the wide open skies of Montana — all that’s deep and sweet and awe-inspiring about Americana and its musical roots — reside there. There’s simply nothing like the growling grace that emanates from Grant Dermody' Behind the Sun.

Rock guitar dynamo Samantha Fish and outlaw country badass Jesse Dayton have joined forces for an upcoming album of collaborative music, due out in May 2023 via Rounder Records. Fans of both artists won’t have to wait until next year to get a taste of this wild partnership, however. In December, two cover songs and accompanying videos will be released in conjunction with four special concerts. The newly-formed duo will perform in Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Charlotte, and Durham, with show dates listed below.
 
An award-winning singer, songwriter, and lead guitarist, Samantha Fish has released six albums over the course of her acclaimed career, with 2019's Faster and 2021's Kill or Be Kind both appearing on Rounder Records. "It's not pure rock and roll, it's not pure blues, it's not pure soul, it's not pure pop — it's a mixture of everything," she says of her genre-bending sound, which has regularly taken Fish around the world. A road warrior, she performs 200 shows yearly, both domestically and abroad.

Jesse Dayton has been bringing his unique mashup of East Texas/Louisiana Blues, old-school country, and punk rock to the world since he released his debut album in 1995. Thirteen records later, he remains a staple on SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country and the Americana Radio charts, where his debut LP Raising Cain reached Number 1. Jesse’s career reads like a veritable “who’s who” of American music. He’s toured with Social Distortion, Supersuckers, George Strait, Ryan Bingham, and L.A. punk pioneers, X and has recorded with legends such as Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell, Willie Nelson, and Duff Mckagan from Gun’s & Roses. He’s also recorded three soundtracks for filmmaker Rob Zombie. One can read about Dayton’s storied past in his 2022 memoir, Beaumonster.
 
Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton
Dec 3----World Records-------------Bakersfield, CA
Dec 4----The Whiskey-A-Go Go---Los Angeles, CA
Dec 6----Oven Auditorium-----------Charlotte, NC*
Dec 7----DPAC-------------------------Durham, NC*

*Supporting Allman Family Revival
 
Jesse Dayton’s Band (support on the following dates)
Dec 8-----Rocky Mt, VA-------------Harvester
Dec 9-----Va Beach, VA-------------Elevation 27
Dec 10---Winston-Salem, NC-----Ramkat
Dec 12---Alexandria, VA------------Birchmere
Dec 13---Warrendale, PA----------Jergels
Dec 14---Kent, OH-------------------Kent Stage
Dec 15---Westland, MI-------------Token Lounge
Dec 16---Chicago, IL----------------Park West
Dec 17---Milwaukee, WI-----------Shank Hall
Dec 18---Minneapolis, MN--------Fine Line

Guitar badass Samantha Fish and outlaw country maverick Jesse Dayton announces new shows in Biloxi and New Orleans to close out 2022, and four Texas shows are in January 2023. (Scroll down for a complete list of tour dates.) And Samantha will be ringing in the new year in Richmond, Missouri. This wild partnership will introduce several new songs that will appear on their forthcoming collaborative album produced by Jon Spencer. The record will be released in the early Summer of 2023 via Rounder Records.
 
An award-winning singer, songwriter, and lead guitarist, Samantha Fish has released six albums over the course of her acclaimed career, with 2019's Faster and 2021's Kill or Be Kind both appearing on Rounder Records. "It's not pure rock and roll, it's not pure blues, it's not pure soul, it's not pure pop — it's a mixture of everything," she says of her genre-bending sound, which has regularly taken Fish around the world. A road warrior, she performs 200 shows yearly, both domestically and abroad.

Jesse Dayton has been bringing his unique mashup of East Texas/Louisiana Blues, old-school country, and punk rock to the world since he released his debut album in 1995. Thirteen records later, he remains a staple on SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country and the Americana Radio charts, where his debut LP Raising Cain reached Number 1. Jesse’s career reads like a veritable “who’s who” of American music. He’s toured with Social Distortion, Supersuckers, George Strait, Ryan Bingham, and L.A. punk pioneers, X and has recorded with legends such as Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell, Willie Nelson, and Duff Mckagan from Guns N' Roses. He’s also recorded three soundtracks for filmmaker Rob Zombie. One can read about Dayton’s storied past in his 2022 memoir, Beaumonster.
 
Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton
Dec 3----World Records-------------Bakersfield, CA *
Dec 4----The Whiskey-A-Go Go---Los Angeles, CA *
Dec 6----Oven Auditorium-----------Charlotte, NC +
Dec 7----DPAC-------------------------Durham, NC +

+ Fish & Dayton supporting Allman Family Revival
 
Jesse Dayton’s Band (supporting on the following dates)
Dec 8-----Rocky Mt, VA-------------Harvester
Dec 9-----Va Beach, VA-------------Elevation 27
Dec 10---Winston-Salem, NC-----Ramkat
Dec 12---Alexandria, VA------------Birchmere
Dec 13---Warrendale, PA----------Jergels
Dec 14---Kent, OH-------------------Kent Stage
Dec 15---Westland, MI-------------Token Lounge
Dec 16---Chicago, IL----------------Park West
Dec 17---Milwaukee, WI-----------Shank Hall
Dec 18---Minneapolis, MN--------Fine Line

Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton  
Dec 29---Biloxi, MS-----------------Ground Zero Blues Club **
Dec 30---New Orleans, LA-------Tipitina's **
Jan 12---Dallas, TX-----------------Kessler Theatre **
Jan 13---Austin, TX-----------------04 Cente r**
Jan 14---Austin, TX-----------------04 Cente r**
Jan 15---Houston, TX--------------Heights Theatre **

Samantha Fish
Dec 31---Richmond, MO----------Branded Steakhouse

Supporting Acts on Fish/Dayton Dates
 *The ZipGuns
**Eric Johanson

The Bacon Brothers, featuring Kevin and Michael Bacon, are pleased to announce that they and SixDegrees.Org have joined forces with the Philadelphia youth organization Rock to the Future. They've teamed up and recorded "Philly Thing," a song written by Kevin Bacon. "I wrote this song about our hometown of Philadelphia, and we wanted to give back in some way, so we connected my charity, SixDegrees.Org, with Rock to the Future, and it was a perfect marriage," states Kevin.

Sixth-grader Naheim Gaymon-Hill wrote a rap that he contributed to the track. About the experience, he effused, "I feel so lucky that Rock to the Future helped me build up my performance confidence and gave me an opportunity to rock with The Bacon Brothers."

The single, produced by Joe Nicolo at Philadelphia's Minor Street Recordings, will be released digitally on November 18th with the proceeds benefitting Rock to the Future. In addition, two videos were filmed, one official and one "Behind the Scenes"; Phil Bradshaw of FreshFly produced both. The official video will premiere the week of November 14th, location tbd.

Rock to the Future will be hosting their annual event, the Music For All Ball. It will take place at Philadelphia's World Cafe Live on April 29th 2023. A performance of "Philly Thing" is currently in the works.

ABOUT ROCK TO THE FUTURE
Rooted in equity, Rock to the Future provides student-driven music programs in a safe and supportive environment at no cost for Philadelphia children and teens in schools, community locations, and juvenile justice facilities. Their programs combine exciting music programming – like learning guitar, bass, drums, piano, music production, original songwriting, and live performance – with education, mentoring, and social services support. In safe spaces, youth build social and intellectual capital and life skills which supports high school graduation, college and trade school participation, peer relationships, and personal well-being. Through dozens of free performances each year, thousands of community members celebrate the talents and achievements of local youth. Rock to the Future’s high-quality programs are a catalyst for individual success, economic empowerment, and safe and thriving communities.  Learn more about Rock to the Future at rocktothefuture.org

Boston Blues musician Seth Rosenbloom is pleased to announce the upcoming release of his new album, As The Crow Flies, on January 13, 2023.

As The Crow Flies builds on the strength of those earlier efforts with confidence and credibility, demonstrating why he ranks as one of the most assertive and authoritative artists in the Blues realm today. Recorded over four days during March 2022 at Rear Window Studios in Brookline, Massachusetts, it found Seth himself stepping into the producer’s chair. The rhythm section was comprised of some of New England’s finest: drummer Mark Teixeira (Duke Robillard), bassist Jesse Williams (North Mississippi Allstars, Al Kooper), guitarist Ryan Taylor (Band of Killers), and pianist and organist Bruce Bears (Duke Robillard, Curtis Salgado).

“For me, playing great music is all about being able to convey a wide range of emotion authentically,” guitarist and vocalist Seth Rosenbloom insists. “I was drawn to the blues at a young age because that has always been very evident in the Blues.”

Critics have affirmed the fact that Seth knows of what he speaks. Rock & Blues Muse proclaimed, “The future of blues is in very capable hands.” Living Blues echoed those sentiments by declaring, “Rosenbloom’s ready to assume the mantle of a true electric blues champion,” Blues Blast concurred, saying, “Seth Rosenbloom is a guitar player’s guitar player. His ceiling is unlimited.”  

It’s little wonder that the pundits were so enthused. The promise was evident early with the release of his debut self-titled EP and grew even more potent when his first full-length album, Keep On Turning, climbed to the top of the charts upon its release in 2019.

Notably, Seth points with pride that his dad, Michael Rosenbloom, arranged the strings and played violin on a track on the album “Can’t Trust Your Neighbor.”  

“I wanted to bring a ‘live’ feel to this record,” Seth suggests. “We captured as many of the solos live as possible and focused on ensuring the energy was right for each song.”  

That attention to detail is both clear and convincing. Moreover, the entire album reverberates with an unrelenting drive and delivery. The riveting intensity inherent in the barbed refrain of “Did You Try To Break My Heart” is matched by disappointment and defiance shared through “Set Me Free.” “Blind Eye,” on the other hand, conveys its message through a steady sway and strut while emphasizing the bitterness of betrayal through Seth’s searing guitar riffs and expressly emphatic vocals. Those torrid feelings are expressed with unrelenting energy and vitality, making As The Crow Flies one of the most unforgettable offerings in recent memory.  

“Placing myself in the producer’s chair for this album was initially a challenge,” Seth reflects. “Yet, having learned so much from working with Josh Smith on my last album. I felt up to the task, and thanks to a great team, it worked out even better than I could have anticipated.”  

Then again, Seth’s no stranger to making music. Born into a musical family and raised just west of Boston in Waltham, Massachusetts, he began playing classical violin as a child and subsequently took up guitar at age eleven. Initially inspired by the music of Elvis and The Beatles, he earned a performance merit scholarship from Berklee College of Music by the time he was 16.

After spending a few years as an active sideman and in-demand clinician, Seth further expanded his reputation by spending much of the last few years on the road, introducing himself to newly enthusiastic audiences while demonstrating at each stop his clear commitment to his craft and his ability to share his verve and versatility. He’s toured all over the U.S. and the U.K. and even shared a stage with Joe Bonamassa. Whether demonstrating his dazzling guitar riffs and stinging vibrato or emoting with his soaring and sultry vocals, he brings unprecedented power and personality to each performance. That ability is again underscored by the soaring sentiments expressed through As the Crow Flies.

TRACK LISTING

    As The Crow Flies
    Did You Try to Break My Heart
    Set Me Free
    Can’t Trust Your Neighbor
    I Wish You Could See Me Now
    Ain’t Nothing Wrong
    Blind Eye
    Gotta Roll
    Give Me the Ring Bac

The Godfather of British Blues, John Mayall, has been nominated for a Grammy for 'Best Traditional Blues Album' for his 2022 release, The Sun Is Shining Down. The album, released by Forty Below Records on January 28, 2022, saw Mayall teaming up with a stellar cast to deliver a funky, soulful affair punctuated by brass, violins, harmonica, and electric ukulele.

Special guests include The Heartbreakers’ Mike Campbell, roots rocker Marcus King, Americana icon Buddy Miller, Scarlet Rivera of Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue, Chicago blues guitar mainstay Melvin Taylor and Hawaiian ukulele star Jake Shimabukuro. Also on hand is Mayall’s longtime dynamic Chicago rhythm section of Greg Rzab on bass guitar and Jay Davenport on drums with Austin’s multi-talented and charismatic Carolyn Wonderland on guitar.

Mayall's single "Chills And Thrills"  made its debut in Rolling Stone Magazine. They called it "a stomper that barrels down the blues-rock highway, fueled by Campbell’s lead guitar." Check it out here. "I'm as Good as Gone" had also been released as a single and was premiered exclusively in American Songwriter. Written by Grammy winner Bobby Rush, the track features the extraordinary fretwork of Buddy Miller and Mayall on Hammond B3 organ. Listen to it here.

The album was recorded at Strawhorse Studios and also at Robby Krieger’s (The Doors) Horse Latitudes studio with Grammy-nominated Producer Eric Corne. The Sun is Shining Down is Mayall’s 5th studio album for Forty Below Records, a fruitful partnership that began with 2014’s A Special Life.

" I’m truly honored to be nominated for a Grammy and couldn’t be more proud of this record" declared Mayall. And Eric Corne effused; "I think I speak for everyone involved when I say that being a part of a John Mayall Grammy nomination is an incredible honor and career highlight. The outpouring of kudos has been amazing to see. I think a lot of people are rooting for John and this special record. Winning a Grammy would be quite the exclamation mark to John's storied career."
The record explores a range of styles and eclectic instruments. Scarlet Rivera’s violin beautifully compliments two Mayall originals, the timely “Got to Find a Better Way” and a spirited reboot of the Mayall classic “Deep Blue Sea.” Mike Campbell sounds like a natural-born Bluesbreaker on the funky Bernard Allison cut “Chills and Thrills.” Jake Shimabukuro’s electric ukulele is nothing short of astonishing on “One Special Lady.” Melvin Taylor proves why he’s been wowing Chicago blues audiences for decades on “Hungry and Ready” and “Driving Wheel."

Marcus King sizzles throughout the soulful “Can’t Take No More,” another Mayall original that premiered by Relix last December. About the experience, King says: "John Mayall is a colossal blues titan; guesting on the album was one of the greatest pleasures and highlights of my career.” Finally, Carolyn Wonderland brilliantly concludes the record with a sensitive moving performance on the title track.
 
As significant as each of these guest turns is, however, they can’t overshadow Mayall’s own spirited vocals, iconic harmonica, and lyrical keyboard work on The Sun is Shining Down. “John shines throughout this album, exuding joy and gratitude that are infectious. We all want to give that back to him,” adds producer Eric Corne.

Also nominated for a Grammy in this field are Buddy Guy, Government Mule, Taj Mahal & Ry Cooder, and Charlie Musselwhite. The Grammys will take place on February 5, 2023.

When the Blues Foundation began in 1980, it held the mission of preserving and promoting blues around the world, and this year’s Keeping the Blues Alive Award honorees demonstrate just how successful the organization has been over the past four decades. The eight individuals and organizations receiving KBAs in 2023 don’t just hail from the blues traditional territory of the American South but from such far-reaching blues outposts as Denmark, Poland, and Colombia.
 
The KBA Awards, chosen annually by a select panel of blues professionals, salutes those who have played crucial roles in advancing the art and commerce of blues. This year’s esteemed honorees will be recognized for their achievements at the Keeping the Blues Alive Awards brunch, taking place on Friday, January 27, 2023, at 10:30 AM, in the Double Tree Hotel.
 
The KBA ceremony represents just one part of the Blues Foundation’s 38th Annual International Blues Challenge. The IBC Week kicks off Tuesday, January 24, 2023, with International Showcase performances on historic Beale Street, and concludes with the finals at Memphis’ Orpheum Theatre on Saturday, January 28th at 12PM. More than 800 musicians will arrive in Memphis from all across the globe to battle for glory — along with prizes and bookings — in the International Blues Challenge, the world’s largest and most renowned blues music competition. Showcases, jams, panels, workshops, and master classes will occur daily up and down Beale Street, with the music jamming on into the wee hours after the IBC challenger performances conclude each evening.
 
Recipients of the 2023 Keeping the Blues Alive Awards are:

THE LITTLE VILLAGE FOUNDATION
The Little Village Foundation, formed as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2015 by Grammy-award-winning keyboardist Jim Pugh, focuses on seeking out, recording, and promoting artists whose music has not yet been discovered outside of their communities. Little Village artists all share a common goal of exposing their music to audiences they would not have otherwise reached without LVF support. All LVF artists are provided with the tools to launch a successful album at no cost. Notably, the LVF artists also own all their intellectual property, unlike artists signed to a traditional record label. Little Village arranges to record the artists, coordinates with the artist on album artwork, manufactures one thousand CDs for the artists to sell or give away as they please, hires a publicist to promote the project, and secures online distribution for the recording – all at no cost or indebtedness for the artists. Donations to Little Village cover all expenses; the artists retain one hundred percent of the proceeds from CD sales and do not need to reimburse Little Village for any costs or share of CD sales. Once an artist sells the initial thousand CDs provided by Little Village, they can continue to press as many additional copies as they like, paying only the actual cost of the CDs directly to the manufacturer. Among the fifty-one recordings released by Little Village to date, the majority are blues related, including BMA nominee Wee Willie Walker's comeback album and later live recording, posthumous releases from Paul DeLay and Ron Thompson, and fresh recordings by Junior Watson, Diunna Greenleaf, Chris Cain, and Kevin Burt. CDs nominated for recent Blues Music Awards include albums by Tia Carroll, Memphissippi Sounds, and Sonny Green; and a special release from United By Music, an organization that supported rising blues star Christone "Kingfish' Ingram well before his international breakout success. The Little Village Foundation offers previously unheard-of opportunities for artists and is very deserving of this Keeping the Blues Alive award.

JOHN GUREGIAN  
For more than forty years, John Guregian has been spinning the blues on his radio show, Blues Deluxe, hosted on WUML-FM in Lowell, Massachusetts. Starting in 1979, when Guregian was still a student, the show aired for four hours on Saturdays. This led to a stint as blues director for the station, along with subsequent work emceeing many blues festivals and club shows. John has invited dozens of blues artists to be interviewed on Blues Deluxe, including John Hammond Jr, Luther Allison, Chris Thomas King, Johnny Winter, Kim Simmonds, Ronnie Earl, Walter Trout, Selwyn Birchwood, Kat Riggins, Coco Montoya, Rick Estrin, Joe Louis Walker, JJ Grey, Chris Cain, Curtis Salgado, Jimmy Johnson, James Harmon, and many others. Blues Deluxe is now on the air every Saturday from 3 PM. to 6 PM. at www.wuml.org. When Covid hit in 2020, Guregian expanded his interview schedule and now has live online interviews every week with artists around the world. He's interviewed Fiona Boyes from Australia, JT Lauretson from Norway, and Ian Parker from the UK. With over four decades on the radio and a deep commitment to helping advance the visibility and careers of artists from around the country and throughout the world, Guregian is a worthy recipient of the Keeping the Blues Alive award.

MARILYN STRINGER
Marilyn Stringer is among the most prolific photographers currently documenting the blues. An avid music fan all her life, she began covering the blues in earnest in 2006 and has since become the head photographer for some of the most prominent blues festivals in America. Her work promotes the genre worldwide through various magazines, promoters, record labels, venues, and big-name performers. Stringer estimates that she has covered more than five thousand performances over the years through her extensive travels to festivals, events, and live music clubs. Meanwhile, she has also published three books in her Blues In The 21st Century series. The proceeds from these works have been donated to various charities and organizations supporting the Blues and Blues artists. Blues In The 21st Century Volume I explored the careers of more than one hundred performers with interviews and photos. At the same time, Volume II covered ten years of images from the Portland Waterfront Blues Festival. Volume III, specifically put together during the COVID shutdown to raise money for The Blues Foundation's COVID Relief Fund, covered the Blues Music Awards performances and related events in Memphis. She recently started her fourth book, Blues Souls, which will feature black & white photos of renowned blues performers. Notably – and in keeping with the generous spirit that she has demonstrated for years – the future proceeds of Blues Souls have been earmarked for The Blues Foundation's HART Fund. Along with her books, Stringer has worked closely for many years with The Blues Festival Guide. Her photos appeared on six of the last seven covers of that publication. Working with Back To The Roots magazine, she has earned seven covers over the last six years. Other leading blues publications that rely on Stringer's talent include Blues Music Magazine, Blues Blast Magazine, and Living Blues. When asked about her attitude toward her work, Stringer says, "If I am going to take these photos, I am going to share them with the world. I want the blues to stay alive and keep the excitement for these performers going. And I don't just photograph the main person in the band; I make sure I get photos of all the performers. They are all important to me!" Such sentiments and her incredible body of work make it clear that Stringer deserves a 2023 Keeping the Blues Alive Award.    

THE SIERRE BLUES FESTIVAL  
In 1995, capitalizing on his deep passion for the blues, Swiss native Silvio Caldelari established the Blues Bar music club in Sierre, Switzerland, a small mountain town known as "the city of the sun." Fourteen years later, in 2009, Caldelari and a group of dedicated volunteers further strengthened the blues scene in Switzerland by founding the Swiss Blues Society. After affiliating their new organization with The Blues Foundation, Caldelari's group boldly decided to launch the first-ever Sierre Blues Festival. Since that inaugural event, the three-day festival has steadily grown in popularity, and today hosts internationally renowned artists such as the Mannish Boys, Ana Popovic, Playing for Change, Shemekia Copeland, Marco Pandolfi, Janiva Magness, Eric Gales, and Shakura S'Aida. In 2022, the 13th version of the Sierre Blues Festival attracted an estimated 11,000 fans by featuring popular Italian headliner Zucchero, along with regional and international talent such as Sara Zacarelli's Nu Band, Guts, One Rusty Band, Nigeria's Justina Lee Brown, and Emir Kosturicas & The No Smoking Orchestra. North America was well represented with a lineup that included Larkin Poe, Mike Zito & Kat Riggins, and Sugaray Rayford. Every year, the Sierre Blues Kids share the stage with blues luminaries, building on the festival's Blues in the Schools program launched by Michael "Hawkeye" Herman and other notable blues educators. Through the years, Caldelari has continued to work with European blues leaders to nurture the European Blues Union and its partnership with The Blues Foundation. As a result of these successes and Caldelari's energy, passion, and collaborative spirit, the Sierre Blues Festival has attracted a wide range of partners and sponsors, including Canton of Valais, the City of Sierre, Loterie Romande, the La Nouvelliste newspaper, Rhone FM radio, and a constellation of more than sixty national and local businesses, ranging from hotels and nightclubs to major Swiss and European companies. In 2020, the European Blues Union honored Caldelari with a "Blues Behind the Scenes Award," recognizing his decades of work promoting and celebrating blues music in Switzerland. Given the longevity and ongoing success of the Sierre Blues Festival and the event's importance to the larger European blues scene, the festival is most certainly worthy of a 2023 Keeping the Blues Alive Award.   

FRANKY BRUNEEL
In 1982, at age 15, Franky Bruneel started his blues radio show, Back to the Roots. His show ran on several local and national radio stations throughout Belgium, his native country, and it grew in popularity. In 1991, Franky began organizing Blues concerts and created a link that brought American artists to Europe for short tours. For over 30 years, Franky has been a tour organizer and made European bookings for many blues artists, including Carey Bell, Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers, Bob Corritore & The Rhythm Room All-Stars, Kim Wilson's Blues Revue, Mud Morganfield, and many more. In 1995, Franky created a modest fanzine named after his old radio show, Back To The Roots. It contained Blues news and tips for new CDs. There was no Blues magazine in Belgium, and people started subscribing, and other Blues writers joined the team. What began as a radio show and a small fanzine grew into a full-fledged, glossy, 64-page, full-color Blues magazine. The magazine currently produces five issues yearly, featuring Blues News, interviews, and reviews of books, CDs, and DVDs. It has the most extensive Blues concert calendar in the Benelux, the geographic area encompassing three neighboring countries: Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. 'Back To The Roots' is now the only printed Blues magazine in the Dutch language and is read in Belgium and the Netherlands. It is also one of the most important Blues magazines in Europe. Franky Bruneel has acted as a consultant for festivals, helped negotiate recording agreements, and has released three compilation albums on the Back To The Roots label. His 40 years of work in the blues as a DJ, writer, photographer, editor, and publisher of his own blues magazine, website, and record label, as well as his direct work with blues artists, make him a valued resource in the worldwide blues community.

RON WYNN
The Grammy-nominated blues journalist Ron Wynn has been writing about music for more than forty years. A brilliant writer and intellectual, as well as a living encyclopedia of the blues, Wynn began his career in the 1980s as the chief music critic for the Memphis Commercial-Appeal, where he profiled both national and regional blues greats, ranging from B.B. King and Buddy Guy to Jim Dickinson and Bobby Rush. Wynn went on to chronicle the careers of important blues artists for Boston’s Bay State Banner, Connecticut’s Bridgeport Post-Telegram, the Memphis Star, and Nashville’s City Paper. He currently writes for the Nashville Scene, the Tennessee Tribune, the Tennessee Jazz and Blues Society, and Jazz Times, as well as other publications and websites. Wynn took part in fellow Memphis journalism legend Robert Gordon’s documentary, Muddy Waters: Can't Be Satisfied, and was interviewed for the 1994 film, Rhythm, Country & Blues. His liner notes for From Where I Stand—The Black Experience in Country Music received a Grammy nomination in 1998, and in 2005, he contributed writing for the Grammy-winning compilation album Night Train to Nashville, Vol 1. Wynn has made countless appearances on panels, at conferences, and in concert programs and has contributed to three books, including Ain't But a Few of Us: Black Music Writers Tell Their Story, slated for publication in December 2022. Since 1994, he has also worked as a beloved DJ, leading a variety of blues, soul, and gospel radio shows. Along with writing about famous blues artists, Wynn has championed up-and-coming musicians and has also told the tales of songwriters, producers, promoters, and others whose work tends to stay behind the scenes. Overall, he has had a remarkable career and penned many thousands of compelling pieces.

BLUE FRONT CAFE  
Located on Highway 49 in Bentonia, Mississippi, the Blue Front Café has been the home of the great Bentonia School blues tradition since 1948, when Jimmy “Duck” Holmes' family first opened the Café. During the Blue Front Café’s earliest years, it regularly featured performances from the likes of Henry Stuckey and Skip James, both of whom became musical mentors to Holmes. The café is still open daily and presents live blues performances every weekend, making it the oldest continually operating juke joint in the United States. The Blue Front Café is in an incredibly colorful and historic locale—well maintained and welcoming, but essentially unchanged for more than seventy years in its location across from the town’s railroad tracks. As the headquarters of the free Bentonia Blues Festival, which Holmes started in 1972 and has run ever since, the Café has become a beacon for blues fans from around the world. The beloved juke joint is also the home of its own annual anniversary celebration—a smaller festival held every September. Holmes, now 74, is regarded as a living blues legend and the leading practitioner of the distinct Bentonia style. A Mississippi Blues Trail Marker and series of videos shot at the Café for the Black Key’s Mississippi hill country-inspired album, Delta Kream, have put even more focus on the Blue Front as a musical mecca and a perfect citadel of authentic, enduring blues.

TEDDY'S JUKE JOINT
Lloyd "Teddy" Johnston, proprietor of Teddy's Juke Joint, will tell you he's only ever had one address. It's here, at the end of a dirt road off Highway 61—one of the last remaining juke joints on the Chitlin' Circuit. Teddy was born in this shotgun shack in the thick woods north of Baton Rouge. After touring the country in the 50s and the 60s as a DJ, he returned to Zachary, Louisiana in the early 70s to expand his childhood home into a bar. He allowed gospel groups to practice in the building, but when they began to form blues bands of their own and needed a place to perform, Teddy's Bar & Lounge became Teddy's Juke Joint. By the late 1970s, blues musicians from around the Delta and the World lined up to perform at Teddy's. A visit to Teddy's Juke Joint is like stepping into the past. It's like walking back into 1979. Once a little shotgun house, Teddy's has evolved into an "Authentic Louisiana Juke Joint." On the walls, you'll find old photographs, bar signs, license plates, and relics from the past. Teddy is a "Slim Harpo Ambassador" recipient of the Baton Rouge Blues Foundation and other notable recognitions by local and worldwide publications. Teddy sits behind his music throne, spinning the best of rhythm and blues, and "Nancy's Kitchen" is always open for some of the best food you'll ever put in your mouth. The club books world-famous and home Blues acts 2-4 nights per week, and classic spins the rest of the time. With just one visit, you will feel the warmth and hospitality of Teddy's and will be sure to return.

ABOUT THE BLUES FOUNDATION
The Blues Foundation is a world-renowned Memphis-based organization whose mission is to preserve blues heritage, celebrate blues recording and performance, expand worldwide awareness of the blues, and ensure the future of this uniquely American art form. Founded in 1980, the Foundation has approximately 4,000 individual members and 180 affiliated blues societies representing another 50,000 fans and professionals worldwide. Its signature honors and events — the Blues Music Awards, Blues Hall of Fame Inductions, International Blues Challenge, and Keeping the Blues Alive Awards — make it the international hub of blues music. Its HART Fund provides the blues community with medical assistance for musicians in need, while Blues in the Schools programs and Generation Blues Scholarships expose new generations to blues music. The Blues Hall of Fame Museum, located in Downtown Memphis, adds the opportunity for blues lovers of all ages to interact with blues music and history. Throughout the year, the Foundation staff serves the global blues community with answers, information, and news.

IBC week will not only see performances leading up to the January 28th finals, but the Blues Foundation has also programmed a variety of seminars, showcases, master classes, film screenings, book signings, exhibits, networking events, and receptions that musicians, blues professionals, and fans can attend.

The Blues Foundation will again host health screenings for diabetes, screenings for cholesterol, PSA, Hepatitis C, and other conditions free of charge to IBC musicians and attendees. Sponsored by the Blues Foundation’s HART (Handy Artist Relief Trust) Fund, screenings will be provided on Wednesday, January 25, and Thursday, January 26, from 12 PM - 2:30 PM on the second floor of Club 152 (152 Beale Street.)

The International Blues Challenge is sponsored this year by ArtsMemphis, the Tennessee Arts Commission, Memphis Tourism, the Memphis Airport Authority, BMI®, and broadcast partner Ditty TV.

To purchase an International Blues Challenge Pass and final seating upgrades, along with tickets to the Keeping the Blues Alive Awards Brunch and Ceremony, please visit this link: IBC & KBA TICKETS

For more information about the International Blues Challenge, including the full schedule of events, IBC merchandise, and links to reserve discounted hotel rooms at The Doubletree Hotel, please visit Blues.org

Guitar badass Samantha Fish and outlaw country maverick Jesse Dayton have released their first collaborative effort, The Stardust Sessions. This EP is available digitally via Rounder Records.

It started out as an innocent co-writing session between the two musicians. They envisioned a sound that married the explosive blues with alt-rock. On the last day in their New Orleans studio, they jammed on some songs that embodied this musical aesthetic and were eager to hear how their voices and guitars meshed. So they let tape roll, and the unexpected result was The Stardust Sessions. The pair recorded "Brand New Cadillac," made famous by The Clash but originally written in the late 1950s by Vince Taylor, "I'll Be Here in The Morning" by Townes Van Zandt, and "Feelin' Good" by Magic Sam. Joining them in the studio were bassist Austin Clements (Omari Neville), and drummer Mike Dillon (Rickie Lee Jones, Les Claypool Garage Jazz Band), with Rueben Williams wearing the producer's hat. The Stardust Sessions will precede a full-length album containing 12 new original songs written by the pair and produced by the legendary Jon Spencer. The album, Death Wish Blues, will be released in late spring via Rounder Records.

On December 3rd, the wild pair will hit the ground running, first stop, Bakersfield, followed by a gig at LA's famed Whiskey A Go Go on December 4th. This show will be live-streamed; tickets are available to buy here. Fish and Dayton plan on unleashing the three new cover songs in concert as well as unveiling several of their new tunes that will see the light of day with the release of Death Wish Blues.

An award-winning singer, songwriter, and lead guitarist, Samantha Fish has released six albums over the course of her acclaimed career, with 2019's Faster and 2021's Kill or Be Kind both appearing on Rounder Records. "It's not pure rock and roll, it's not pure blues, it's not pure soul, it's not pure pop — it's a mixture of everything," she says of her genre-bending sound, which has regularly taken Fish around the world. A road warrior, she performs 200 shows yearly, both domestically and abroad.

Jesse Dayton has been bringing his unique mashup of East Texas/Louisiana Blues, old-school country, and punk rock to the world since he released his debut album in 1995. Thirteen records later, he remains a staple on SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country and the Americana Radio charts, where his debut LP Raising Cain reached Number 1. Jesse’s career reads like a veritable “who’s who” of American music. He’s toured with Social Distortion, Supersuckers, George Strait, Ryan Bingham, and L.A. punk pioneers X and has recorded with legends such as Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell, and Willie Nelson. He has also recorded three soundtracks for filmmaker Rob Zombie. One can read about Dayton’s storied past in his 2022 memoir, Beaumonster.

Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton
Dec 3----World Records-------------Bakersfield, CA *
Dec 4----The Whiskey-A-Go Go---Los Angeles, CA *
Dec 6----Oven Auditorium-----------Charlotte, NC +
Dec 7----DPAC-------------------------Durham, NC +
 
Jesse Dayton’s Band (supporting on the following dates)
Dec 8-----Rocky Mt, VA-------------Harvester
Dec 9-----Va Beach, VA-------------Elevation 27
Dec 10---Winston-Salem, NC-----Ramkat
Dec 12---Alexandria, VA------------Birchmere
Dec 13---Warrendale, PA----------Jergels
Dec 14---Kent, OH-------------------Kent Stage
Dec 15---Westland, MI-------------Token Lounge
Dec 16---Chicago, IL----------------Park West
Dec 17---Milwaukee, WI-----------Shank Hall
Dec 18---Minneapolis, MN--------Fine Line

Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton  
Dec 29---Biloxi, MS-----------------Ground Zero Blues Club **
Dec 30---New Orleans, LA-------Tipitina's **
Jan 11---Waco, TX-----------------Texas Music Cafe
Jan 12---Dallas, TX-----------------Kessler Theatre **
Jan 13---Austin, TX-----------------04 Center**
Jan 14---Austin, TX-----------------04 Center**
Jan 15---Houston, TX--------------Heights Theatre **

Samantha Fish
Dec 31---Richmond, MO----------Branded Steakhouse
Jan 19----Beaver Creek, CO-----Vilar PAC**
Jan 20----Boulder, CO-------------Boulder Theatre**
Jan 21----Grand Junction, CO---Avalon Theatre**
Jan 22----Fort Collins, CO--------The Aggie**
Jan 25----Memphis, TN------------Lafayette's***
Jan 26----Memphis, TN------------Lafayette's**
Jan 27----Nashville, TN------------The Ryman++
Jan 28----Macon, GA---------------Hargray Cap Theater**
Jan 29----Asheville, NC------------Salvage Station**
Jan 31----Savannah, GA-----------District Live**
Feb 1-----Stuart, FL------------------Lyric Theatre**
Feb 2-----Ft. Lauderdale-----------Au-Rene Theater at Broward Center++
Feb 3-----Orlando, FL---------------Hard Rock Live++
Feb 4-----Atlanta, GA---------------Symphony Hall++
Feb 5-----Walhalla, SC-------------Walhalla PAC**
Feb 7-----Chattanooga,TN---------Barrelhouse Ballroom**
Feb 8-----Jacksonville, FL---------Florida Theater**
Feb 9-----Melbourne, FL-----------King Center**
Feb 10---Clearwater, FL-----------Ruth Eckerd Hall**

   *The ZipGuns
  **Eric Johanson
***Jeremiah Johnson

    +Fish & Dayton supporting Allman Family Revival
+++Fish supporting Kenny Wayne Shepherd

Damon Fowler is pleased to announce the upcoming release of his new album. Damon Fowler & Friends' LIVE AT THE PAVILLION on January 20th via Landslide Records.

Florida's Gulf Coast has produced many distinctive musicians, from the blues of Tampa Red to jazz greats Cannonball and Nat Adderley to former Allman Brothers guitarist Dickey Betts to Southern rockers, The Outlaws. Tampa's Damon Fowler, a masterful guitarist, singer, and songwriter, has absorbed the best of and furthered the work of the region's great artists. A hard-driving troubadour whose music is steeped with soul and represents the many styles that make up the roots of American music. He has gained the respect of many of his peers, given his featured slot in Butch Truck's Freight Train band and his side gig as guitarist in the Dickey Betts Band. Critics have compared Fowler's guitar work to Johnny Winter and Jeff Beck, while his slide guitar is reminiscent of the late Duane Allman. However, Fowler can play fiery guitar runs with the best of them, and his lyrical work on lap steel and dobro makes him a stand-out performer among the legions of guitar heroes.

On the strength of his mastery of roots rock, blues, and sacred steel, the Florida native started wowing audiences with his musical exploits as a teenager, building a reputation as one of the hottest young players on the scene. Adding songwriting and vocal skills to his repertoire has brought him many accolades, with critics extolling his originality, maturity, and technical guitar expertise. Allmusic raved, "Fowler's creative lap steel work is what sets him apart from the rest of the guitar heroes."  

Following his critically acclaimed and Blues Music Awards nominated 2021's ALAFIA MOON, Damon Fowler & Friends' LIVE AT THE PAVILLION marks Fowler's 9th solo release. A classic blues rock offering recorded in St. Petersburg, FL, before a wildly enthusiastic crowd, the album shows off Damon's unique instrumental style, soulful vocals, and vivid songwriting that stand at the forefront of this crisp, jam-filled release. Produced by Fowler and George Harris,  the album features Fowler's working band--Justin Headley (drums) and Chuck Riley (bass)--along with special guests Jason Ricci (harmonica), Eddie Wright (guitar), and Dan Signor (keyboards). Showcasing a set list of originals and an excellent cover of Little Walter's "Up The Line," the music kicks off with the swampy blues romp "It Came Out Of Nowhere," then surges through 9 more guitar-fused tracks designed to highlight Fowler's blazing musicianship and distinctive vocals. A hard-working blues warrior, Fowler boasts multiple tours of the USA, plus well-received treks to Scandinavia and England since the release of ALAFIA MOON. LIVE AT THE PALLADIUM  proves that Fowler plays what he feels without trying to sound like someone else. With each release, he has captured new sounds derived from his deep Blues, Gospel, and Americana roots.

TRACK LISTING
 1  It Came Out of Nowhere
 2  The Guitar
 3  I've Been Low
 4  Somethings Change
 5  Don't Feel Like Going There Today
 6  Taxman
 7  Up The Line
 8  Fruit Stand Lady
 9  Old Fools Barstools and Me
10 Sugar Shack

An impressive assembly of blues music masters, ranging from Blues Hall of Famers to rising stars, will gather in Memphis on Thursday, May 11th, for the 44th Annual Blues Music Awards. Presented by The Blues Foundation, the BMAs honor the past year’s exceptional achievements in blues music recording, performance, and songwriting, as well as supporting the blues’ rich cultural traditions. This celebratory evening, recognized internationally as the blues world’s premier event, not only attracts nearly all the nominees but also presents them in performance.
 
The event takes place at Memphis’ Renasant Convention Center (255 North Main Street), where a Blue Carpet will lead to the theater. The Blue Carpet pre-show commences at 5 p.m.. Tickets range from individual seats for $150 to Premium tables (seats 10) for $1800. Ticket sales are now open and can be purchased by clicking here.
 
Topping the list of talented BMA contenders is John Németh, with five nominations, Song of the Year, Traditional Blues Album, Band of the Year, Instrumentalist – Harmonica, and Instrumentalist – Vocals, which he won in 2022.
 
Behind John Németh in the nomination count are Shemekia Copeland, Rory Block and Eric Gales, each receiving three nominations. Shemekia Copeland is up for Song of the Year, Contemporary Blues Album, and Instrumentalist – Vocals. Rory Block is up for Acoustic Blues Album, Acoustic Artist and Traditional Blues Female, and Eric Gales is up for Song of the Year, BB King Entertainer of the Year, and Blues Rock Album.
 
Some of last year's winners hoping to hold onto their awards are Tommy Castro (B.B. King Entertainer of the Year), Albert Castiglia (Blues Rock Artist), Vanessa Collier (Contemporary Blues Female Artist), Annika Chambers (Soul Blues Female Artist), Curtis Salgado (Soul Blues Male Artist), Sue Foley (Traditional Blues Female Artist – Koko Taylor Award), Danielle Nicole (Instrumentalist – Bass), Jason Ricci (Instrumentalist – Harmonica), Jimmy Carpenter (Instrumentalist Horn), John Németh (Instrumentalist – Vocals.)
 
Past winners hoping to reclaim awards are Sugaray Rayford and Bobby Rush (B.B. King Entertainer of the Year), Buddy Guy (Song of the Year), Buddy Guy and Shemekia Copeland (Contemporary Blues Album), Christone “Kingfish” Ingram (Contemporary Blues Male Artist), Anthony Geraci (Instrumentalist – Piano / Pinetop Perkins Award), Duke Robillard and John Primer (Traditional Blues Male Artist), Chris Layton and Tony Braunagel (Instrumentalist – Drums), Michael “Mudcat” Ward (Instrumentalist – Bass), Dennis Gruenling (Instrumentalist – Harmonica), Deanna Bogart (Instrumentalist – Horn), Ruthie Foster (Contemporary Blues Female Artist), John Németh (Soul Blues Male Artist), Diunna Greenleaf and Rory Block (Traditional Blues Female Artist – Koko Taylor Award), Corey Harris and Rory Block (Acoustic Blues Album), Tinsley Ellis and Albert Castiglia (Blues Rock Album), Doug MacLoed and Rory Block (Acoustic Blues Artist), Tedeschi Trucks Band and Rick Estrin and the NIghtcats (Band of the Year.)
 
Willie J. Campbell, who passed away this past December, was posthumously nominated for Instrumentalist – Bass.

The night before the BMAs, The Blues Foundation’s Blues Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony takes place Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at Memphis’ Halloran Centre at the Orpheum (225 South Main Street). Following a 5:30 p.m. cocktail reception, the inductions begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Halloran Theater. Tickets, which include ceremony and reception admission, are $75 each and, as with any other musical event or charitable donation, they are non-refundable. The 2023 class of inductees will be announced in the coming weeks.
 
The complete list of Blues Music Award nominees can be found below and on The Blues Foundation’s website — www.blues.org. The ballot will be open for voting to current Blues Foundation members only until 11:59 P.M. CST on Friday, March 20th. To become a Blues Foundation member, visit www.blues.org and click on the Join button to learn about the different membership levels and how to easily and securely join online. Upon membership confirmation, new and renewing members will be sent instructions on how to access the 2023 Blues Music Awards Ballot.
 
Major funding for the 44th Blues Music Awards is provided by ArtsMemphis, Tennessee Arts Commission, and Memphis Tourism. Special thanks to partners Memphis Airport Authority and DittyTV.
 
The Blues Foundation is a world-renowned Memphis-based organization whose mission is to preserve blues heritage, celebrate blues recording and performance, expand worldwide awareness of the blues, and ensure the future of this uniquely American art form. Founded in 1980, the Foundation has approximately 4,000 individual members and 173 affiliated blues societies representing another 50,000 fans and professionals worldwide. Its signature honors and events — the Blues Music Awards, Blues Hall of Fame inductions, International Blues Challenge, and Keeping the Blues Alive Awards — make it the international hub of blues music. Its HART Fund provides the blues community with medical assistance for musicians in need, while Blues in the Schools programs and Generation Blues Scholarships expose new generations to blues music. The Blues Hall of Fame Museum, located in Downtown Memphis, adds the opportunity for blues lovers of all ages to interact with blues music and history. Throughout the year, the Foundation staff serves the global blues community with answers, information, and news.
 
44th Blues Music Award Nominees
 B.B. King Entertainer of the Year
Sugaray Rayford
Tommy Castro
Eric Gales
Bobby Rush
Mr. Sipp (Castro Coleman)

Band of the Year
Anthony Geraci & The Boton Blues Allstars
John Németh and the Blue Dreamers
Rick Estrin and the Nightcats
Southern Avenue
Tedeschi Trucks Band

Song of the Year
Altered Five Blues Band “Great Minds Drink Alike” (Jeff Schroedl)
Buddy Guy “The Blues Don’t Lie” (Tom Hambridge)
Eric Gales “I Want My Crown” (Eric Gales, Joe Bonamassa)
John Németh “The Last Time” (John Németh)
Shemekia Copeland “Too Far to Be Gone” (John Hahn/Will Kimbrough)
 
Best Emerging Artist Album
Blue Moon Marquee / Scream, Holler & Howl
DaShawn Hickman / Drums, Roots & Steel
Dylan Triplett / Who Is He?
Jose Ramirez / Major League Blues
Yates McKendree / Buchanan Lane

Acoustic Blues Album
Charlie Musselwhite / Mississippi Son
Corey Harris / The Insurrection Blues
Duwayne Burnside / Acoustic Burnside
Harrison Kennedy / Thanks for Tomorrow
Rory Block / Ain’t Nobody Worried

Blues Rock Album
Albert Castiglia / I Got Love
Bernard Allison / Highs & Lows
Colin James / Open Road
Eric Gales / Crown
Tinsley Ellis / Devil May Care

Contemporary Blues Album
Buddy Guy / The Blues Don’t Lie
Diunna Greenleaf / I Ain’t Playin’
Janiva Magness / Hard to Kill
Larry McCray / Blues Without You
Shemekia Copeland / Done Come too Far
 
Soul Blues Album
Kat Riggins / Progeny
Kirk Fletcher / Heartache by the Pound
Sugaray Rayford / In Too Deep
The Love Light Orchestra / Leave the Light On
Trudy Lynn / Golden Girl

Traditional Blues Album
Kenny Neal / Straight From the Heart
Bob Corritore / Bob Borritore & Friends: You Shocked Me
Duke Robillard / They Called it Rhythm & Blues
John Németh / May Be the Last Time
John Primer / Hard Times

Acoustic Blues Artist
Doug MacLeod
Guy Davis
Harrison Kennedy
Rhiannon Giddens
Rory Block

Blues Rock Artist
Walter Trout
Albert Castiglia
Tommy Castro
Joanne Shaw Taylor
Tinsley Ellis

Contemporary Blues Female Artist
Ruthie Foster
Beth Hart
Janiva Magness
Teresa James
Vanessa Collier

Contemporary Blues Male Artist
Selwyn Birchwood
Chris Cain
Christone "Kingfish" Ingram
Ronnie Baker Brooks
Mr. Sipp (Castro Coleman)

Soul Blues Female Artist
Annika Chambers
Trudy Lynn
Thornetta Davis
Kat Riggins
Vaneese Thomas

Soul Blues Male Artist
John Németh
Johnny Rawls
Curtis Salgado
Don Bryant
Billy Price

Traditional Blues Female Artist (Koko Taylor Award)
Dietra Farr
Diunna Greenleaf
Rhiannon Giddens
Rory Block
Sue Foley

Traditional Blues Male Artist
Billy Branch
Duke Robillard
John Primer
Johnny Burgin
Sugar Ray Norcia

Instrumentalist – Bass
Bob Stronger
Danielle Nicole
Larry Fulcher
Michael “Mudcat” Ward
Willie J. Campbell
 
Instrumentalist - Drums
Chris Layton
Cody Dickinson
Derric D’Mar Martin
Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith
Tony Braunagel

Instrumentalist - Guitar
Chris Cain
Christoffer “Kid” Andersen
Joanna Connor
Kirk Fletcher
Laura Chavez

Instrumentalist - Harmonica
Billy Branch
Bob Corritore
Jason Ricci
John Németh
Dennis Gruenling

Instrumentalist – Horn
Deanna Bogart
Gregg Piccolo
Jimmy Carpenter
Mark Kaz Kazanoff
Sax Gordon Beadle

Instrumentalist - Piano (Pinetop Perkins Piano Player Award)
Anthony Geraci
Ben Levin
Dave Keyes
Jim Pugh
Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne

Instrumentalist - Vocals
Curtis Salgado
Danielle Nicole
Diunna Greenleaf
John Németh
Shemekia Copeland
 
xxx
 
44th Blues Music Awards
Thursday, May 11, 2023
Renasant Convention Center - 255 N. Main St. Memphis, TN 38103
Walk the Blue Carpet: 5:00 pm
 
Blues Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Wednesday, May 10, 2023
Halloran Centre - 225 S. Main St. Memphis, TN 38103
Reception 5:30 pm
Ceremony 7:30 pm

Carter Sampson is pleased to announce the release of the title track from her new album, Gold, due out April 7 via Oklahoma indie Horton Records and available for pre-order here. Americana Highways exclusively premiered the track.

Born and bred in Oklahoma, Carter Sampson is an award-winning singer, songwriter, and performer who shares the essential sounds and heartfelt feelings that have always resonated wholly and entirely from America's heartland. Her confidence and credibility reside in each of her previous albums, but never more so than in her new offering, the aptly-titled Gold. A set of songs reflecting her continuing passion and purpose for making music that can leave an indelible impression, it finds her once again conveying her inspiration through the music and its messaging.  

Co-produced by Carter and her longtime collaborator Kyle Reid, who also engineered and mixed the recording, which Garrett Haines then mastered at Treelady Studios, Gold is due for release on April 7, 2023, via Horton Records. As always, it's another sterling example of Carter's ability to combine poignancy and perspective within a varied template, one that incorporates an assured brand of Americana in the form of country, folk, and rootsy rock and roll. 

"I started working with Kyle in 2017 when he came to the studio to record some pedal steel on Lucky," Carter explains. "Shortly after that, we toured internationally as a trio with Jason Scott and became close musical pals. Kyle and I recorded the first five songs of Gold at my house after he brought over a carload of recording equipment and set up shop in my living room. In retrospect, I have to say that I've never been so comfortable in a recording situation. After all, I was in my own home, and I didn't even have to put real pants on. Then covid hit and put a hold on the process. Eventually, my wizard friend set up a socially distant recording studio between his house and a backyard studio with cords and cables running into and out of windows. The second side of the album was entirely recorded in that manner. After a few songs were completed that way, it became clear that we were on the same page and working well together. Aside from a couple of upright bass tracks by Johnny Carlton and one fiddle track by Lane Hawkins, the entire album was recorded by Kyle and me." The results affirm Carter's insights and ability and reflect her reputation as a true Queen of Oklahoma, the title she's rightfully earned through her live performances, exuberant personality, and abundance of expressive offerings.  

That dedication and determination are evident on each of the new album's ten tracks, which run the gamut from a sway and saunter to a decidedly driving delivery. The emphatic urgency expressed in the title track — and the album's first single — fleshes out her feelings and reflects her assertive stance after being inspired by a conversation with her mother. "I wrote this one after breaking down and having a good cry to my mom," Carter explains. "She's always a source of comfort, and afterward, I felt bad for causing her to worry about me. After all, she's certainly done plenty of that. But, ultimately, I just wanted her to know I'm okay and always will be because I have her support." So, Mama, don't you worry about me. I'll be fine, Carter sings. I won't be bought; I won't be sold 'cause you made me out of Gold.

"Black Blizzard" finds Carter sharing a stoic, surging tale of lessons learned from her Oklahoma heritage and the state's tangled history. The rugged arrangements provide a vivid aural embellishment of a tale flush with trials, tenacity, and resilience, even in the face of the most sobering circumstance. "I come from a long line of Oklahomans and learned about the Dust Bowl in school," Carter reflects. "However it wasn't until I read about it as an adult that I realized just how awful it must have been. Kyle's use of electronic instrumentation perfectly complements the story the song is telling." The darker strains of "Home" are imbued with contemplation and the conflict between relishing the ability to travel and tour and yet still yearning for a safe space. It was written during a cold spell in the Netherlands, and the opening lines express Carter's desire to remain a free spirit while also having a place she can call her own. I'm not sure where my heart is, she muses. But I'm starting to find my way home. "I'm thankful to have a nice place to land, but I think my heart is always with me no matter where I go," she muses. "I know I've chosen a different path than many people, but I wouldn't change a thing." 

A similar sentiment parallels the forthright approach taken with the second single that will precede the album, "Can't Stop Now." However, its casual caress and gentle pedal steel guitar embellishment seem at odds with the pandemic's underlying uncertainty, isolation, and inability to pursue possibilities that were once so well within reach.  

One act came from Houston, Texas, the other from Sydney, Australia, but they both proved to be outstanding at this year’s International Blues Challenge finals, which took place January 28th at Memphis’ historic Orpheum Theatre.

Mathias Lattin representing the Houston Blues Society, left Memphis with a first-place finish in the Band Division, also taking home the Gibson Guitar Award for Best Band Guitarist. Frank Sultana from the Sydney Blues Society, triumphed in the Solo/Duo Division and Adam Karch of the Montreal Blues Society, nabbed the Memphis Cigar Box Guitar Award. Brian Peters of Deuce 'n a Quarter (Columbus Blues Alliance), picked up the Lee Oskar Harmonica Award for the Best Harmonica Player and The Sugar Thieves Duo (Phoenix Blues Society), took second place in the solo/duo division. Winning the Best Self-produced CD was Josh Hoyer and Soul Colossal for their album, Green Light..

Receiving recognition too at this year’s IBC Awards in the Band Division was The Cinelli Brothers of the UK Blues Federation, capturing 2nd place, and coming in 3rd place was Dick Earl's Electric Witness from the Las Vegas Blues Society.

Interim President and CEO, Kimberly Horton effused, “We’re super excited to be back with our blues community on Beale Street. All of the bands were awesome and winners in their own right to be here!! Looking forward to 2024! Save the dates January 16-20, 2024!
 
While the Challenge served as a centerpiece of IBC Week, a varied line-up of unique events also occurred including the highly esteemed Keeping the Blues Alive Awards. This year’s recipients were celebrated at a special ceremony, click here for the complete list.
 
Other highlights included Doug MacLeod's book signing for his new book, Murder at the Crossroads, master classes in guitar, bass, drums, piano/keyboards and harmonica, a Blues yoga class and the IBC Silent Auction.

The International Blues Challenge is sponsored by The Tennessee Arts Commission, Arts Memphis, Memphis Tourism, Gibson Gives, Memphis Intl. Airport, Air Canada, Hohner Harmonicas, Silky O’Sullivan’s, Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, Big Blues Bender, Ditty TV, Folk Alliance Intl., Lee Oskar Harmonica’s, Big City Rhythm & Blues, Doubletree by Hilton, Blues Festival Guide, and BMI.

The Blues Foundation is a world-renowned Memphis-based organization whose mission is to preserve blues heritage, celebrate blues recording and performance, expand worldwide awareness of the blues, and ensure the future of this uniquely American art form. Founded in 1980, the Foundation has approximately 4,000 individual members and 173 affiliated blues societies representing another 50,000 fans and professionals worldwide. Its signature honors and events — the Blues Music Awards, Blues Hall of Fame inductions, International Blues Challenge, and Keeping the Blues Alive Awards — make it the international hub of blues music. Its HART Fund provides the blues community with medical assistance for musicians in need, while Blues in the Schools programs and Generation Blues Scholarships expose new generations to blues music. The Blues Hall of Fame Museum, located in Downtown Memphis, adds the opportunity for blues lovers of all ages to interact with blues music and history. Throughout the year, the Foundation staff serves the global blues community with answers, information, and news.

COMPLETE LIST OF INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE’S 2023 WINNERS

BAND DIVISION
Winner - Mathias Lattin (Houston Blues Society)
2nd Place Band - The Cinelli Brothers (UK Blues Federation)
3rd Place Band - Dick Earl's Electric Witness (Las Vegas Blues Society)
 
SOLO/DUO DIVISION
Winner  -  Frank Sultana (Sydney Blues Society)
2nd Place - The Sugar Thieves Duo (Phoenix Blues Society)

GIBSON GUITAR AWARD (BEST BAND GUITARIST)
Matthias Lattin (Houston Blues Society)
 
MEMPHIS CIGAR BOX GUITAR AWARD (BEST SOLO/DUO GUITARIST)
Adam Karch (Montreal Blues Society)

LEE OSKAR HARMONICA AWARD (BEST HARMONICA PLAYER)
Brian Peters of Deuce 'n a Quarter (Columbus Blues Alliance)

BEST SELF-PRODUCED CD
Josh Hoyer and Soul Colossal for their album, Green Light..

Texas blues/rock guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Ally Venable is pleased to announce that she will release Real Gone!, her latest solo effort, on March 24th via Ruf Records.

At 23, Venable is a fiery presence well-known in the roots music world. Her name has grown in stature with each new album and high-energy gig. She's a ripping guitar player with style and tone for days, a commanding singer, and a songwriter with the power to make blues music that speaks to contemporary fans. The new record, produced by Grammy winner Tom Hambridge (Buddy Guy, Susan Tedeschi), features guest appearances by Joe Bonamassa and living legend Buddy Guy. 

Venable is that rare musician who can take her old-school influences like Guy and Stevie Ray Vaughan and create music that brings their spirits to today's listeners where they live. Together with Isaac Pulido (drums) and EJ Bedford (bass), she gives audiences an entertaining show packed with musical muscle and relatable songs about living, growing, and evolving.

The first single from Real Gone! is the title track, a straight-up, body-moving rocker. American Blues Scene premiered the video. The second single, to be released on February 24th, is T "exas Louisiana," a crackling duet with the one-and-only Buddy Guy. Ally and Buddy are an absolute dream team, intertwining their guitars and voices into one without losing any identity or impact.

On the soulful ballad "Next Time I See You," Ally downshifts her vocals and shows every dynamic degree of her impressive range. Her guitar work here is equally lyrical and emotive, displaying a gift for phrasing that few players ever attain. The slow grinding jam "Blues Is My Best Friend" lays out the ups and downs of the guitar lifestyle in no uncertain terms and features some of Venable's most intense playing and singing on the entire set. Ally's deep, cliche-free authenticity is the common thread running through every song on Real Gone! She speaks her mind without hesitation or apology, turning each track into an honest statement of purpose. 

In December 2022, Guitar World named Ally one of the Top 15 'Young Guns,' Making the Gibson Les Paul Cool Again. That same year, she received the Road Warrior Award from the Independent Blues Music Awards. Additionally, she performed as a featured artist on the Experience Hendrix Show in Austin, TX, appearing alongside Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Zack Wilde, Eric Johnson, and Dweezil Zappa, to name a few.

With 2019's Texas Honey and 2021's Heart of Fire, Venable found herself topping the Billboard charts. Early releases No Glass Shoes (2016) and Puppet Show (2018) created her fanbase, charted on radio, and won several East Texas Music Awards. Venable's acclaim for addition med performances on Ruf Records' European Blues Caravan tour brought her international recognition. She has toured the U.S. with Buddy Guy, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Canada with Colin James.

This year, Ally will be opening for Buddy Guy on his farewell tour, supporting Kenny Wayne Shepherd, rocking Europe again on the Blues Caravan Tour, and doing her headline shows domestically and abroad.

TOURDATES

Feb 22---Cincinnati OH---Ludlows*
Feb 23---Ft Wayne IN---Embassy Theatre**
Feb 24---New Buffalo MI---Four Winds Casino***
Feb 25---Anderson IN---Paramount Theatre***
Feb 26---Evansville IN---Victory Theatre**
Mar 1---Baton Rouge LA---River Center Theatre***
Mar 2---Waco TX---The Backyard*
Mar 3---Austin TX---ACL**
Mar 4---Austin TX---ACL**
Mar 5---Houston TX---713 Music Hal**l
Mar 8---Dallas TX---Majestic Theatre**
Mar 9---Oklahoma City OK---Belle Isle 2nd Level Live*
Mar 10---Wichita KS---WAVE 5*
Mar 11---Kansas City MO---Uptown Theatre**
Mar 12---Sun Iowa City IA---Wildwood Saloon*
Mar 13---St Louis MO---The Factory**
Mar 14---Bloomington IL---The Stable Music Hall and Lounge*
Apr 5---Austin TX---Antones
Apr 6---The Woodlands TX---Dosey Doe
Apr 7---Dallas TX---Granada
Apr 8---Kilgore TX---Backporch
Jun 4---Anderson IN---Paramount++       Ally’s Birthday show!!!
Jun 6---Nashville IN---Brown County Performing Arts Center++
Jun 8---Augusta GA---Miller Theatr++
June 9---Macon GA---The Grand Opera House++
Jun 10---Savannah GA Lucas Theatre++
Jun 24---Rochester Hills, MI---Meadowbrook Amphitheatre++
Jun 25---Sun Huber Heights, OH---Rose Amphitheatre+
Sep 7-10---Las Vegas, NV Big Blues Bender - date of performance TBD

Appearing with:
*Eric Gales
**Eric Gales & Buddy Guy
***Buddy Guy
+Christone “Kingfish” Ingram & Buddy Guy
++Kenny Wayne Shepher

Some artists are deliberate in what they do, while others eagerly accept the mystery of it all. Jason Stutts, who goes by Rust Dust on record, belongs to the latter group, allowing songs to take shape in mere minutes or over the course of years, serving them the best he can with whatever sounds, words, energy, and emotions manifest. “I don’t typically sit down to write a song.  Sometimes I’m lucky enough to recognize them when they appear,” he says.

Appear they did, for Twere But It Were So Simple.  Rust Dust’s second LP for Omad due out on March 10, 2023, is a deceptively simple, spacious-sounding LP recorded live in a ramshackle Brooklyn brownstone. The jaunty instrumental eye-opener “Helter Fukov Awakens” segues into some improbable guitar pop, with the “all-lit-up-with-nowhere-to-go” gusto of “UFO.” The tasty “Ice Queen Sandwich” and “Speaking In Tongues” vibe together like Robyn Hitchcock cornering Townes Van Zandt at a buoyant, boozy rent party. 

Things take a slower, somber turn on the delicately played and achingly sung title track conjuring images of “snakes in my pockets, and a rope around my neck” and “Sky,” a haunting, heartbreaking collaboration with Omad main man John DeNicola.  There’s also a New Orleans-inflected number, “Must Be Jelly”—plucked and blown on banjo and trombone—and a handful of covers, including a driven “You Got To Move,” inspired by the Rev. John Wilkins’ arrangement, and a sparsely elegiac version of Dylan’s “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door.”

Throughout, the album has a kick of country and an ample serving of blues roots to be expected from a devout guitar geek whose floor-to-ceiling collection includes guitars dating from the 1890s to the 1960s. (Full disclosure: Stutts’ day job is repairing and restoring such stuff.) Remarkably, though, the only two guitars used on Twere... are a Godin Multiac, a modern nylon-string electric designed to sound acoustic when plugged in, and an old Yamaha nylon. “The Godin is a practical, utilitarian instrument, but, yeah, a pretty odd choice, considering my vintage leanings,” Stutts admits. 

It was a shared appreciation for old gear that first brought Stutts and DeNicola together, and in 2017 the Oscar-winning, Grammy-nominated producer and songwriter helmed Diviners and Shivs, the first Rust Dust record. While that album was also recorded live, it got made in DeNicola’s upstate New York studio; the lockdown of the last few years led Stutts to go full-on DIY for the follow-up. “I really enjoyed working in John’s barn, with him and our engineer, Andris J. Balins, on Diviners and Shivs," he says. “But when these songs felt ready, I just set up multiple microphones and played them through an amplifier. With the exception of “Must Be Jelly,” basically what you hear is how they came out live with a few effects in the mix.”

Maybe it’s not all that mysterious after all. Maybe it’s just that simple. 

Slippin' Through the Cracks, a new musical about the legendary bluesman Bobby Rush is currently in development. An invitation-only industry presentation of the new show will take place in New York City on Tuesday, March 7th and Wednesday, March 8th.

Bobby Rush's inspiring yet little-known story is told in Slippin' Through the Cracks by a cast of 14 actors and five musicians who play family members, business associates, fellow artists, and others in Rush's exciting and turbulent life.
 
As a thrilling coda to the musical, Mr. Rush joins the company on stage, performing a final song in the show.
 
Bobby Rush wrote the music and lyrics for Slippin' Through the Cracks. The book is by Mr. Rush and Stephen Lloyd Helper, who conceived the Broadway hit Smokey Joe's Café. Mr. Helper also serves as co-director of the production. The musical is co-directed by Arminda Thomas, with musical direction by Felton Offard.     
 
Two-time Grammy-winner, Blues Hall of Famer, six-time Grammy nominee, and 14-time Blues Music Award winner Bobby Rush has been making recordings for nearly 70 years with more than 400 recordings and 27 studio albums to his name.

While writing some of the greatest stripped-back Delta Blues songs of all time, Rush also reinvents the form into funky, heart-pounding, danceable Blues that lift you out of your seat. From emotional dark bass notes of love gone wrong and life's hardships to the riotous, neo-vaudevillian.

Slippin' Through The Cracks encapsulates the message Bobby Rush has for us today: "If a dirt-poor country boy, with no education, no opportunities, faced with great troubles, can make it through life doing what he loves, so can you." 

For Bobby Rush, his Grammy wins, nominations, Blues music awards, and keys to countless cities are recognition of his storytelling gifts, music making, and the deep connection his songs have with all that hear them. They thrive now in a great score, married to an excellent story for the theater.

James Intveld is excited to announce that he will release a new single, his first since 2008. The track entitled “Let’s Talk it Out” will be released on March 10, 2023, via Mule Kick Records. The song has all the swing of Wynn Stewart with the swagger of Buddy Holly. Recorded in Orange, CA, the track features Marty Rifkin on pedal steel (Glen Campbell, Tom Petty), Bob Gothar on guitar (Heather Myles), Michael Turner on guitar, and Kip Dabbs on drums.
 
Intveld’s story is as deep and complex as the San Andreas fault line in California. The California country kid from Compton found early inspiration from country crooners Hank Williams, Sr., Lefty Frizzell, early R&B shouters Big Joe Turner and Fats Domino, and rock ‘n roll pioneers Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley.
 
He has played with everyone from The Mavericks to Nick 13 and composed hits for cult legends like Wanda Jackson and Rosie Flores. In addition, he has contributed to The Blasters, Dwight Yoakam, Dale Watson, and others while in league with the brightest and most ambitious musicians of the day at the Palomino Club of North Hollywood.
 
Intveld is also known in Hollywood circles for directing and acting in movies with Sean Penn, Viggo Mortensen, Willam Dafoe, Billy Bob Thorton, River Phoenix, and David Carradine. In addition, he dubbed vocals for Johnny Depp in the movie Cry Baby and dueted with Reese Witherspoon for the movie Walk the Line. His place in the Hollywood scene was that of a player who would pop up for a session with Bob Dylan and show up on TV with Levon Helm and Kinky Friedman.
 
He was well received on the first ever Outlaw Country Cruise West and showcased at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville during the Western Edge exhibit launch (recognizing the influence of Los Angeles on post-modern country music) and helping produce “Palomania” - the definitive documentary on The Palomino Club and the untold history of California country.

Ever on the move, Inveldt will be particapting in Ameripolitan in Memphis and then upon the  release of “Let’s Talk it Out,” Intveld will be on tour this March, supporting the iconic cowpunk band, X.

Jake Pinto’s eclectic musical story has shaped a charmingly honest solo debut rich in instinctive melodicism and cultured arrangements. To be released by Mother West on March 31st, Sad Songs for Happy People is at once confessional and celebratory, marrying timeless songsmith instincts and 70s musicality with nuanced funkiness and shadows of jazz.

A jazz musician since his early teens, Jake attended NYU for jazz piano and was soon booking gigs and festivals worldwide, including the Blue Note in New York City and Milan. While still in college, he found himself already playing alongside genre luminaries like François Mouton, Ralph Lalama, and the late Lew Soloff.

Simultaneously, Jake was a founding member of the afrobeat buzz band EMEFE, whose 2012 debut album was praised as “fresh and inventive” by All About Jazz. Known for exuberant live shows incorporating funk, hip-hop, and rock & roll, EMEFE went on to play prestigious engagements, including the Montreal and Rochester International jazz festivals.

A rediscovery of his teenage passion for writing songs on guitar and singing just for fun snowballed into a rock & roll band called The YeahTones, a cathartically explosive trio that toured coast to coast. The YeahTones landed high-profile placements in movie trailers like 2019’s Villains and TV shows such as Shameless. Soon, Jake was an in-demand songwriter, signing a publishing deal and working with The Shadowboxers, Jeff ‘Dynamite’ Silverman (Truth and Soul), Tor Miller, and many more.

Getting back to writing on piano, Jake found fresh excitement and energy. He began working with a diverse variety of artists at Silverman’s Future Sounds studio in Brooklyn, and on off days, he would bring in his own band and record what would become Sad Songs for Happy People - much of it tracked live on vintage, analog equipment.  

“The Beatles are still my favorite band, but I was also obsessed with D’Angelo for so long,” he offered. “And I love the crooners like Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra; the directness of how they sing and tell stories. It’s a hard thing to do, to tell show-tune stories in a way that doesn’t feel corny.”

Jake credits Grammy-winning producer/mixer Ed Spear (Brandi Carlile, Lady Gaga) with pulling his diverse influences together on his arresting debut. “He mixed the record, but it was definitely sort of ‘mixing-plus’,” he said. “Such incredible ideas and brilliance. Ed really transformed the record.”

Sad Songs for Happy People features a who’s who of NY luminaries, including Miles Francis (Will Butler, Antibalas), Tim Kuhl (Margaret Glaspy), Dylan Aiello (Elizabeth and the Catapult), and Dillon Treacy (Alto Palo, Amber Mark.)

The result is 11 ultra-accomplished tracks of eclectic, Americana, and blues-flecked indie rock delivered unfiltered, straight from the source. These are songs with longevity, of intrinsic emotional and musical quality rather than adherence to genre or style. Most are keys based, embroidered with snazzy brass, tasty guitar interjections, and grand rhythmic flourishes.

"There’s something beautiful about taking a sad song and putting it to a bright beat and bright instrumental,” Jake continued. “Just an interesting combination of melancholy, nostalgia, love, and happiness.”

Sad Songs for Happy People was set for release right when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and then further delayed when Jake’s talents were sought out by Miami psych-funksters Magic City Hippies and Brooklyn’s afrobeat flag bearers Antibalas, leading to months of global touring. He even did double duty as a solo opener for MCH.

As well as continued touring with Magic City Hippies and Antibalas, plus a burgeoning career writing music for TV and film, the now bi-coastal Jake plans widespread solo shows and music videos to support Sad Songs for Happy People and is already deep into writing its follow-up.

PRE-SALE / PRE-SAVE HERE

Four Chicago bluesmen, a Mississippi juke joint king, a blues queen, and a folk-blues icon are those being inducted into The Blues Foundation's Blues Hall of Fame, 43rd class. Those honored have made the Blues timeless through performance, documentation, and recording. Since its inception in 1980, The Blues Foundation has inducted new members annually into the Blues Hall of Fame for their historical contribution, impact, and overall influence on the Blues. Members are inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in five categories: Performers, Individuals, Classic of Blues Literature, Classic of Blues Recording (Song), and Classic of Blues Recording (Album). The Blues Foundation has inducted over 400 industry professionals, recordings, and literature into the Blues Hall of Fame.

MEET THE CLASS OF 2023

Carey Bell took his place in the lineage of Chicago blues harp masters in the 1970s, following in the footsteps of his mentors, Big Walter Horton and Little Walter Jacobs. In addition to recording his albums, he was Chicago's go-to harmonica player on over 100 sessions backing such artists as Howlin' Wolf, Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters, Louisiana Red, Jimmy Rogers, Eddy Clearwater, and many others. His Alligator CD, Good Luck Man, won a W.C. Handy Award in 1998, the same year he was elected Traditional Male Blues Artist of the Year, following several previous nominations.

Junior Kimbrough became a nationally renowned blues icon known for his unique style and his role as potentate at his own Juke, Junior's Place. He was influenced by Mississippi Fred McDowell and his friend, R.L. Burnside. His music appeared in the documentary Deep Blues, and he released albums for Philwood, Highwater, and Fat Possum. His bands typically included some of his sons and younger members of the Burnside family. The Black Keys, Iggy Pop & the Stooges, Daft Punk, and the North Mississippi Allstars have covered his songs.

Esther Phillips was a 13-year-old prodigy, singing very adult, saucy blues with the legendary Johnny Otis. Called "the indisputable queen of the blues" by the famed music critic Leonard Feather, Esther, a devotee of Dina Washington, could deliver blues, R&B, soul, jazz, pop, and even country songs with honesty and conviction. With Johnny Otis, she recorded three consecutive No 1 R&B hits in 1950 for the Savoy label. One of her biggest hits, "Release Me." led to a contract with Atlantic Records, followed by a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance of 1972.

John Primer cut his teeth singing in church and playing a handmade one-string guitar. He earned his pedigree in blues playing with Blues Hall of Famers Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, and Magic Slim. Guitar wizard Sammy Lawhorn mentored him, and he was known as a first-call sideman in Chicago, recording with James Cotton, Jimmy Rogers, John Brim, Eddie Shaw, and many more, along with live recordings with Muddy, Big Mama Thornton, and others. Subsequently, Willie Dixon invited Primer to join his Chicago Blues All Stars, and when Muddy Waters needed a new band in 1980, Primer found himself playing with one of his lifelong idols until Muddy's death. He recorded for Austrian label Wolf Records, Earwig, Code Blue (Atlantic), Telarc, and Blues House Productions. Primer has been a perennial nominee and frequent victor in the Traditional Blues categories of the Blues Music Awards, Living Blues Awards, and other honors programs. His latest CD project, released in February 2023, is a tribute to Magic Slim.

Snooky Pryor was Born in rural Mississippi in 1919. He's considered one of the pioneers of the classic Chicago blues of the post-World War II era. He became one of the first harp players to amplify his sound with electricity. His first recordings were for Planet. J.O.B., Parrot, and Vee-Jay, and he also recorded for the Today label, Big Bear, Blind Pig, Antone's, Wolf, Electro-Fi, and others. Pryor made some historic recordings for several Chicago labels, including Boogie (Snooky and Moody's Boogie), a predecessor to Little Walter's massive hit Juke, and Judgment Day (later revived by British rockers the Pretty Things and Eric Clapton),

Josh White transitioned from a career as a Piedmont blues artist to a unique and integral voice in the folk music world of the 1940s. His induction into the Blues Hall of Fame and concurrent honors as Folk Alliance International's 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient are finally shining the spotlight on an icon whose many contributions have too often been forgotten or overlooked. Unfortunately, his protest songs and leftist associations led to a blacklisting during the McCarthy anti-Communist era. He incorporated Tin Pan Alley hits, pop tunes, work songs, and folk ballads from various sources. His most popular number, "One Meat Ball," was a big hit when covered by the Andrews Sisters, and many listeners heard "House of the Rising Sun" for the first time through White. His 1949 release, Ballads and Blues on Decca, was the first blues record to be released in a newly introduced format – the 33 rpm L.P. He recorded for Mercury, Columbia, ABC-Paramount, Blue Note, Elektra, Vanguard, and labels in France, the U.K., Italy, and Denmark.

Fenton Robinson practiced an erudite brand of blues hailed by musicians, critics, and discerning audiences worldwide. However, he rarely enjoyed wide public acclaim with greater concentration than his audience usually gave him. He was a performer, songwriter, and teacher. He backed Junior Wells, Sonny Boy Williamson, and Otis Rush and recorded for USA, Giant and Palos, Stage 7. He also recorded two critically acclaimed albums for Alligator, including the Blues Hall of Fame LP I Hear Some Blues Downstairs.

INDIVIDUALS - BUSINESS, PRODUCTION, MEDIA, ACADEMIC

David Evans scholarly research and his fieldwork in Mississippi, Louisiana, and other states formed the basis for a plethora of publications, recordings, liner notes, and lectures. He has been the recipient of multiple research grants, academic honors, and awards, including two Grammys for liner notes. He graduated from Harvard before earning degrees in folklore and mythology at UCLA and teaching at California State-Fullerton. His film and video work includes a Mississippi fife and drum documentary and an instructional video on the guitar style of Tommy Johnson, while his radio resume is highlighted by two long-running shows he hosted in Memphis on WEVL. Evans has served as a series editor at the University Press of Mississippi since 1996. The series numbers over 100 books, including The Original Blues, this year’s Blues Hall of Fame honoree in the Classics of Blues Literature category, and his latest book, Going Up the Country: Adventures in Blues Fieldwork in the 1960s.

RECORDINGS

Little Walter: The Complete Chess Masters is 2023’s Classic Blues Recording: Album. Hip-O’s 5-CD, 126-track compilation of one of the most influential Blues harmonica players, is true blues treasure trove.
 
There are five Classic of Blues Recording: Singles receiving Hall of Fame induction: Lowell Fulson's 1965 recording, “Black Nights,” Freddy King’s 1961 hit, “I’m Tore Down,” “Mojo Hand,” released by LIghtnin’ Hopkins in 1960, “My Black Mama” released by Son House in 1930 and the Howlin’ Wolf classic, “Little Red Rooster.”

LITERATURE

Entering the Blues Hall of Fame as a Classic of Blues Literature is The Original Blues: The Emergence of the Blues in African American Vaudeville 1899-1926, by Lynn Abbott & Doug Seroff chonicles the minstrel and ragtime traditions in vaudeville theatre that was major public venue for Blues in its early years.

For the complete bios and descriptions of all inductees, click here.

THE BLUES FOUNDATIONS 2023 BLUES HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Performers
Carey Bell
Junior Kimbrough
Esther Phillips
John Primer
Snooky Pryor
Fenton Robinson
Josh White

Individuals – Business, Production, Media, Academic
David Evans

Classic of Blues Literature
The Original Blues: The Emergence of the Blues in African American Vaudeville 1899-1926,
by Lynn Abbott & Doug Seroff (University Press of Mississippi, 2017)

Classic of Blues Recording - Album
Little Walter: The Complete Chess Masters (1950-1967) (Hip-O Select, 2009)

Classics of Blues Recording – Single or Album Track
"Black Nights" -- Lowell Fulson (Kent, 1965)
"I'm Tore Down"  -- Freddy King, Federal, 1961)
"Mojo Hand" -- Lightnin' Hopkins (Fire, 1960)
"My Black Mama" -- Son House (Paramount, 1930)
"The Red Rooster" (Little Red Rooster) -- Howlin' Wolf (Chess, 1961)
 
The Blues Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, held in conjunction with the Blues Music Awards, will occur on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at the Halloran Centre (225 S. Main St., Memphis). A cocktail reception honoring the BHOF Inductees and Blues Music Awards nominees will begin at 5:30 p.m., with the formal inductions commencing at 6:30 p.m. in the Halloran Theater. Tickets, including the ceremony and reception, are $75 each and available with Blues Music Awards tickets.

The Blues Hall of Fame Museum will showcase several special items representing the 2023 class of inductees. These artifacts will be on display for public viewing beginning the first week of May and will remain on view for visitor enjoyment for the next 12 months.

Museum visitors can also explore the permanent exhibits and individualized galleries that showcase an unmatched selection of album covers, photographs, historical awards, unique art, musical instruments, costumes, and other one-of-a-kind memorabilia. In addition, interactive displays allow guests to hear the music, watch the videos, and read the stories about each Blues Hall of Fames over 400 inductees.

The museum's current exhibit in the upstairs gallery is Chroma in Blues, featuring the paintings of Joel Libby. Libby calls his technique "painterly pop art," referencing his bold and rough brushwork and the genre made popular by artists like Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. His work has been featured in various galleries and displayed in multiple permanent collections, including that of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY; the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield, IL; and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, CA.

The museum is open Wednesdays through Sundays with hours listed here. Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for students with I.D.; free for children 12 and younger and Blues Foundation members. Membership is available for as little as $25 per person; to join, visit Blues.org. The Blues Foundation's Blues Hall of Fame Museum is at 421 South Main Street in Memphis, TN.

Blues Hall of Fame biographies and descriptions were researched and written by Living Blues magazine co-founder Jim O’Neal (bluesoterica.com) with thanks to Bob Eagle and David Evans.

The Blues Foundation's partners and sponsors include ArtsMemphis, Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, Memphis Tourism, Tennessee Arts Commission, and BMI,

New Orleans outfit, The Rumble, is pleased to announce that they will be releasing Live at the Maple Leaf on May 19th. "My People", the first single off of the new album, will be released on April 14th.To coincide with the release is an extensive national summer tour, (dates below.)

On Mardi Gras morning, your eyes may feast on the intricate and elaborate beadwork of the Indians as they dance down the street, but the first thing you'll hear when they make their way toward you is the back line known as "the rumble." Featuring six Grammy-nominated musicians, The Rumble is more than just a band—it's an opportunity to be immersed in a wholly unique facet of New Orleans culture.  

After working together for years in the Grammy-nominated Cha Wa, Second Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr. of the Golden Eagles, trumpeter Aurélien Barnes, trombonist José Maize Jr., bassist TJ Norris, guitarist Ari Teitel, and keyboardist Andriu Yanovski joined forces with drummer Trenton O'Neal to form The Rumble. The group fuses iconic New Orleans funk in the vein of The Meters and The Neville Brothers—but updated, modern, and vibrant —with electrifying brass and the singular visual splendor of the Black Masking carnival tradition.

Their debut album, which deftly captures the group's symphony of rich color and propulsive sound, was recorded live at the iconic Maple Leaf Bar in New Orleans, allowing listeners to be immersed in the experience of their live show. While each member contributes a personal inspiration and influence to the band's sound, they come together as working musicians who are deeply rooted in the Crescent City and its rich culture, living and breathing it daily.   

The group pays homage to trailblazers like Wild Magnolias and Golden Eagles (both of which featured the vocal stylings of Boudreaux's father, Monk Boudreaux), with each member sharing vocal duties and engaging the audience in the classic Mardi Gras Indian-style call-and-response chanting. But to classify them merely as "a Mardi Gras Indian group" would be a mistake.

This record reflects 30+ years of New Orleans history. It captures the beating heart of a city often reduced to flimsy stereotypes and outdated assumptions. It draws on vibrant subcultures of the city ranging from brass bands to contemporary R&B, funk, hip-hop, and more. While their live show is electric, The Rumble is more than a party band. Their work is deeply spiritual, and through it, they're fighting to preserve the legacies and traditions of the community while bringing new layers of depth to their live performance.  

The Rumble provides listeners and audiences with a joyful, affirming, and nuanced musical experience and the chance to participate in a culture that, while deeply rooted in centuries-old tradition, is thriving and evolving through the active work of this next generation of bold and passionate culture-bearers.

TOUR DATES
Apr 15---New Orleans---French Quarter Fest
Apr 22---Tallahassee, FL---Word of the South Festival
May 4----New Orleans---Civic Theatre
May 4----New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
Jun 9-----Berwyn, IL---Fitzgeralds
Jun 16---St Louis, MO---City Winery
Jun 17---Memphis, TN---Overton Park Shell
July 20---Winston Salem, NC---Ramkat
July 21---Asheville, NC---Downtown After Five
July 26---New York, NY---City Winery
July 27---Philadelphia, PA---City Winery
July 28---Rio Grande, NJ---Hawk Haven Winery
July 30---Annapolis, MD---Ramshead on Stage
Aug 4-----Dayton, OH---Levitt Pavilion
Aug 5-----Pittsburgh---Club Café
Aug 6-----Bethlehem, PA---musikfest
Sep 16---Telluride, CO---Blues and Brews Festival

The Bacon Brothers are pleased to announce their annual summer tour commencing April 28th in Warrensdale, PA. The 5-piece outfit is rehearsed and raring to go, looking forward to playing to sold-out houses of enthusiastic fans along the way. “Connecting with people through music is a joy!” effused Kevin, with Americana Highways weighing in; "The entire band is precise and honed, you can tell they have been together more than two decades, and that adds to their ability to electrify the audience."

The Bacon Brothers, featuring Michael & Kevin Bacon, started over twenty-five years ago. Refusing to be pigeon-holed, the brothers call their sound Forosoco, which is short for "Folk, Rock, Soul, Country." They've been featured by the BBC, Associated Press, SiriusXM, and Paste Magazine and have appeared on Carpool Karaoke, Ditty TV, and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. In addition, they've served as judges in the American Songwriter Magazine Lyric Competition, participated in the 9/11 Memorial for The Grand Ole Opry's 20th Anniversary September 11th tribute, and performed in Z.Z. Top – America Salutes You and hosted Love Rocks NYC. The Bacon's have released ten albums and one E.P. to date, most recently the 2022 release, Erato.

The Philadelphia Music Alliance has recently honored The Bacon Brothers with a plaque on the Philadelphia Walk of Fame. And, this past November, Michael, Kevin, and SixDegrees.Org joined forces with the Philadelphia youth organization Rock to the Future and recorded a single, "Philly Thing." Proceeds from "Philly Thing" support Rock to the Future. On April 29th, Rock to the Future will host their annual Music For All Ball event at Philadelphia's World Cafe Live with a special performance from The Bacon Brothers.

Ever prolific, Michael and Kevin have been busy writing and recording for a follow-up release to last summer's E.P., Erato. Michael is really looking forward to treating the audience to new music; "Since we're a songwriter band and we add an album’s worth of songs a year, playing new ones first time for audiences is intimidating but gripping. Will I screw up the words, the chords, the instrumental licks? Is this the big one that will break out into the public domain? Of course, after about 50 years of revisiting these same concerns, I get resigned that history will repeat itself every time I launch new songs. Still, no matter how long one chases those elusive muses, every effort is a fresh start, a rebirth, a renewal of what I'm doing here on earth. In Willie's words, "The life I love is makin' music with my friends and I can't wait to get on the road again."

TOUR DATES
4/28---Warrendale, PA---------Jergel's Rhythm Grille
4/30---Homer, NY----------------Center for the Arts of Homer---SOLD OUT
5/19---Highland, CA-------------Yaamava Casino
6/1-----Dewey Beach, DE-------Bottle & Cork
6/2-----Chester, NY---------------Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center
6/4-----Hammondsport, NY-----Point of the Bluff Vineyards
6/9-----Milford, PA-----------------The Milford Theater---SOLD OUT
6/10---Newton, NJ----------------Newton Theatre---SOLD OUT
6/16 & 6/17---Annapolis, MD---Rams Head On Stage
6/18---Torrington, CT-------------Warner Theatre
6/22---Albany, NY------------------The Egg
6/23---Westbury, NY--------------The Space
6/24---Hershey, PA----------------The Englewood
10/7 & 10/8---Alexandra, VA----The Birchmere

The Renasant Convention Center was packed with blues musicians, fans, and music-world luminaries on May 11th, anxious to see who would be the winners at the 44th Annual Blues Music Awards. Besides awarding honors in 25 categories, the BMAs, as is its tradition, featured performances from many nominees, with the gala ending in a jubilant all-star jam.

The evening's top award winners were Buddy Guy, Albert Castiglia John Németh, each earning two BMAs. Buddy Guy's The Blues Don't Lie picked up Album of the Year and Contemporary Blues Album. Albert Castiglia won Blues Rock Album as well as Blues Rock Artist, and John Németh's May be the Last Time nabbed Traditional Blues Album; Németh was also awarded instrumentalist Harmonica.

For the 4th consecutive year, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram - took home Contemporary Blues Male Artist. Holding on to their BMA crowns for two consecutive years were Tommy Castro - B.B. King Entertainer of the Year; Albert Castiglia - Blues Rock Artist; Danielle Nicole - Instrumentalist Bass, Curtis Salgado - Soul Blues Male Artist and Sue Foley - Traditional Blues Female Artist (Koko Taylor Award.
 
Reclaiming their BMA crowns were: Ruthie Foster – Contemporary Blues Female, Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith – Instrumentalist Drums, Deanna Bogart – Instrumentalist Horn, Anthony Geraci – Instrumentalist Piano (Pinetop Perkins Piano Player), John Primer – Traditional Blues Male Artist, Doug Macleod – Acoustic Artist, Tedeschi Trucks – Band of the Year, Albert Castiglia Blues Rock Album and Tom Hambridge - Song of the Year.
 
BMA Veterans winning for the first time in a new category were: Charlie Musselwhite, Mississippi Son - Acoustic Album, Sugaray Rayford, In Too Deep  – Soul Blues Album, Shemekia Copeland – Instrumentalist Vocals, John Nemeth, May be the Last Time - Traditional Blues Album and Instrumentalist Harmonica.

Joining Club BMA for the first time were Laura Chavez – Instrumentalist Guitar, Thornetta Davis – Soul Blues Female, and Dylan Triplett, Who is He? - Best Emerging Artist Album.

The Blues Music Awards represented just one of the many highlights of the Blues Foundation’s exciting Blues Music Week, kicking off on May 10th with its Blues Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Performers inducted were: Carey Bell, Junior Kimbrough, Esther Phillips, John Primer, Snooky Pryor, Fenton Robinson and Josh White.

Individuals – Business, Production, Media, Academic inductee was David Evans. This years Classic of Blues Literature was: The Original Blues: The Emergence of the Blues in African American Vaudeville 1899-1926, by Lynn Abbott & Doug Seroff (University Press of Mississippi, 2017)

The Classic of Blues Recording - Album was Little Walter: The Complete Chess Masters (1950-1967) (Hip-O Select, 2009.) Classics of Blues Recording – Single or Album Track were: "Black Nights" -- Lowell Fulson (Kent, 1965),"I'm Tore Down"  -- Freddy King, Federal, 1961), "Mojo Hand" -- Lightnin' Hopkins (Fire, 1960), "My Black Mama" -- Son House (Paramount, 1930), and The Red Rooster" (Little Red Rooster) -- Howlin' Wolf (Chess, 1961)

Kimberly Horton, Interim President & CEO of the Blues Foundation, declared "Congratulations to all the winners and nominees! This was definitely a night to remember as we celebrated the biggest night of the blues.  We will continue to celebrate and preserve the history and heritage of blues music. I thank all of you for sharing this awesome night with us, looking forward to seeing you again in 2024 at the 45th annual Blues Music Awards. Don't forget to save the date for the International Blues Challenge, January 16-20, 2024. If you aren't yet a member of The Blues Foundation, please visit blues.org and join today!"

British band Squeeze are pleased to announce their Fall American Tour commencing September 8th at New York City's famed Radio City Music Hall. This will be the Squeeze's first U.S. foray since their 2021 North American tour with Hall & Oates. Joining the band on the road will be The Psychedelic Furs. Tickets go on sale Friday, May 19th.

In 1978 Squeeze blasted to the forefront of the U.K. music scene during the height of the punk revolution. A three-song E.P. landed them a deal with A&M Records leading to the release of their debut self-titled album. With songwriting hooks and melodies that harkened back to the 60's British Invasion, the groundbreaking L.P. featured "Take Me I'm Yours," followed by a cadre of U.K. hits, including "Cool for Cats," "Up the Junction," "Pulling Mussels From A Shell," "Black Coffee in Bed," and "Labeled With Love." The band made an indelible mark on the U.S. in 1981 with the release of their classic hits, "Tempted," "Hourglass," and "853-5937" (from East Side Story.) Squeeze disbanded in 1999, then reunited in 2007, releasing three new albums; Spot the Difference (2010), Cradle to the Grave (2015), and The Knowledge (2017.) in 2022; the Food for Thought E.P. was released featuring one new song, two reimagined songs, and three exclusive live tracks. Profits from the digital E.P. will go to benefit independent U.K. Food Banks. Additionally, both Difford and Tilbrook have released various solo projects.

In addition to Chris and Glenn, Squeeze currently features keyboardist Stephen Large and drummer Simon Hanson (since 2007), percussionist/backing vocalist Steve Smith (since 2017) along with pedal/lap steel guitarist Melvin Duffy (since 2019) and Owen Biddle, former bassist for The Roots, (who joined in 2020.)

Since arriving on the post-punk landscape four decades ago, The Psychedelic Furs, led by vocalist and songwriter Richard Butler and his bass-wielding brother Tim quickly developed as one of the premiere bands at college and alternative radio, scoring hits with "Love My Way," "Pretty In Pink," "Heaven," "The Ghost In You," and "Heartbreak Beat." In total, the Furs have released eight studio albums, spawning several compilations, a boxed set, a live concert DVD, and inspiring one of the most iconic motion picture soundtracks of all time. Their latest release, Made Of Rain, became their second-highest charting U.K. Album ever.

Blues-rock guitarist Eric Johanson is pleased to announce the upcoming release of his new album, The Deep and the Dirty, available via Ruf Records, on July 28th. Today, Johanson unveiled his latest video, "Don't Hold Back."

While creating The Deep and the Dirty, Eric Johanson's previous album cracked the Top 10 on the Billboard Blues chart. It was his fourth time reaching the Top 10. And for a Louisiana native who'd grown up idolizing bluesmen like Freddie King and Robert Johnson, it felt pretty good. Even so, genre success didn't discourage Johanson from reaching beyond the blues for The Deep and the Dirty's eclectic, electrifying songs.

"I've never tried to stay within one box," he says. "Blues is at the root of the different styles of music I play — hard rock, Americana, New Orleans funk, country — but I don't see the lines between genres, and I'm not following a standard form. What I find important about the blues is the rawness of it. The expression of it. The humanness of it. That makes The Deep and the Dirty a blues album: the raw self-expression."

Produced by Jesse Dayton (Supersuckers, Rob Zombie) — another roots-rock innovator who, like Johanson, uses the blues as a springboard for a bigger, broader sound — The Deep and the Dirty (whose title refers to the American South) fires twin barrels of sharp songwriting and fiery fretwork. Johanson wrote these songs during an era that found him at home, live-streaming acoustic performances and releasing two volumes of his Covered Tracks series to a quarantined world. At the earliest opportunity, Eric returned to the road, gaining a fresh appreciation for the musical chemistry generated by a well-oiled touring band. The Deep and the Dirty captures these contradictions and subtleties with songs infused with messages about embracing the current moment recorded in the studio as a band playing together live.

Bassist Eric Vogel (Big Sam's Funky Nation / Fred Wesley) and Grammy-winning drummer Terence Higgins (Ani DiFranco / Warren Haynes / Tab Benoit) joined him in the studio, recording 12 songs in two days. "When you're playing this kind of music together, you create moments that can't be replicated if you're recording each part separately," Johanson explains. "I don't write my guitar solos beforehand or record them separately, either. I need to interact with the band to take the solo somewhere special, so we need to record live. Even if there's a mistake or two, it feels like an honest representation of the moment."

Johanson has been capturing moments for years. Born in Alexandria, Louisiana, he received his first guitar at five and became a self-taught prodigy. By his teens, he was a staple at regional blues gigs, often joining much older musicians on stage from New Orleans to Memphis' Beale Street. Meanwhile, his tastes expanded to include rock acts like Tool, Soundgarden, and Nine Inch Nails, influences which surfaced when Johanson began writing his own songs and experimenting with everything from rock & roll to beat-driven electronic music.  Living in New Zealand for four years broadened his horizons even further. And by the time Johanson resettled in New Orleans during the 2010s, he'd developed a style of music that unapologetically encompassed all his influences. Solo albums like 2017's Burn It Down introduced that sound to a larger audience, while sideman work for acts like Cyril Neville (The Neville Brothers) kept his guitar chops sharp.

"Music is a way for me to try and make sense of my world and myself," he says. "The Deep and the Dirty is an evolution of what I've done before — a little more in your face, up-tempo, and rocking. I came out of the slow years with much energy, wanting to blast off."

TOUR DATES
May 27            New Orleans, LA                     Maple Leaf
Jun 9                Norwood, MA                         Magic Room
Jun 10              Old Town, ME                         Wings & Wheels
Jun 13              Laconia, NH                             Tower Hill Tavern
Jun 14              Plymouth, NH*                        The Flying Monkey
Jun 15              Portland, ME                           One Longfellow Square
Jun 16              Beverly, MA*                           The Cabot
Jun 17              Syracuse, NY                           Funk ‘n Waffles
Jun 18              Arkville, NY                             The Ark Bowl & BBQ
Jun 20              Amagansett, NY*                    The Stephen Talkhouse
Jun 21              Bridgeport, CT                         Bijou Theatre
Jun 22              Hartford, CT*                          Infinity Hall Hartford
Jun 27              Columbus, OH                         The King of Clubs
Jun 28              Kalamazoo, MI *                      Bell’s Brewery
Jun 30              Madison, WI*                          Barrymore Theatre
Jul 1                 Aurora, IL                                The Venue
Jul 15               Austin, TX*                              Mohawk Austin
Jul 16               Houston, TX*                          The Heights Theatre
Jul 19               Oklahoma City, OK*                Tower Theatre
Jul 20               Wichita, KS                              TempleLive at Scottish Rite Center
Jul 21               Fort Smith, AR*                       Temple Live
Jul 30               Fort Wayne, IND                     Performance Pavilion at Sweetwater

*supporting Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton

Samantha Fish is pleased to announce the upcoming Love Letters tour – a cross-country solo run inspired by the introspective Love Letters Documentary, first broadcast on PBS in May. The tour kicks off on September 12th in Solana Beach and will find Samantha performing songs from her entire catalog. Tapped by Eric Clapton himself, Fish will be a featured performer on Clapton’s Crossroads tour in Los Angeles on September 23 & 24. "I am so honored to have been invited to participate in his tour; the talent is astounding and awe-inspiring," declared Fish. Not one to be pigeonholed as a female guitarist, Samantha's guitarwork has gotten her recognized as one of the most outstanding guitarists in the world, and rightfully so.

As an award-winning artist, singer/songwriter/guitarist Samantha Fish has brought extraordinary power to her self-expression, capturing her inner world in combustible riffs, visceral rhythms, and spine-tingling vocal work. Samantha's latest effort, Death Wish Blues, is a collaboration with Outlaw Country badass Jesse Dayton. The album has been #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart for three consecutive weeks. The album, written by Samantha and Jesse, showcases the pair's apparent chemistry and gritty vitality. The duo have been touring domestically and abroad since December 2022 and will be supporting the Steve Miller Band on a string of dates this Fall following the Love Letters tour.

Before Death Wish Blues, Samantha joined forces with producer Martin Kierszenbaum (Lady Gaga, Sting) for 2021's Faster L.P. The pair uncovered new possibilities in Samantha's captivating sound, revealing her affinity for North Mississippi blues heroes like R.L. Burnside and wildly inventive iconoclasts like Prince. The album's embodied unbridled energy is true to its emotional core. "The whole record has a theme of taking charge and taking the reins in a relationship or life in general," says Fish. "I thought that after 2020 I'd end up with a dismal, bleak album, but instead, we came up with something fun and sexy, and empowering." Faster followed her 2019 Rounder Records debut, Kill or Be Kind, produced by Grammy winner Scott Billington.
 
Known first and foremost for her fretwork, Fish's secret weapon is her astute and nuanced storytelling and ultra-vivid detail from carefully honing her craft. "Because I tour so much, most of my albums have been written in hotels between shows," she says. "This was the first time I've ever had the opportunity to just sit in one place and pour everything that was happening around me into songs." Growing up in Missouri, Fish first found her love of songwriting in her late teens, mining inspiration from Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen. She took up the guitar at age 15 and began seeking gigs by cold-calling countless local bars. "I used to open the phone book and call up every place in Kansas City, even if they didn't have live shows," she remembers. "I had maybe a three percent success rate, but eventually, I started filling up my calendar—if you put on a good enough show, word of mouth gets around." Over the years, Fish has maintained her reputation as a phenomenal live act and repeatedly turned out critically acclaimed albums, earning an ever-growing number of accolades.
 
For Fish, one of the greatest joys of making music is the robust exchange of energy at her incendiary live shows. "I fell in love with music from going to shows, and I know how cathartic it can be. It heals your heart," she says. "Anytime I play live, I just want to make people forget about everything else in the world and feel that same joy that I feel on stage." And in the studio, Fish experiences a similar exhilaration—a sustained head rush that's entirely palpable in every track she records. "There's such a transformation that can happen in the studio when you own that freedom to be creative," she says. "I feel so charged up in those moments like I can be whoever I want to be. It's just me and these incredible musicians trying to make a piece of art that speaks for itself and contributes something new to the world. It's never hard to feel inspired or empowered when that's the mission."

LOVE LETTERS TOUR w/Eric Johanson supporting

Sept 12----Solana Beach, CA--------------Belly Up
Sept 13----San Juan Capistrano, CA----Coach House
Sept 14----Los Angeles, CA----------------Teragram Ballroom
Sept 15----Bakersfield,CA-------------------World Records
Sept 16----Santa Cruz, CA------------------Santa Cruz Mountain Sol Festival
Sept 17----San Francisco, CA--------------Independent
Sept 20----Sacramento, CA-----------------Crest
Sept 21----Paso Robles, CA-----------------BarrelHouse Brewing
Sept 23----Los Angeles, CA-----------------Crypto Arena----Eric Clapton's Crossroads Festival
Sept 24----Los Angeles, CA-----------------Crypto Arena----Eric Capton's Crossroads Festival
Sept 26----Phoenix, VA-----------------------Celebrity Theatre
Sept 28----Salt Lake City, UT----------------Commonwealth
Oct 4-------Minneapolis, MN------------------Fine Line
Oct 8-------Chicago, IL-------------------------Park West

More dates to be announced!

Acclaimed Blues-rock guitarist Eric Johanson is pleased to announce the release of his new single and video for "The Deep and the Dirty", the title track off of his forthcoming album, available via Ruf Records, on July 28th.

Filmed at Snake & Jake’s Christmas Club Lounge, in New Orleans, LA., the video for "The Deep and the Dirty" was directed by Kaylie McCarthy & Lizzie Smith with videography by Kaylie McCarthy and edited by Eric Johanson. About the video Johanson declared, "On one level "The Deep And The Dirty" is two references to the American South. The Deep South, the Dirty South. I also relate it to the profound and the profane. The dichotomy of higher ideals and lower impulses.  The song deals with these concepts through the story of a southern traveller, in and out of town, living for the pleasures of the moment. Those fleeting connections of a person in a dark place, trying to find light in a new face."

Since the beginning of June, Eric and his band have been delighting audiences across the country on Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton's captivating Death Wish Blues tour. Through the end of 2023, Johanson will continue crisscrossing the country with Samantha and Jesse, filling in the gaps with headlining performances along the way.  

While creating the album The Deep and the Dirty, Eric Johanson's previous album cracked the Top 10 on the Billboard Blues chart. It was his fourth time reaching the Top 10. And for a Louisiana native who'd grown up idolizing bluesmen like Freddie King and Robert Johnson, it felt pretty good. Even so, genre success didn't discourage Johanson from reaching beyond the blues for The Deep and the Dirty's eclectic, electrifying songs.

Produced by Jesse Dayton (Supersuckers, Rob Zombie) — another roots-rock innovator who, like Johanson, uses the blues as a springboard for a bigger, broader sound — The Deep and the Dirty (whose title refers to the American South) fires twin barrels of sharp songwriting and fiery fretwork. Johanson wrote these songs during an era that found him at home, live-streaming acoustic performances and releasing two volumes of his Covered Tracks series to a quarantined world. At the earliest opportunity, Eric returned to the road, gaining a fresh appreciation for the musical chemistry generated by a well-oiled touring band. The Deep and the Dirty captures these contradictions and subtleties with songs infused with messages about embracing the current moment recorded in the studio as a band playing together live.

Bassist Eric Vogel (Big Sam's Funky Nation / Fred Wesley) and Grammy-winning drummer Terence Higgins (Ani DiFranco / Warren Haynes / Tab Benoit) joined him in the studio, recording 12 songs in two days. "When you're playing this kind of music together, you create moments that can't be replicated if you're recording each part separately," Johanson explains. "I don't write my guitar solos beforehand or record them separately, either. I need to interact with the band to take the solo somewhere special, so we need to record live. Even if there's a mistake or two, it feels like an honest representation of the moment."

Johanson has been capturing moments for years. Born in Alexandria, Louisiana, he received his first guitar at five and became a self-taught prodigy. By his teens, he was a staple at regional blues gigs, often joining much older musicians on stage from New Orleans to Memphis' Beale Street. Meanwhile, his tastes expanded to include rock acts like Tool, Soundgarden, and Nine Inch Nails, influences which surfaced when Johanson began writing his own songs and experimenting with everything from rock & roll to beat-driven electronic music.  Living in New Zealand for four years broadened his horizons even further. And by the time Johanson resettled in New Orleans during the 2010s, he'd developed a style of music that unapologetically encompassed all his influences. Solo albums like 2017's Burn It Down introduced that sound to a larger audience, while sideman work for acts like Cyril Neville (The Neville Brothers) kept his guitar chops sharp.

"Music is a way for me to try and make sense of my world and myself," he says. "The Deep and the Dirty is an evolution of what I've done before — a little more in your face, up-tempo, and rocking. I came out of the slow years with much energy, wanting to blast off."

TOUR DATES
Jun 28             Kalamazoo, MI *                         Bell’s Brewery
Jun 30             Madison, WI*                              Barrymore Theatre
Jul 1                Aurora, IL                                    The Venue
Jul 8                Bossier City, LA                          Hurricane Alley Live
Jul 15              Austin, TX*                                  Mohawk
Jul 16              Houston, TX*                              The Heights Theatre
Jul 18              Richardson, TX                           Six Springs Tavern
Jul 19              Oklahoma City, OK*                    Tower Theatre
Jul 20              Wichita, KS*                                TempleLive at Wichita Scottish Rite Center
Jul 21              Fort Smith, AR*                           TempleLive
Jul 22              LIttle Rock, AR                            Stickyz Rock 'n Roll Chicken Shack
Jul 27              Decatur, AL                                  Princess Theatre
Jul 28              Nashville, TN                               Leilani Kilgore
Jul 29              Evansville, IN                              Mojo's BoneYard Sports Bar & Grille -
Jul 30              Fort Wayne, IN*                          Performance Pavilion at Sweetwater
Aug 13            Ann Arbor, MI*                             The Ark*
Aug 16            Warrendale, PA*                         Jergel's Rhythm Grille*
Aug 17            Harrisburg, PA*                           XL Live*
Aug 18            Jim Thorpe, PA*                          Penn's Peak*
Sep 12            Solana Beach, CA**                    Belly Up**
Sep 20            Sacramento, CA                          Crest Theatre
Oct 4               Minneapolis, MN**                       Fine Line**
Oct 8               Chicago, IL**                               Park West**

 *Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton's 'Death Wish Blues' Tour
**Samantha Fish's 'Love Letters' Tour

The Godfather of British Blues, John Mayall, is proud to announce the upcoming release of his newly restored album, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Live in 1967 – Volume Three. It is the 3rd and final Volume in the series and will be released on September 8, 2023, via Forty Below Records. This recording features the original lineup of Fleetwood Mac – Peter Green, John McVie, and Mick Fleetwood.  2016's Live in 1967 - Volume Two was hailed as a "welcome second helping" by Rolling Stone. The first single, "Stand Baby Baby" will be released on Friday, July 14th, pre-save the track here. Pre-Order Volume Three Here.
 
One of the most influential bands in Classic Rock history, recorded by dedicated fan Tom Huissen who took his one-channel reel-to-reel tape recorder to five London clubs in 1967, these historical performances were unheard of for fifty years. Recently, Mayall obtained the tapes & began restoring them with technical assistance from Eric Corne of Forty Below Records. Corne adds, “While the source recording was very rough and the final result is certainly not hi-fidelity, it does succeed in allowing us to hear how spectacular these performances are.” Over a 2-year period, the band also featured Eric Clapton and Mick Taylor of The Rolling Stones.

Mayall, who turned 89 last November, earned his 2nd Grammy® nomination in 2023 for his last album, The Sun is Shining Down. The Sun is Shining Down was Mayall’s 5th studio album co-produced with Eric Corne, for Forty Below Records, a fruitful partnership that began with 2014’s A Special Life. Mayall's recent Forty Below Releases have featured a diverse group of guests, including Joe Walsh, Todd Rundgren, Little Steven Van Zandt, Joe Bonamassa, Marcus King, Rush's Alex Lifeson, and  The Heartbreakers' Mike Campbell.

About John Mayall

For over 50 years, John Mayall has served as a pioneer of blues music, rightly earning him the title, "The Godfather of British Blues." In 2013, John signed with producer Eric Corne's label, Forty Below Records, and has been experiencing a true artistic and career renaissance, including a Blues Hall of Fame induction in 2015.

John Mayall was born on the 29th of November 1933 and grew up in a village not too far from Manchester, England. At 14, Mayall went to Manchester's Junior School of Art and began to learn the basics of the blues, inspired by the 78s in his father's record collection initially inspired by guitarists Big Bill Broonzy, Brownie McGhee, Josh White, and Leadbelly. However, once he heard the sounds of boogie-woogie piano giants Albert Ammons, Pete Johnson, and Meade Lux Lewis, his desire to play in that style was a new priority. And a couple of years later, he was drawn towards the harmonica, inspired by Sonny Terry, Sonny Boy Williamson, and Little Walter.

In 1962, British musicians Alexis Korner and Cyril Davies had opened a club in Ealing devoted to blues music. After Britain's ten-year traditional jazz boom had about run its course, a new generation brought out the amplifiers, guitars, and harmonicas, and out came young enthusiasts from all over the country eager to form their groups. Thirty-year-old Mayall moved from Manchester to London and began putting musicians together under the banner of the Bluesbreakers. After a couple of years and many personnel changes, Eric Clapton quit the Yardbirds, and John quickly offered him the job as his new guitarist. Although John had previously released a couple of singles and a live LP for Decca, the now classic collaboration between Eric and John resulted in the all-time best-selling classic album, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers featuring Eric Clapton. However, by the time it was entering the charts, Clapton and bassist Jack Bruce had left to form Cream. So began a succession of future stars who would define their roots under John's leadership before departing to start their own groups. Peter Green, John McVie, and Mick Fleetwood became Fleetwood Mac. Andy Fraser formed Free, and Mick Taylor joined the Rolling Stones.

In 1969, with his popularity blossoming in the USA, John made a permanent move from England to Laurel Canyon in Los Angeles and began forming bands with American musicians. Throughout the '70s, John became further revered for his many jazz/rock/blues innovations featuring such notable performers as Blue Mitchell, Red Holloway, Larry Taylor, and Harvey Mandel.

In 1982, John decided to re-form the original Bluesbreakers. Colin John McVie and Mick Taylor, and Colin Allen signed on for a couple of tours and a video concert film entitled Blues Alive. Featured greats were Albert King, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, and Etta James. In 1984, John launched a new incarnation of the Bluesbreakers featuring future stars in their own right, guitarists Coco Montoya and Walter Trout.

Throughout the '80s and '90s, John's popularity went from strength to strength with a succession of dynamic albums such as Behind The Iron Curtain, Chicago Line, A Sense of Place, and the Grammy-nominated Wake Up Call that featured guest artists Buddy Guy, Mavis Staples, Albert Collins, and Mick Taylor.

In 1993, guitarist Buddy Whittington joined the Bluesbreakers and energized the band with his unique and fiery ideas for the next ten years. Making his recording debut on John's Spinning Coin album. Other modern classics followed; Blues For the Lost Days and Padlock On The Blues, featuring a rare collaboration with his close friend, John Lee Hooker. On Along For The Ride, John re-teamed with a number of his former mates, including Peter Green, Mick Taylor, Mick Fleetwood, and John McVie, as well as ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons, Steve Miller, Billy Preston, Steve Cropper, Otis Rush, Gary Moore, and Jeff Healey. In addition, the younger generation was well represented by teenage guitar sensations Shannon Curfman and Jonny Lang. In 2002, Stories debuted on the Billboard blues charts at #1.

At a 70th Birthday celebration in aid of UNICEF in Liverpool, a concert was filmed, recorded, and released as a DVD and double CD in December 2003. Along with the Bluesbreakers, it featured old friends Eric Clapton, Mick Taylor, and Chris Barber. The BBC also aired an hour-long documentary entitled The Godfather of British Blues to coincide with the release of Road Dogs. In 2005, John was awarded an OBE on The Queen's Honours list. In the Spring of 2007, John Mayall's 56th album release, In The Palace Of The King, was an album that paid tribute to Freddie King.

Over the last ten years, John released live recordings on his own label, Private Stash Records. They included Time Capsule (containing historic 1957-62 live tapes), UK Tour 2K (from a 2000 British tour), Boogie Woogie Man (a selection of solo performances), Cookin' Down Under (a live DVD from Australia), and No Days Off, (another British live show) and a 3 volume CD set of live performances covering the years 1970 to 1998 entitled Historic Live Shows.

In October 2008, John Mayall decided to retire the name "Bluesbreakers permanently." Early in 2009, Eagle Records called upon John to develop a new album, and John put together a new band featuring guitarist Rocky Athas, bassist Greg Rzab and drummer Jay Davenport. Along with keyboardist Tom Canning, they recorded the album Tough. For the next seven years, John and the band continued to tour extensively worldwide, playing well over a hundred shows per year. In 2010 a concert in London was filmed, and Live in London was released as a double CD and DVD through Private Stash.

After being invited to do a guest spot on Walter Trout's The Blues Came Calling album, John re-connected with engineer/producer Eric Corne and the two recorded A Special Life. The album was released on Corne's Forty Below Records in 2014 to rave reviews, followed by an extensive tour of North America, Europe, and The UK to celebrate John's 80th birthday.

In April 2015, John and Forty Below thrilled the blues world with the release of the historical Bluesbreakers album, Live In 1967, featuring the three original members of Fleetwood Mac: Peter Green, John McVie, and Mick Fleetwood. Live in 1967 - Volume Two followed in 2016 and was hailed as a "welcome second helping" by Rolling Stone.

Following Mayall's internationally-acclaimed, Find A Way To Care (2015.) was the release of Talk About That (2016,) which featured Joe Walsh on two tracks. People Magazine called the album "A master class in Blues," and American Songwriter praised it as "A brand new masterpiece from a man who has made masterpieces for decades."

Three for the Road (2018) featured cuts drawn from two concerts recorded live in Germany in 2017. "The title is a nod to the trio format featured on Mayall's 2017 world tour, which includes longtime bassist Greg Rzab and drummer Jay Davenport.

Mayall's 2019 release, Nobody Told Me, boasted an impressive list of guest guitarists, including Todd Rundgren, Little Steven Van Zandt of The E Street Band, Alex Lifeson from Rush, Joe Bonamassa, Larry McCray, and Carolyn Wonderland. The album was recorded at The Foo Fighters' Studio 606 on the same legendary Sound City Neve console his one-time protégés from Fleetwood Mac used to record parts of the best-selling Rumours album.
         

TRACK LISTING

    Brand New Start (Manor House)
    Tears In My Eyes (Manor House)
    Stand Back Baby (Bromley)
    Greeny (Ram Jam)
    Talk to Your Daughter (Klooks Kleek)
    Your Funeral and My Trial (Manor House)
    The Stumble (Manor House)
    Double Trouble (Bromley)                                                                                 

       Produced by John Mayall and Eric Corne

       Pre-Save "Stand Back Baby" Here.
       Pre-Order Live in 1967 - Volume Three Here

       JOHN MAYALL'S DISCOGRAPHY here.

Jeff Plankenhorn is pleased to announce the upcoming release of his 5th album, Alone At Sea on September 29th via Blue Corn Music. The first single, "Do a Little Dancing" has been released today as has the video. Watch the video here, Listen to the track here, and Pre-save the album here. Lastly, new tour dates have been announced. (Scroll down for dates.)

Jeff Plankenhorn's songwriting, expressive vocals, and musicianship are front and center on Lost At Sea produced by Colin Linden (Bruce Cockburn, Keb Mo) explores new sonic territory on this gem of a long player. Lyrically that exploration manifests in songs such as the title track, which poured out of Plankenhorn, aka Plank, so fast, he had to be convinced not to tamper with it.

The ballad "Alone At Sea" is nestled between two of the album's many up-tempo tunes and envisions an adventurous soul who's searching for self-awareness and learns to appreciate solitude — as Plank has since moved to Canada's Vancouver Island freed him from his previously landlocked Austin, Texas existence.

Plank's time in both locations reminded him of long-ago experiences singing in foreign languages, which inspired him to record versions in French and Spanish for separate release (November 1st.) "Singing in Italian, German, French, etc., expanded my worldview," he says. Having become a permanent resident of Canada, I am long overdue to sing in other languages. 'Alone At Sea' seemed like the perfect song, as its translations sounded beautiful in both non-native-to-me tongues."

Born in Ohio and raised in Michigan, Plank's musical travels began when his older brother gave Jeff his first guitar at age ten. Fast forward to his dropping out of college because his three bands (a bluegrass group, a hip-hop collective, and a 12-piece funk outfit) were doing so well. His musical journey led to Memphis and a chance meeting with Texas singer-songwriter Ray Wylie Hubbard – as well as to Plank's 20-year sojourn in the Lone Star state. The slide guitarists’ next level talent opened many doors leading Jeff to perform with the likes of of Hubbard and Joe Ely, Ruthie Foster, Bob Schneider, the late Jimmy LaFave, and others. In 2016, he 0fficially launched a new chapter as a solo artist with the release of Soulside.
 
His actual first solo album, 2003's Plank, included contributions by another British-born Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famer, the late Faces/Small Faces/Rolling Stones keyboardist Ian McLagan — paid tribute on the Alone at Sea blues-rocker "Juggling Sand." "I hope that someday I learn to play piano like him," says the too-modest Plank, whose luscious licks always get audiences moving when he reunites with his Purgatory Players’ partner, Scrappy Jud Newcomb. In fact, Newcomb shares writing credits on two songs: “Flat Tire,” a horns-of-a-dilemma, get-me-out-of-this-jam tale, and “Maybe It’s Not Too Late.” A favorite at the Purgatory Players’ weekly fundraising “pseudo-gospelish brunches,” the uptempo tune, full of tasty slide guitar and horn work, is a nod to Plank’s love of the sacred steel tradition born in African-American Pentecostal churches.

Newcomb & Plank are also in another legendary Austin band, The Resentments - who hold down Austin’s longest running residency at the world famous Saxon Pub. Started by the late Stephen Bruton, this cast of Austin’s top players and writers get together every week for new songs and new adventures in banter and road stories. The Resentments includes Scrappy Jud Newcomb, Bruce Hughes, John Chipman, Miles Zuniga, and Plank (when he’s in town).
 
Though his live performances include shifts among piano, electric guitar, and his famed "Plank," the self-designed hybrid lap-steel guitar he plays standing up, "Maybe It's Not Too Late" is the only Alone At Sea track on which he plays it. Plank says that's because, when Linden heard the demos that he'd recorded with acoustic guitar and lap steel, the producer liked them so much he built his vision for the album around that sound. So, Plank concentrated on acoustic, while Linden contributed electric and 12-string acoustic guitars.
 
For Jeff Plankenhorn, there's nothing quite like the feeling of bringing people together to experience the joy music brings. He's so good at it that he's been recognized with Austin Music Award nominations for Musician of the Year, Best Guitarist, and Best Misc. Instrument. In 2016-2017, he also earned Album and Song of the Year nominations for his album, SoulSlide, and the single, "Trouble Find Me.”
 
Listeners quickly get that Plank loves a good groove, but he’s also become quite accomplished at ballad-writing, as proven by two of the album’s other standouts, “Bluer Skies” and You’ll Stay”. Still, despite his newfound love of solitude, for Jeff Plankenhorn, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of bringing people together to experience the joy music brings.
 
These days Plank happily finds himself on the road over 150 days a year. "I like the idea that people get uplifted at my shows, there are so many ways to get away from the hubbub of day-to-day living. Dancing is one of the more noble and effective, in my humble opinion. Better than any drug I’ve ever tried. I like the idea that everybody who walks in — I don't care if you're a biker or a drag queen — I want you there. Music is supposed to bring people together."
 
His music does exactly that — whether people come to listen or do a little dancing. Or ideally, both.

TOUR DATES
July 27----Houston, TX----------- McGonigal's Mucky Duck*
July 28----Leander, TX-----------  Live at the Coop*
July 29----Wimberley,TX--------- The Purple Barn*
July 30----Austin, TX-------------- The Saxon Pub
Aug 5------Texada Isand, BC---- Gillies Bay Ballpark / Texada Blues Festival
Aug 6------Chemainus, BC------- Waterwheel Park
Aug 12----Victoria, BC------------- Methvin House*
Aug 13----Portland, OR------------ Alberta Rose Theatre*
Sept 7-----Red Lodge, MT--------- Yellowstone Songwriter Festival*
Sept 10---Billings, MT--------------- Craft Local*
Sept 14-16 Whitefish, MT---------- Whitefish Songwriter Festival*
Sept 20----Nashville, TN------------Third & Lindsley---7PM CT
Sept 21----Nashville, TN-------------Love & Exile / devious planet day party
Oct 27-----Greenville, TX------------Texan Theater
Oct 28-----Temple, TX----------------Cultural Activities Center
Oct 29-----Austin, TX-----------------El Mercado w/The Purgatory Player - 11AM
Oct 29-----Austin, TX-----------------Saxon Pub w/The Resentments - 7PM
Oct 30-----Austin, TX --------------- Backstage at El Mercado w/The Supper Club*
Oct 31-----Austin, TX-----------------The Saxon Pub--Dr. Plankenstein's Halloween Home Show
Nov 1------Austin, TX-----------------Guero's w/Texas Music Live*
Noc 2-------Houston, TX-------------McGonigal's Mucky Duck*
Nov 3-------New Braunfels, TX-----The Redbird*
Nov 4------Austin, TX-----------------Stateside at the Paramount - Record Release Party

*solo shows

Guitar badass Samantha Fish and outlaw country maverick Jesse Dayton. are pleased to announce the Shake 'em on Down tour commencing on November 28th in Memphis, TN, winding its way along the East Coast, and landing in Birmingham, AL on December 10th. Joining them on the road will be Jon Spencer, who produced Samantha & Jesse's full-length, Death Wish Blues, and celebrated guitarist Eric Johanson.

Fish and Dayton got together via an innocent co-writing session. They envisioned a sound that married the explosive blues with alt-rock. Out of this came an EP of covers, The Stardust Sessions. Following soon thereafter was Death Wish Blues, the duo's fully realized collaboration, which topped the Billboard Blues Chart for three consecutive weeks. The record, written by Samantha and Jesse, showcases the pair's apparent chemistry and gritty vitality. They've since graced the cover of Vintage Guitar and have received raves from Rolling Stone, Guitar World, Forbes, No Depression, American Songwriter and Garden & Gun, just to name a few.

An award-winning singer, songwriter, and lead guitarist, Samantha Fish has released six albums throughout her acclaimed career, with 2019's Faster and 2021's Kill or Be Kind released via Rounder Records. Known first and foremost for her fretwork, Fish's secret weapon is her intelligent and nuanced storytelling and ultra-vivid detail from carefully honing her craft. Of her sound, Samantha declares, "It's not pure rock and roll, it's not pure blues, it's not pure soul, it's not pure pop — it's a mixture of everything," she says of her genre-bending sound, For Fish, one of the greatest joys of making music is the robust exchange of energy at her incendiary live shows. "I fell in love with music from going to shows, and I know how cathartic it can be. It heals your heart," she says. "Anytime I play live, I just want to make people forget about everything else in the world and feel that same joy that I feel on stage."

Jesse Dayton has been bringing his unique mashup of East Texas / Louisiana Blues, old-school country, and punk rock to the world since his debut album in 1995. Thirteen records later, he remains a staple on SiriusXM's Outlaw Country and the Americana Radio charts, where his debut LP, Raising Cain, reached #1. Jesse's career reads like a veritable "who's who" of American music. He's toured with Social Distortion, Supersuckers, George Strait, Ryan Bingham, and LA punk pioneers X. He's recorded with legends such as Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell, and Willie Nelson. He has also recorded three soundtracks for filmmaker Rob Zombie. One can read about Dayton's storied past in his 2022 memoir, Beaumonster.

TOUR DATES
Nov 28---Memphis, TN -------Minglewood Hall
Nov 29---Knoxville, TN -------Bijou
Nov 30---Lexington, KY ------Manchester Music Hall
Dec 1----Asheville, NC--------Salvage Station
Dec 2----Richmond, VA ------The National
Dec 3----Silver Spring, MD --The Fillmore
Dec 6----Virginia Beach, VA--Elevation 27
Dec 7----Raleigh, NC ----------Lincoln Theatre
Dec 8----Columbia, SC--------The Senate
Dec 9----Walhalla, SC----------Walhalla Performing Arts Center
Dec 10--Birmingham, AL------Iron City

Multi award-winning Blues/Rock/Americana/Roots artist Dom Martin is pleased to announce the release of “Belfast Blues” – the third single taken from his highly anticipated third studio album “Buried In The Hail” released by Forty Below Records on 22nd September 2023. The album is available to pre-order from  https://fortybelow.ffm.to/buried-in-the-hail.

The third single, “Belfast Blues,” released on Friday 8 September 2023, is available to stream HERE. The accompanying music video for “Belfast Blues” is available to watch on YouTube HERE.

"Buried In the Hail," Dom Martin’s third studio album, will be released by Forty Below Records. Recorded at Golden Egg Studios in Ireland, the album was produced in Dublin by Grammy-Nominated producers Chris O’Brien and Graham Murphy and co-produced by Dom Martin. Very much steeped in the Roots, Americana, and the Blues genres, many of the tracks on the new album possess an almost cinematic theme.

Dom admits the new album is the first complete work that he’s recorded which he is 100% happy with and proud to release. Says Dom, “Buried In the Hail is the kind of album where the more you listen to it, the more you will get out of it.”

“Belfast Blues is about the days I spent playing the pubs and clubs in Northern Ireland,” says Dom. “Getting in fights, fires, getting robbed, getting drunk and beaten and just generally misbehaving. Being an animal. I was a different person back then.”

Dom will tour the new album throughout the UK and Ireland in October and November 2023 and Europe in June 2024.

Platinum-selling blues rockers Big Head Todd and the Monsters will kick off their Winter Tour on January 11th in Omaha, Nebraska. The band looks forward to performing selections from their vast catalog of songs, spanning over three decades, and more obscure jams seldomly performed live.

ON SALE SCHEDULE

Artist Presale Begins: Wednesday, October 4 at 10AM Local time
Purchase at BigHeadTodd.com   Password is BHTM24

Tickets go on sale to the Public - Friday, October 6 at 10AM Local
Purchase at BigHeadTodd.com

Big Head Todd and The Monsters have quietly become an American institution following three and a half decades of writing, recording, and touring (totaling over 3,500 performances). After countless sold-out shows in amphitheaters and on the high seas, beaming their tunes to outer space (literally), earning the endorsement of everyone from Robert Plant to The Denver Broncos, and tallying tens of millions of streams, Big Head Todd and The Monsters cite the friendships formed in the crowd among their proudest accomplishments. Fast forward to 2023, and the Colorado quartet—Todd Park Mohr [vocals, guitar, keys, sax, harmonica], Brian Nevin [drums, percussion], Rob Squires [bass, vocals], and Jeremy Lawton [guitar, keys, vocals, steel guitar]—continue to unite audiences.

An early version of the band started in 1982 when Todd and Brian first crossed paths in their high school jazz band. Soon, the guys began to jam in Brian’s basement, also joined by Rob. Sweat-soaked house party gigs and talent shows followed until they became a fixture on the bar circuit “before I was even old enough to drink,” laughs Todd. As perennial outliers, the musicians performed original material at these formative gigs, standing out from a bevy of cover bands performing in the same scene.

Adopting the name Big Head Todd and The Monsters, they served up their independent debut Another Mayberry in 1989 and Midnight Radio in 1990 to critical acclaim, setting the stage for their seminal 1993 breakout Sister Sweetly. Powered by staples “Broken Hearted Savior,” “It’s Alright,” and “Bittersweet,” it eventually went platinum, and they supported Robert Plant on tour. At the time, Variety hailed Todd as “a soulful singer and nimble lead guitarist,” while The Los Angeles Times claimed, “Mohr, who has a voice like smoke, writes great songs that incorporate blues, folk, rock, and country, which sounds sort of like, well, Big Head Todd and the Monsters.”

Throughout the next decade, the group presented fan favorites such as Strategem [1994] and Beautiful World [1997]. The latter yielded the cover of “Boom Boom” [featuring John Lee Hooker], which famously served as the theme to NCIS: New Orleans. In 2005, they exceeded our atmosphere altogether. Friends with connections to NASA encouraged Todd to write a song for NASA, so they ignited 2005’s “Blue Sky.” In 2011, Big Head Todd and The Monsters played “Blue Sky” live from the middle of Mission Control to awaken the astronauts aboard the shuttle. 2017 saw them release New World Arisin’ to fan adoration and critical acclaim. Glide Magazine proclaimed, “Such tracks, like most of this music, radiate a sense of optimism and purpose ever so welcome in these fragmented times.”

The band joined the Denver Broncos on their Super Bowl victory parade along the way, delivering a triumphant performance. They’ve also headlined their own cruise multiple times - This Fall, they embarked on the Rhine River Cruise which floated it way through Western Europe. And in 2022 they did a five-night run in Jewel Paradise Cove in Runaway Bay Jamaica.

Big Head Todd and The Monsters have performed at their hometown haunt Red Rocks Amphitheatre a staggering 32 times. In 2021 they made a rapturous homecoming to Red Rocks for another sold out show at the venue. Chronicling the gig, 303 Magazine described the group as "a longtime pal that has defined Colorado's blues-rock scene for multiple decades." Their most recent appearance at the storied Red Rocks in June 2023 was a sold-out affair.

In 2019, the band instituted another fan-favorite tradition by launching Monsters Music Monthly. They revealed a monthly free song and video, including “Hoochie Coochie Man” [featuring Buddy Guy], “Rosalita” [feat. John Popper of Blues Traveler], “Remedy” [feat. Ronnie Baker Brooks], “Sunshine of Your Love” [feat. David Hidalgo], and more. Todd and Co. have notably collaborated or performed with a myriad of their heroes over the years, namely Neil Young, B.B. King, Allman Brothers, John Prine, Albert Collins, James Cotton, John Lee Hooker, Hubert Sumlin, and dozens more.

The bottom line, Big Head Todd and The Monsters love to make music and performing for their massive army of fans.

BIG HEAD TODD & THE MONSTERS WINTER TOUR 2024

Jan 11 Omaha, NE Slowdown
Jan 12 Des Moines, IA Hoyt Sherman Place
Jan 13 St. Paul, MN Palace Theatre *
Jan 14 Milwaukee, WI Pabst Theater
Jan 16 Davenport, IA The Capitol Theatre
Jan 18 Carmel, IN The Palladium at The Center for Performing Arts
Jan 19 St. Louis, MO The Pageant
Jan 20 Chicago, IL Riviera Theatre **
Jan 21 Detroit, MI St. Andrews Hall
Jan 23 Cleveland, OH House of Blues
Jan 25 Ithaca, NY State Theater
Jan 26 Wilkes-Barre, PA F.M. Kirby Center
Jan 27 New Haven, CT College Street Music Hall
Jan 28 Red Bank, NJ Count Basie Center for the Arts
Feb 7 East Greenwich, RI Greenwich Odeum
Feb 8 Portland, ME State Theatre
Feb 9 Beverly, MA Cabot Theatre
Feb 10 Tarrytown Music Hall Tarrytown, NY
Feb 12 Woodstock, NY Levon Helm Studios
Feb 13 Derry, NH Tupelo Music Hall
Feb 15 Ardmore, PA Ardmore Music Hall
Feb 16 Silver Spring, MD The Fillmore (Silver Spring)
Feb 17 Richmond, VA The National (Richmond)
Feb 18 Annapolis, MD Rams Head on Stage
Feb 20 Virginia Beach, VA Elevation 27
Feb 21 Rocky Mount, VA  Harvester Performing Arts Center
Feb 23 Charlotte, NC  Knight Theater
Feb 24 N. Myrtle Beach, SC  House of Blues
Feb 25 Charleston, SC Charleston Music Hall

OPENING ACTS
 * Martin Zellar
** Cracker

Chest Fever blurs the boundaries between past and present with Music from Big Pink, a reimagined take on The Band's iconic release from 1968. The album will be released on October 20th via San Diego based indie label, Blind Owl Records. Pre-order the record here. Chest Fever also announce tour date commencing Oct 9th in San Francisco.

Recorded in a single day with multi-platinum producer David Kalmusky, the new album finds Chest Fever — the alter ego of San Diego's award-winning band Mrs. Henry, whose members appear in both groups — filtering The Band's classic music through their prism of rock & roll and psychedelia. At once fresh and familiar, Chest Fever's Music from Big Pink arrives on the heels of the group's reinterpreted version of The Band's Rock of Ages, with both releases breathing new life into The Band's catalog.

"If Rock of Ages was the sound of Chest Fever getting into the car and going to the grocery store, then Music from Big Pink sounds like us going into space," says the group's guitarist, Daniel Cervantes. "We're exploring places we've never been before."

Don't mistake Chest Fever for a cover band. The group's members — Cervantes, keyboardist Jody Bagley, bassist Blake Dean, organist/saxophonist Ben Pinnola, and drummer Allan Ritter — indeed honor their source material. Still, they also shy away from note-for-note replicas of The Band's songs. Instead, the five musicians (along with former keyboardist Dour Organ, who played organ on the album itself) turn Music from Big Pink into something new, restructuring the album's tracklist and stretching several songs well past their original running times. The result is an album that highlights the group's respect for The Band and the musical chemistry and unique instincts of a rock band that's spent hundreds of hours onstage together.

"When we began touring, we knew how to play these songs, but we wanted to reimagine some of them, too," Cervantes says. "By the second tour, we merged songs to make song suites and seamless transitions. By the time we got to Nashville on our 'Freeze in the South' tour, we had the formula down, and we knew we could capture what we'd been doing in our shows if we just went into the studio and played everything live. It was just five people in one room, playing these songs together in real-time, just like we would at a show."

It's fitting, then, that Chest Fever was born onstage. Everything began with a Mrs. Henry gig in 2017 in Solana Beach, California, where Cervantes and company gathered together several local musicians to perform The Last Waltz in its entirety. They did the same in November 2021, this time with appearances from guests like the Eagles collaborator and hit songwriter Jack Tempchin, violinist Scarlet Rivera of Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue, Zander Schloss of the Circle Jerks, and Black Crowes veteran Marc Ford. The reaction was seismic. By the following year, the group played similar shows across America and Canada, celebrating The Band under the name "Chest Fever." Robbie Robertson even gave his blessing to Chest Fever during the final stretch of his life, encouraging the group to carry on the legacy of The Band as the majority of its original members passed on.

Chest Fever's Music from Big Pink kicks off with an amped-up version of "This Wheel's on Fire" before segueing into "Kingdom Come." It's an unexpected one-two punch for fans more accustomed to the sequence of the original album, and it shines new light on both the source material and Chest Fever itself. Other highlights include a reinterpreted "In a Station," which channels the psychedelic hues of Pink Floyd, and a 15-minute version of the group's namesake song, "Chest Fever." Featuring exploratory guitar jams, swirling organ, and a propulsive rhythmic pulse, "Chest Fever" is as celebratory as it is cathartic. And if it sometimes sounds more like Mrs. Henry than The Band....well, that's the whole point.

"It's The Band's music, but it sounds like us," Cervantes says. "We're not the first band to approach a classic record and record our version, but we're the first to cover Big Pink like this. We're the first band to play this music like us."

TRACK LISTING
 
 1.This Wheel's on Fire
 2. kingdom Come
 3. Caldonia Mission
 4. The Weight
 5. In a Station
 6. Lonesome Suzie
 7  We Can Talk About it Now
 8. Long Black Veil
 9. Tears of Rage
10. Chest Fever
11. I Shall be Released

TOUR DATES

Oct 9------San Francisco, CA---------Brick & Mortar
Oct 10-----Santa Cruz, CA------------ Moe's Alley
Oct 17-----Salida, CO ------------------Stoke Barbeque
Oct 19 ----Bellingham, WA------------Shakedown
Oct 20 -----East Portland, OR ------- Showdown
Oct 21------Vancouver, BC-------------Rickshaw Theatre
Oct 22------Seattle, WA ----------------Tractor Tavern
Oct 25 ----- Powell River, BC----------Carlson Loft
Nov 10-----Jackson, MS*---------------Duling Hall     
Nov 12 -----Philiadelphai* --------------City Winery
Nov 18 ---- Toronto, CA** --------------Massey Hall
Nov 25 ----- Los Angeles, CA*---------The Mint
Nov 26 -----Solana Beach, CA* -------Belly Up
Dec 1 -------Westland, MI*--------------Token Lounge
Dec 2 -------Lakewood, OH* -----------The Winchester Music Tavern
 
 *The Last Waltz
**The Last Waltz featuring:
       Benjamin Dakota Rogers
        Albert Lee
        Scarlet Rivera
        Cindy Cashdollar
        Jerry Leger
        Devin Cuddy
         Nicole Cerminara
        Sugarmill Slim

PRE-ORDER THE ALBUM HERE

Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band is ready to hit the ground running this Fall when the tour winds it's way across America's Heartland, kicking off on November 9th in Ferndale, Michigan.

The band will perform songs from their vast catalog and ones from their latest effort, Dance Songs for Hard Times. This eclectic body of work was produced by Vance Powell (four-time Grammy Award winner whose resume includes work with Chris Stapleton and Jack White). Peyton embraced Powell’s suggestion to turn back the clock and record no more than eight audio tracks to analog tape. Minimal overdubs are heard on Dance Songs for Hard Times, and Peyton sang while playing guitar live in the studio.
 
Dance Songs for Hard Times conveys the hopes and fears of pandemic living; it is relevant, electrifying, and ironically timely, having been written by candlelight and then recorded using the best technology available…in the 1950s.
 
Far from a depressing listen, Dance Songs lives up to its name by delivering action-packed riffs and rhythms across 11 songs. The country blues trio that won over crowds on more than one Warped Tour knows how to make an audience move. “I like songs that sound happy but are actually very sad,” Peyton says. “I don’t know why it is, but I just do.”
   
Peyton, the cover subject of a recent issue of Vintage Guitar magazine, showcases his remarkable picking techniques in “Too Cool to Dance.” It’s rare to hear a fingerstyle player attack Chuck Berry-inspired licks with index, middle, and ring fingers while devoting his or her thumb to a bass line. Yet the multi-tasking Peyton has made an art of giving the illusion a bass player is accompanying him, despite the Big Damn Band’s roster featuring no one beyond himself, Breezy Peyton on washboard, and Max Senteney on drums.
 
“Too Cool to Dance” heats up the set thanks to Peyton’s 1954 Supro Dual Tone electric guitar.  “It’s crazy,” Peyton says of “Too Cool to Dance.” “It almost feels like a song from the 1950s that’s been lost. At the end of the day, it still somehow feels like us.”
 
Visually, Dance Songs for Hard Times is led by a video accompanying the song “Ways and Means.” Defined by pastel colors and confident dance moves, the video was made at an old-school laundromat to match the song’s Bo Diddley-boasting on a limited budget: “My knife is sharp, my guitar never flat … king of the laundromat.”
 
As Peyton says, it’s difficult to create blues music that isn’t personal.

TOUR DATES

11/9------Ferndale, MI --------Magic Bag
11/10------Cleveland, OH------Music Box
11/11-------Buffalo, NY----------Iron Works
11/12------Pittsburgh, PA------Jergels
11/14------Syracuse, NY-------Funk N Waffles
11/15------Pawling, NY---------Daryl's House
11/16------Sellersville, PA -----Sellersville Theatre
11/17------Wash DC-------------Pearl St Warehouse
11/18------Winchester, VA-----Bright Box
11/22------Newport, KY---------Southgate House
11/24------St. Louis, MO--------Blueberry Hill
11/25------Bloomington, IN-----Buskirk Chumley
11/30------Grand Rapids, MI---The Stache
12/1-------Milwaukee, WI-------Colectivo Back Room
12/2-------Berwyn, IL-------------Fitzgerald's
12/7-------St Paul, MN-----------Turf Club
12/9-------Green Lake, WI------ Thrasher Opera House

Jim Mitchell, the enduring figure of outlaw country, is poised to unveil his latest musical narrative, "Repeat Offender," on November 17th through Mother West. This is his fourth studio journey, and it's a profound distillation of a life lived at the edges - a mosaic of triumphs and trials, both within the industry and beyond. Rejecting the gloss of contemporary country-pop, Mitchell's new album stands as a testament to raw, unvarnished storytelling.

Born to a tempestuous wandering minstrel, Mitchell's craft was forged in the crucible of "hobo jungles," where life's gritty realities were his constant companions. He reflects on his upbringing with a nod to folk legend Woody Guthrie's spirit, sans the political overtones. By his twelfth year, Mitchell's initiation into the rites of adulthood had commenced, a testament to the unorthodox upbringing under his father's wing.

"Repeat Offender" emerges as a masterwork of songwriting, imbued with the wisdom of an old soul. It's a collection of songs that transcends time, weaving narratives that resonate deeply with the listener's own tapestry of experiences. Mitchell's songbook never veers into self-importance, instead offering a window into the collective heart with levity and grace.

In support of "Repeat Offender," Mitchell is set to continue his relentless touring ethos, a marathon of live performances that often surpasses 150 shows annually. Accompanying the album's release, fans can anticipate a series of music and lyric videos for each of the singles, offering a visual complement to his lyrical odyssey.

Big Head Todd and The Monsters are returning to Morrison, CO, for their annual Red Rocks show on June 8, 2024. Joining them will be The Wallflowers. Tickets go on sale on the following dates:

Artist Presale: Tuesday, November 14 at 10 AM MT
All Presales End: Thursday, November 16 at 10 PM MT
Public On Sale: Friday, November 17 at 10 AM MT

The band has also just released “Crush,” the first single off of their forthcoming late Spring release. Todd Park Mohr weighs in; "For most, the holiday season is just around the corner, but for us - Red Rocks is just around the corner!  Holiday gift alert - The Wallflowers will be joining us for some shows!  The first single to our upcoming album release is called "Crush" and it crushes heavily. Thanks for listening. Wishing you all peace and love…" Listen to "Crush" here.

The platinum-selling Colorado quartet features Todd Park Mohr [vocals, guitar, keys, sax, harmonica], Brian Nevin [drums, percussion], Rob Squires [bass, vocals], and Jeremy Lawton [guitar, keys, vocals, steel guitar.) The band has consistently churned out undeniable and often uplifting anthems fueled by a hybrid of no-nonsense hard rock, simmering soul, dyed-in-the-wool blues, and a twist of country.

Todd, Brian, and Rob started playing music together in high school in the early eighties, becoming Big Head Todd and The Monsters in 1986. Following a quiet D.I.Y. rise, the group shook the mainstream with 1993’s now-classic platinum-certified Sister Sweetly. In its wake, Robert Plant tapped the band to open his Fate of Nations Tour. Following Strategem, they unveiled Beautiful World [1997], highlighted by a cover of “Boom Boom” [feat. John Lee Hooker]—which notably became the theme song for NCIS: New Orleans. They welcomed Jeremy Lawton to the fold in 2001. After penning “Blue Sky” at the urging of friends connected to NASA, they notably performed the song live from Mission Control as an interplanetary wakeup call for astronauts on the shuttle. Along the way, the guys joined B.B. King for a “Crossroads” session and toured with blues heroes like Hubert Sumlin and David “Honeyboy” Edwards. Recognizing “38 years of continuous musical service to fans,” the Colorado Music Hall of Fame inducted the quartet as part of its “Class of 2023.”

RRX ticket link
Artist presale password is BHTM24

Artist Presale: Tues, Nov 14  at 10AM MT
All Presales End: Thurs, Nov 16 at 10PM MT
Public On Sale: Fri, Nov 17 at 10AM MT

LISTEN TO "CRUSH" HERE

Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton, the two acclaimed songwriters and modern-day guitar heroes behind the chart-topping album Death Wish Blues, have received a GRAMMY® Award nomination in the Contemporary Blues Category. The 2024 GRAMMYs will be held on Feb 4th at the Crypto Arena in Los Angeles, with Death Wish Blues in the running for Best Contemporary Blues Album.

Full of swagger, bravado, and superb musicianship, Death Wish Blues was released by Rounder Records in May 2023 and instantly found its way to the top of the Billboard Blues charts. A Number 1 hit in multiple countries, Death Wish Blues captures the synergy and free-flowing nature of Fish and Dayton's musical partnership as they work with producer Jon Spencer to expand beyond the boundaries of blues, rock, soul, and Americana.

"Jesse, Jon, and I worked so hard to bring this album to life," says Fish. "It was a true collaboration. I have been so proud of this work since we left the studio. I felt like we had something special, and I'm thrilled that the GRAMMYs are recognizing it. Thank you, it's such an honor." Dayton concurs, “Samantha, our producer Jon Spencer, and I, all worked hard to create something that could take blues guitar in a new direction. I’m so humbled our record is being recognized by the GRAMMYs.”

The pair have been spreading their gospel since the December 2023 release of The Stardust Sessions. The E.P. kicked off a year of unforgettable sold-out shows in the U.S., U.K., Europe, and Australia, making them international sensations. In late November, they will hit the road with Jon Spencer and Eric Johanson for the ‘Shake ‘Em All Down’ tour.

ABOUT SAMANTHA FISH & JESSE DAYTON

Hailing from Kansas City, MO, Samantha Fish is one of the most dynamic blues forces in the world today, headlining festivals and captivating audiences with her guitar prowess and power vocals. The Kansas City Hall of Famer and Blues Music Award-winner performs 200 shows yearly, domestically, and abroad. Death Wish Blues is her 7th album. Austinite Jesse Dayton’s multi-decade career highlighting his work as a chart-topping songwriter, guitar hero, author, movie director, screenwriter, frontman, sideman, producer, and road warrior. The roots-rock renaissance man has collaborated with artists of all stripes, from Samantha Fish to country music icons (Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings), rock & roll hell-raisers (Guns 'N Roses' Duff McKagan, Glenn Danzig), and even horror movie filmmakers (Rob Zombie). Jesse, has played on hundreds of albums, has released 14 solo records and is looking forward to releasing a new L.P. this Spring on Blue Elan Records.

Michelle Malone LOVES Christmas music, that’s why she created a Christmas band, The Hot Toddies. The Hot Toddies are pleased to announce their new album of holiday classics, Toddie Time. Order Toddie Time here.

The Hot Toddies feature Michelle Malone on vocals and acoustic guitar, Doug Kees on hollow body electric guitar (Michelle Malone Band, Peter Searcy, Johnny Hyde Quartet), and upright bassist Robby Handley (Lera Lynn, Larkin Poe). They are both upbeat and soothing, exciting and entertaining when they perform their renditions of your favorite holiday tunes - in a few short notes, you'll be swaying and singing along.

A full-length Hot Toddie album that's undeniably special, it features some traditional and some not so traditional surprisingly creative arrangements of songs you know and love like a breath-taking verison of Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas with strings to a sassy Deck the Halls that will surprise you...not your mama's "Deck the Halls."

Get in the holiday spirit with Michelle Malone and The Hot Toddies first Holiday album, Toddie TIme!

AND THE CRITICS RAVE
“Michelle Malone and the Hot Toddies are Christmas nostalgia re-imagined and all wrapped up in a warm, jazzy blanket.”— Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“Nothing puts the 'merry' in Christmas like Michelle Malone and The Hot Toddies” – Arts Atlanta

“Michelle Malone and The Hot Toddies don’t really “cover” holiday songs as much as reinterpret them, creating new jazz and blues arrangements all their own that display Malone’s vocal prowess and innate ability to let her music take you to another time and place." Creative Loafing

ABOUT MICHELLE MALONE
A mainstay of American roots music for over 30 years, Michelle Malone has built and award-winning career as a singer, songwriter, guitarist and road warrior. Her music is ingrained in the soundtrack of the American South, mixing the rebellious stomp of roadhouse rock & roll with the raw grit of blues, the holy-rolling rasp of gospel, the slow-motion sweep of country soul, and the organic warmth of folk music. Proudly based in Atlanta, Georgia, she spends much of her time on the move, regularly crisscrossing the country to play 200 shows annually - and when she's not on the road, she's in the studio. Toddie Time is Malones' 20th release..

TRACK LISTING
1. Santa Claus is Coming to Town
2. Zat you, Santa Claus
3. I'll be Home for Christmas
4. Count Your Blessings
5. Blue Chrismas
6. Jingle Bells
7. Up on the Housetop
8. Go Tell it on the Mountain
9. Auld Lang Syne
10. Silent Night
11. We Three Kings

The Bacon Brothers, featuring Michael and Kevin Bacon, are pleased to announce the release of the title track from their forthcoming album, Ballad Of The Brothers, will be released on April 19th via Forosoco Music / 40 Below Records and is available for pre-order here on CD, Vinyl L.P. and digital download.
 
The siblings have spent the best of three decades creating their own mix of folk, rock, soul, and country music. They call that diverse sound "forosoco," it's taken them worldwide, from headlining gigs in Japan to American performances at iconic venues like Carnegie Hall, the Grand Ole Opry, and Gruene Hall.

Their musical exploration continues with the band's twelfth release, Ballad Of The Brothers. It's a record that highlights the similarities between Kevin Bacon (known worldwide as an A-list Hollywood actor) and Michael Bacon (celebrated as an Emmy-winning composer) and the differences, too.
 
The album's title track was inspired by Gruene Hall, the historic 145-year-old dancehall in New Braunfels, Texas, (where Willie Nelson played some of his most memorable shows), that inspired Michael Bacon to write "Ballad Of The Brothers (The Willie Door)."

Influenced by story-driven songwriters like Woody Guthrie and Guy Clark, "Ballad Of The Brothers (The Willie Door)" spins a wild narrative of two East Coast city slickers who, on a whim, take a road trip to Texas. Whether by fate or by Faust, they eventually find themselves onstage at a Texas honky-tonk, blessed with musical talent they didn't know they had. "I wanted to write a Faustian story set in one of my favorite states ever," says Michael. "It's sort of like Texas' own version of Charlie Daniels 'The Devil Went Down to Georgia."
 
For Michael and Kevin Bacon, Ballad Of The Brothers marks the continuation of a musical partnership that began long ago in Philadelphia, where the two siblings were raised on a soundtrack of 1970s singer/songwriters, Philly soul bands, and classic rock acts. They're creating their own soundtrack now, and like many artistic endeavors, the work is never truly done.

TRACK LISTING

    Take Off This Tattoo
    Losing The Night
    Put Your Hand Up
    Dreams Of The San Joaquin
    Old Bronco
    Airport Bar
    We Belong
    Let That Be Enough
    Ballad Of The Brothers (The Willie Door)
    Freestanding
    Live With The Lie

LISTEN HERE | PRE-ORDER HERE

Guitar heroes Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton take their show on the road this winter. The Supadupabad Tour 2024 commences on Valentine’s Day at Montgomery PAC in Montgomery, AL and ends a month later at New York City's storied Beacon Theatre. The chart-topping duo have been on a non-stop international tour supporting their chart-topping L.P., Death Wish Blues, which was nominated for a 2024 GRAMMY® Best Contemporary Blues Album.

Fish and Dayton got together via an innocent co-writing session. They envisioned a sound that married the explosive blues with alt-rock. Out of this came an EP of covers, The Stardust Sessions. Following soon thereafter was Death Wish Blues, the duo's fully realized collaboration, which topped the Billboard Blues Chart for three consecutive weeks. The record, written by Samantha and Jesse, and produced by Jon Spencer, showcases the pair's apparent chemistry and gritty vitality. They've since graced the cover of Vintage Guitar and have received raves from Rolling Stone, Guitar World, Forbes, No Depression and American Songwriter just to name a few.

Full of swagger, bravado, and superb musicianship, Death Wish Blues was released by Rounder Records in May 2023 and instantly found its way to the top of the Billboard Blues charts. A number 1 hit in multiple countries, Death Wish Blues captures the synergy and free-flowing nature of Fish and Dayton's musical partnership - they worked with producer Jon Spencer to expand beyond the boundaries of blues, rock, soul, and Americana.

SUPADUPABAD TOUR 2024
Feb 14 --- Montgomery, AL ------ Montgomery PAC
Feb 16 --- Dallas, TX* ------------- The Majestic
Feb 17 ---  Austin, TX*  ------------ ACL Moody
Feb 18 ---- San Antonio, TX -------The Espee
Feb 20 ---- Oklahoma City, OK ---Tower Theatre
Feb 21 ---- Little Rock, AR----------The Hall
Feb 22 ---- Kansas City, MO -------The Truman
Feb 23 ---- St Louis, MO ------------Delmar Hall
Feb 24 ---- Nashville, TN*-----------Ryman
Feb 25 ---- Chattanooga, TN ------Barrelhouse Ballroom
Mar 8 ------ Uncasville, CT----------Mohegan Sun Wolf Den
Mar 9 ------ Fall River, MA ----------Narrows Center
Mar 10 -----Albany, NY --------------The Egg - Hart Theatre
Mar 13 -----Ridgefield, CT-----------Ridgefield Playhouse         
Mar 14 ----- Boston, MA ------------ Wilbur                        
Mar 15 ------New York, NY* --------Beacon                     
 
*Supporting Kenny Wayne Shepherd

Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band is happy to announce the Porch Stomp Tour, commencing in Kent, Ohio on March 14, 2024. Buy tickets here.

Three-time Blues Music Award nominees, The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band are "the greatest front-porch blues band in the world." They are led by Reverend Peyton, who most consider to be the premier finger picker playing today. He has earned a reputation as both a singularly compelling performer and a persuasive evangelist for the rootsy, country blues styles that captured his imagination early in life and inspired him and his band to make pilgrimages to Clarksdale, Mississippi, to study under such blues masters as T-Model Ford, Robert Belfour, and David "Honeyboy" Edwards. Their latest record, Dance Songs For Hard Times, was produced by Grammy winner Vance Powell (Jack White, Chris Stapleton). The album soared to #1 on the Billboard, iTunes, and Sirius XM Blues Charts and was lauded by many prestigous outlets that included Rolling Stone, Relix, Popmatters, Guitar World, American Songwriter, No Depression, Glide, Wide Open Country, Paste, and American Blues Scene and many more.

ABOUT NAT MYERS
Nat Myers is a singer, guitarist, and songwriter whose music draws on traditional acoustic blues and folk influences, even as his lyrics deal with racial and social issues of the present day. A Korean-American artist based in Kentucky, Myers came to the blues through his study of poetry, believing the seminal blues artists of the 1920s and '30s were cut from the same cloth as the epic storytellers of centuries past, and he uses his songs to spin tales of everyday life as well as the prejudice leveled against Asians. A pair of home-recorded albums caught the attention of Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys, who signed Myers to his Easy Eye Sound label and produced 2023's Yellow Peril, a soulful, straightforward document of his music full of swagger, bravado, and superb musicianship.

TOUR DATES
Jan 20----Key West, FL---------Key West Theatre
Jan 24----St. Petersburg, FL---Floridian Social
Jan 25----Sanford, FL-----------Tuffy's
Jan 26----Boca Raton, FL------Boca Black Box
Jan 28----Ft. Lauderdale, FL---Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise
Feb 5-----Miami, FL--------------Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts
Feb 7-----St. Augustine, FL-----Cafe 11

THE PORCH STOMP TOUR
Mar 14----Kent, OH--------------Kent Stage*
Mar 15----Annapolis, MD-------Rams Head On Stage*
Mar 16----Leesburg, VA---------Tally Ho Theatre*
Mar 18----Durham, NC----------Motorco*
Mar 20----Richmond, VA--------Ember Music Hall*
Mar 21----Harrisburg, PA-------HMAC*
Mar 22----Morgantown, WV----123 Pleasant Street*
Mar 23----Columbus, OH-------Woodlands Tavern*
Apr 13----Clarksdale, MS-------Juke Joint Fest - Ground Zero
Apr 14----Clarksdale, MS-------Juke Joint Fest - Cat Head
Apr 17----Kansas City, MO-----Knuckleheads*
Apr 18----Des Moines, IA-------XBK Live*
Apr 19----Peoria, IL---------------Kenny's Westside*
Apr 20----Davenport, IA---------Redstone Room*
Apr 21----Kalamazoo, MI--------Bell's Brewing*

*Special guest Nat Myers

BUY TICKETS HERE

Stoll Vaughan is excited to announce that "Fate," the first single from his latest album, has just been released. The highly anticipated full-length Dream in Color will be released on February 23, 2024.

Originally hailing from Lexington, Kentucky, Stoll Vaughan's career in music began in the late 1990s. Upon graduating from Interlochen Arts Academy, he worked at Echo Park Studios in Bloomington, Indiana. Mike Wanchic, producer and longtime guitarist for John Mellencamp, discovered Stoll, took him under his wing, and helped him develop the foundation for his songwriting. Influenced by Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt, and John Prine, Stoll was inspired to write his songs.  

Dream In Color is Stoll's fifth album, produced and recorded by Vaughan at Iroquois Studio in Clark County, Kentucky. Musically grounded in his John Mellencamp Indiana days, the album features Dane Clark on drums (Mellencamp), John Ginty on keys (Sheryl Crow, Allman Betts Band), Mike Grosser on bass (Grace Potter), Johnny Stachela with slide guitar on "Thick Of It" and "Killing Floor" (Duane Betts, Allman Betts Band) and Duane Betts featured guitar on "Fate."   

Dream in Color is a record rife with transition as Stoll found everything in his life was changing. After 14 years in Los Angeles, he left for the calmer state of Kentucky and welcomed a new child into his family. The songs written for the album are a reflection of these changes. The current single, "Fate," evolved from thinking there would be nothing worse than having a child with a woman you can't stand. 'I realized how lucky I have been", Stoll declared. "The stars aligned, and fate was kind to me. "Farmers Almanac" was inspired by moving back to Kentucky and living on the farm where he grew hemp and raised cattle. "Dream In Color" is baptism by the weight of being a father; Stoll says, "My faith, my love, and my life look better in color." "Just Another Day" reflects the sun coming up, the day-to-day, waiting on nothing. Stoll explains; I've seen this before, trudging the road to happy destiny."

To date, Vaughan has released four solo albums: The Conversation (2018), Desires Shape (2020), Hold On Thru Sleep & Dreams (2005), and Love Like A Mule (2006) – The first two LPs reached the Top 10 on the Americana charts. American Songwriter declared, "With deep and reflective lyrics, a sense of place and time, Stoll Vaughan is a songwriter's songwriter."

Vaughan's career highlights include performances at Farm Aid, The Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, Master Musicians Festival, and Folk Alliance, and he's reached the final three in the Telluride Bluegrass Festival songwriting competition. Vaughan has toured with John Mellencamp, John Fogerty, James McMurtry, and Marty Stuart and supported a Def Leppard/Journey co-bill, taking him to storied venues like Colorado's Red Rocks, the Hollywood Bowl, The Troubadour in LA and New York's Jones Beach. His music has been featured in films and television series such as Treadstone, True Blood, Friday Night Lights, Shameless, The Office, and The Open Road. Vaughan composed music for David Lynch's Webby Award-winning Internet series Interview Project. He also co-wrote with Duane Betts (son of Allman Brothers' Dickie Betts) for Betts' critically lauded debut, Wild and Precious Life. The well-respected songwriter co-wrote with The Allman Betts Band for their debut record, Down To The River, and their follow-up album, Bless Your Heart.

Stoll sums up his process, "For me, I just need a little space to allow things to come into focus, for deeper blues, deeper reds, and darker blacks. Even in the simplest observations, the whole world can change. Dream In Color is a continuation of my search and expression of this beautiful life."

Samantha Fish is pleased to announce the Bulletproof tour, which kicks off on March 16th in Great Barrington, MA, immediately following the Supadupabad Tour with Jesse Dayton. Samantha will be performing songs from her entire catalog.

As an award-winning artist, singer/songwriter/guitarist, Samantha Fish has brought extraordinary power to her self-expression, capturing her inner world in combustible riffs, visceral rhythms, and spine-tingling vocal work. Tapped by Eric Clapton himself, Fish was a featured performer in Clapton's Crossroads 2023 in Los Angeles.

Samantha's latest effort, Death Wish Blues, is a collaboration with renegade rocker Jesse Dayton. The album has been nominated for a 2024 GRAMMY® - Best Contemporary Blues Album and it was #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart for three consecutive weeks. Since December 2022, the duo have toured the U.S., U.K., Europe and Australia.

The praise for Death Wish Blues has been never-ending. Rolling Stone declared, "Jesse Dayton and Samantha Fish make the blues cool and current," while Saving Country Music called it "wild, rambunctious and loud. and American Songwriter effused, "a powerful, spirited, and at times exuberant collaborative effort."  

Before Death Wish Blues, Samantha released the critically lauded Faster (2021). The album uncovered new possibilities in Samantha's captivating sound, revealing her affinity for North Mississippi blues heroes like R.L. Burnside and wildly inventive iconoclasts like Prince. Faster followed her 2019 Rounder Records debut, Kill or Be Kind, produced by Grammy winner Scott Billington.

Growing up in Missouri, Fish first found her love of songwriting in her late teens, mining inspiration from Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen. Fish took up the guitar at age 15 and began seeking gigs by cold-calling countless local bars. "I used to open the phone book and call up every place in Kansas City, even if they didn't have live shows," she remembers. "I had maybe a three percent success rate, but eventually, I started filling up my calendar—if you put on a good enough show, word of mouth gets around." Over the years, Fish has maintained her reputation as a phenomenal live act and repeatedly turned out critically acclaimed albums, earning an ever-growing number of accolades.

SUPADUPABAD TOUR featuring Jesse Dayton
Feb 14 --- -Montgomery, AL ------ Montgomery PAC
Feb 16 -----Dallas, TX* ------------- The Majestic
Feb 17 ---  Austin, TX*  ------------ ACL Moody
Feb 18 ---- San Antonio, TX -------The Espee
Feb 20 ---- Oklahoma City, OK ---Tower Theatre
Feb 21 ---- Little Rock, AR----------The Hall
Feb 22 ---- Kansas City, MO -------The Truman
Feb 23 ---- St Louis, MO ------------Delmar Hall
Feb 24 ---- Nashville, TN*-----------Ryman
Feb 25 ---- Chattanooga, TN ------Barrelhouse Ballroom
Mar 8 ------ Uncasville, CT----------Mohegan Sun Wolf Den
Mar 9 ------ Fall River, MA ----------Narrows Center
Mar 10 -----Albany, NY --------------The Egg - Hart Theatre
Mar 13 -----Ridgefield, CT-----------Ridgefield Playhouse         
Mar 14 ----- Boston, MA ------------ Wilbur                        
Mar 15 ------New York, NY* --------Beacon   
*Supporting Kenny Wayne Shepherd

SAMANTHA SOLO w/Death Wish Blues Band
Dec 28 ------Bend, OR----------------Tower Theatre
Dec 29 ------Seattle, WA -------------The Crocodile
Dec 30 ------Bremerton, WA ---------Admiral Theatre
Dec 31-------Portland, OR ------------Aladdin Theater

BULLETPROOF TOUR
Mar 16------Great Barrington, MA--Mahaiwe PAC
Mar 17------Newton, NJ---------------Newton Theatre
Mar 20------Bethleham, PA-----------Musikfest Cafe
Mar 22------Collingswood, NJ--------Scottish Rite Auditorium
Mar 24------Buffalo, NY----------------Asbury Hall
Mar 26------Detroit, MI-----------------St Andrews Hall
Mar 27------Kent, OH-------------------Kent Stage
Mar 28------Grand Rapids, MI--------Elevation

Acclaimed Blues-rock guitarist Eric Johanson is pleased to announce his 'Don’t Hold Back Tour', which kicks off on January 27th, 2024 in Decatur, Alabama and will see Eric winding his way from the U.S. to Europe.

This will be Eric’s first headlining tour in support of his chart-topping album, The Deep and the Dirty, released in July 2023 on Ruf Records. For much of the last year, Eric and his band have been enchanting audiences across the country on Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton's captivating Death Wish Blues tour, recently culiminating in ten explosive 'Shake ‘em on Down' concert events which added an explosive set by underground rock legend Jon Spencer to the already over-the-top show.

Eric's The Deep and the Dirty album was released in July 2024 via Ruf Records, shooting immediately to #1 on the Billboard Blues charts, which it has just re-entered at #6. Johanson's previous release also cracked the Top 10. For a Louisiana native who'd grown up idolizing bluesmen like Freddie King and Robert Johnson, it feels pretty good.
 
Produced by Jesse Dayton (Supersuckers, Rob Zombie) — another roots-rock innovator who, like Johanson, uses the blues as a springboard for a bigger, broader sound — The Deep and the Dirty (a reference to the American South) fires twin barrels of sharp songwriting and fiery fretwork. There has been no shortage of praise.

Guitar Player called Eric “An electric whiz with a sweet slide game… A gang of fantastic acoustic and electric leads…His slide work on resonator is particularly noteworthy.” American Songwriter effused “Johanson pens solid material that, like Hendrix, displays his guitar prowess but within the borders of melodies and lyrics that push the boundaries of blues/rock. Based on his eclectic style, searing guitar work, and persuasive songwriting he delivers a driving collection well worth choosing.” Relix stated “Johanson’s vocal shines throughout. Johanson’s penchant for creating inventive, bluesy riffs really make the album pop.” And Bob Lefsetz of The Lefsetz Letter declared, “One thing is for sure, Eric Johanson isn’t making music for the Top Forty. And I wouldn’t exactly call it Adult Alternative either. It’s definitely rooted in the blues. It’s like he digested all the music of the sixties just like those musicians listened to the progenitors and kept the flame a-burnin’… This guy has a place in the firmament.”

ABOUT ERIC JOHANSON
Johanson has been capturing moments for years. Born in Louisiana, he received his first guitar at five and became a self-taught prodigy. By his teens, he was a staple at regional blues gigs, often joining much older musicians on stage from New Orleans to Memphis' Beale Street. Meanwhile, his tastes expanded to include rock acts like Tool, Soundgarden, and Nine Inch Nails, influences which surfaced when Johanson began writing his own songs and experimenting with everything from rock & roll to beat-driven electronic music.  Living in New Zealand for four years broadened his horizons even further. And by the time Johanson resettled in New Orleans during the 2010s, he'd developed a style of music that unapologetically encompassed all his influences. Solo albums like 2017's Burn It Down introduced that sound to a larger audience, while sideman work for acts like Cyril Neville (The Meters, The Neville Brothers, Royal Southern Brotherhood) kept his guitar chops sharp.
 
"Music is a way for me to try and make sense of my world and myself," he says. The Deep and the Dirty is an evolution of what I've done before — a little more in your face, up-tempo, and rocking. I came out of the slow years with much energy, wanting to blast off."

'DON'T HOLD BACK' TOUR DATES
Jan 27----Decatur, AL--------------Princess Theatre
Feb 3-----Cleveland, OH----------Treelawn Social Club
Feb 4 -----Rochester, MI ----------Roxy Rochester
Feb 5 -----Ann Arbor, MI ----------The Ark
Feb 6 -----Evanston, IL ------------Space
Feb 7 -----Minneapolis, MN------- Dakota
Feb 8 -----St Louis, MO------------ Blues Strawberry
Feb 9 -----Kansas City, MO -------Knucklehead's

BLUES CARAVAN  2024
   w/Alastair Greene & Katarina Pejak
Apr 11---- Kassel, Germany ---- -Theaterstübchen
Apr 12 ----Offenburg, Germany---Reithalle
Apr 13 ----Luxemburg ---------------Sang & Klang
Apr 14 ----Lindewarra, Germany--Gemeindesaal
Apr 16 ----Höxter, Germany -------Tonnenburg
Apr 17---- Karlsruhe, Germany-----Ubez
Apr 18 ----Menen, Belgium--------- CC de Stijger
Apr 19-----Koblenz, Germany------Cafe Hahn
Apr 20-----Isernhagen----------------Blues Garage
Apr 21-----Stuttgart, Germany------Merlin
Apr 23-----Wien, Austria--------------Reigen
Apr 24-----Lichtentanne, Germany--St. Barbara
Apr 25-----Berlin, Germany----------Roadrunners Paradise
Apr 26-----Worpswede, Germany---Musichall Opt.
Apr 27-----Joldelund, Germany-------Gerds Juke Joint
Apr 28-----Dortmund, Germany------Piano
Apr 30-----Rimsting, Germany--------Bluescludb Chiemgau
May 2------Eppstein, Germany--------Wunderbar Weite Welt
May 3----- Torgau, Germany-----------Kulturbastion
May 4----- Rheine, Germany----------Hypthalamus
May 5------Bonn, Germany-------------Harmonie

'DON'T HOLD BACK' TOUR DATES
July 5-------Cazzorla, Spain-------------Cazorla Blues Festival
July 6-------Madrid, Espagne------------Sala Villanos
July, 8-------Knislinge, SE----------------Time to Rock

Danielle Nicole is pleased to share her new single & video for "Love On My Brain". The track boasts an emotionally charged, dynamic performance, a potent hybrid of vintage R&B and driving blues with booming drums, haunting guitar and an increasing sense of urgency. It's a flirty track that builds, turning into undeniable desire. Listen to "Love On My Brain" HERE, watch the video HERE. In December, Kansas City NPR 'The Bridge' premiered  of "How Did We Get To Goodbye" which received a terrific response from their listening audience.

"Love on my Brain", is off of her forthcoming album, The Love You Bleed, which will be released on January 26, 2024 via Forty Below Records. "Love On My Brain" is about consciously pushing past the pain, choosing love, family, and community in life's difficult moments.  Pre-order the album HERE.

The Love You Bleed was produced by Tony Braunagel (Taj Mahal, Eric Burdon, Robert Cray) and co-produced by Nicole, with John Porter (B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Bryan Ferry) mixing. The tight-knit quartet on the songs features Danielle on bass guitar and vocals; Brandon Miller (electric, acoustic, pedal steel, mandolin, and 12-string guitar), Damon Parker (keyboards); Go-Go Ray (drums), and Stevie Blacke (violin and cello).

Hailing from Kansas Ciity, MO, Danielle was initially influenced by her parents and recalls seeing her father playing blues guitar and her mother singing with the group Little Eva & The Works. She formed Trampled Under Foot, a popular Midwest band, with her two brothers. Her solo career took off with the release of Wolf Den (2015), which peaked at #2 on the Billboard Blues charts and amassed 7.5 million Spotify streams. Cry No More (2018) debuted at #1 in the Billboard Blues Charts and was nominated for a Grammy. It also amassed over 10 million Spotify streams.

Nicole has been inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame and the South Canada Blues Hall of Fame. In addition, she has received seven Blues Music Awards. She recently did a duet with Dion on the upcoming song "I Aim To Please" and recorded the opening track in the forthcoming Peter Hutchings film "Which Brings Me To You,"

There has been no shortage of praise; Guitar World stated, "Danielle Nicole has won respect and admiration throughout the American blues scene for her soulful, inventive playing and tireless work ethic." Blues Music Magazine effused, "Nicole brings it, bakes it, and serves it up blazing on a silver soul-rocking platter." The Kansas City Star declared, "Blues and soul vocalists tend to improve as they age. Bettye LaVette is among the artists who became increasingly believable as she matured. Danielle Nicole appears to be following in her footsteps." And the legendary Koko Taylor gets right to the point: "That girl gets down to the nitty gritty!"

Big Head Todd & The Monsters have unveiled a new single, “Her Way Out” via Relix Magazine. The Platinum-selling blues rockers will hit the ground running, kicking off their 2024 Winter Tour on January 11th in Omaha, Nebraska. The quartet looks forward to performing selections from their vast catalog of songs, spanning over three decades, and more obscure jams seldomly performed live.

With 38 years of continuous material recently recognized by the Colorado Music Hall of Fame, Big Head Todd and The Monsters are set to release their 12th full-length album in late Spring. The new single, “Her Way Out,” has been getting a lot of attention thanks to Relix Magazine premiering the track. When asked about the song, Todd Park Mohr sees it as a straightforward American pop rock: jangly, anthemic, and up-tempo. “It has become a band favorite for how it’s musically reminiscent of Tom Petty, but also for its original and compelling lyrics and Springsteen-esque bridge. The song has a chorus that shifts meaning after each of the verses. ‘My way out’ can mean a lot of things…. An excuse to get out of a relationship, an ending, or a new beginning together. Relationships can be a perfectly valid way out, as they also can be a prison in which one languishes unnecessarily. Basically, ‘Her Way Out’ is tough guitar and piano rock betrayed by a lyric that implies trust is fragile, and true love is a difficult but empowering achievement if it is maintained.”

Big Head Todd and The Monsters have quietly become an American institution following three and a half decades of writing, recording, and touring (totaling over 3,500 performances). After countless sold-out shows and beaming their tunes to outer space (literally), earning the endorsement of everyone from Robert Plant to The Denver Broncos, and tallying tens of millions of streams, Big Head Todd and The Monsters cite the friendships formed in the crowd among their proudest accomplishments. Fast forward to 2024, and the Colorado quartet—Todd Park Mohr [vocals, guitar, keys, sax, harmonica], Brian Nevin [drums, percussion], Rob Squires [bass, vocals], and Jeremy Lawton [guitar, keys, vocals, steel guitar]—continue to unite audiences.

An early version of the band started in 1982 when Todd and Brian first crossed paths in their high school jazz band. Soon, the guys began to jam in Brian’s basement, also joined by Rob. Sweat-soaked house party gigs and talent shows followed until they became a fixture on the bar circuit “before I was even old enough to drink,” laughs Todd. As perennial outliers, the musicians performed original material at these formative gigs, standing out from a bevy of cover bands performing in the same scene.

Adopting the name Big Head Todd and The Monsters, they served up their independent debut Another Mayberry in 1989 and Midnight Radio in 1990 to critical acclaim, setting the stage for their seminal 1993 breakout Sister Sweetly. Powered by staples “Broken Hearted Savior,” “It’s Alright,” and “Bittersweet,” it eventually went platinum, and they supported Robert Plant on tour. At the time, Variety hailed Todd as “a soulful singer and nimble lead guitarist,” while The Los Angeles Times claimed, “Mohr, who has a voice like smoke, writes great songs that incorporate blues, folk, rock, and country, which sounds sort of like, well, Big Head Todd and the Monsters.”

The bottom line is that Big Head Todd and The Monsters love to make music and perform for their massive army of fans.

BIG HEAD TODD & THE MONSTERS WINTER TOUR 2024

Jan 11 Omaha, NE Slowdown   LOW TIX
Jan 12 Des Moines, Hoyt Sherman Place   SOLD OUT
Jan 13 St. Paul, MN Palace Theatre *   LOW TIX
Jan 14 Milwaukee, WI Pabst Theater
Jan 16 Davenport, IA The Capitol Theatre
Jan 18 Carmel, IN The Palladium    LOW TIX
Jan 19 St. Louis, MO The Pageant  LOW TIX
Jan 20 Chicago, IL Riviera Theatre **
Jan 21 Detroit, MI St. Andrews Hall
Jan 23 Cleveland, OH House of Blues
Jan 25 Ithaca, NY State Theater
Jan 26 Wilkes-Barre, PA F.M. Kirby Center
Jan 27 New Haven, CT College Street Music Hall
Jan 28 Red Bank, NJ Count Basie Center for the Arts
Feb 7 East Greenwich, RI Greenwich Odeum   LOW TIX
Feb 8 Portland, ME State Theatre
Feb 9 Beverly, MA Cabot Theatre   LOW TIX
Feb 10 Tarrytown Music Hall Tarrytown, NY
Feb 12 Woodstock, NY Levon Helm Studios   LOW TIX
Feb 13 Derry, NH Tupelo Music Hall
Feb 15 Ardmore, PA Ardmore Music Hall   LOW TIX
Feb 16 Silver Spring, MD The Fillmore (Silver Spring)
Feb 17 Richmond, VA The National (Richmond)
Feb 18 Annapolis, MD Rams Head on Stage   SOLD OUT
Feb 20 Virginia Beach, VA Elevation 27
Feb 21 Rocky Mount, VA  Harvester Performing Arts Center LOW TIX
Feb 23 Charlotte, NC  Knight Theater
Feb 24 N. Myrtle Beach, SC  House of Blues   LOW TIX
Feb 25 Charleston, SC Charleston Music Hall

OPENING ACTS
 * Martin Zellar
** Cracker

American roots rocker SAM MORROW is pleased to announce the release of his latest single, "By Your Side," off his forthcoming album, On The Ride Here, which will be released on March 22, 2024, via the newly formed label Copaco Records, in partnership with Blue Élan Records. On The Ride Here traces the evolution of Morrow's sound across five lauded albums, showcasing his distinctive, signature blend of blues-infused, country funk-driven guitar-centric American rock that has become his trademark. The secret to the Houston artist's success has been his endless touring. He's toured with Red Clay Strays, The Record Company, North Mississippi Allstars, Whitey Morgan, with 2024 tour dates soon to be announced.

On The Ride Here was produced in Southern California by longtime collaborator and new Copaco label chief, Grammy-nominated producer Eric Corne. Participating was an all-star roster of West Coast musicians — including guitarists Eli Wulfmeier and Eamon Ryland, bassists Ted Russell Kamp and Adam Arcos, keyboardist Sasha Smith with drummers Matt Tecu and Butch Norton — adding primal punch and roughhewn polish to the 11 songs. The result is a forward-thinking record that captures his sound, serving as the final piece of a musical trilogy that began with the country-inspired Concrete & Mud and the rock-influenced Gettin' By On Gettin' Down.

New single, “By Your Side,” intertwines a swaggering groove with a genuinely relatable lyric, infectious chorus and a killer guitar solo that’s equal parts Page and Harrison. Seriously. Having recently returned to his hometown of Houston, Morrow spoke about the track, "This was one of those songs that wrote itself. It was the morning before we went into the studio; I sat down with my guitar over some breakfast and just started humming a melody that was in my head. The guitar rhythm was one I'd been wanting to use, and it all just came together." He explains, "I knew the hook would be those lyrics "By Your Side" because there was a lot of love encompassing me around that time. I like to believe this song is a meat and potatoes groove with some love seasoned on top."

Sam has had quite a storied career; in November 2023, he made his Grand Ole Opry debut. A critics darling, Sam has been lauded by Rolling Stone as "A sinewy, head-nodding listen…demands to be played loud at parties", Concrete and Mud was also a Rolling Stone Editors Choice. American Songwriter effused, "Gutsy, tight, sinewy rhythms that burst out of the speakers." NPR's World Café declared, "Sam continues to expand his country rock sound with a heavy emphasis on the groove. The songs are filled with personality and showcase Morrow as an authentic soul in a city that is sometimes known for being skin deep." Nashville tastemaker WMOT concurred; “Morrow is a master tailor, sowing together chunks of genre sounds and styles."

Sam's album Concrete and Mud was Top 10 on the Americana Radio Chart and the song "Quick Fix" has been streamed over 1.8 million times. The track was also featured in Showtime's popular series Billions, and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson featured Sam's song in an Instagram post receiving over 10 million 'likes'.

TRACK LISTING

    By Your Side
    Medicine Man
    Searching for Paradise
    Straight and Narrow
    More
    Thunderbird Motel
    Tighter
    On My Way
    High Class Woman
    Hired Gun
    St. Peter

The Bacon Brothers, featuring Michael and Kevin Bacon, are thrilled to announce the release of their new single, "Put Your Hand Up", from their forthcoming album, Ballad Of The Brothers, The album will be released on April 19th via Forosoco Music / 40 Below Records and is available for pre-order here on CD, Vinyl L.P. and digital download. Pre-save "Put Your Hand Up" here.

In discussing "Put Your Hand Up" Kevin stated, "I was listening to a lot of Memphis and Motown soul. The energy. The upbeat nature of many of the songs. And the horns! I love horns but my wife REALLY loves horns. The song just popped out and speaks to the fact that we all share life struggles."

The siblings have spent the best of three decades creating their own mix of folk, rock, soul, and country music. They call that diverse sound "forosoco," it's taken them worldwide, from headlining gigs in Japan and Europe to American performances at iconic venues like Carnegie Hall, the Grand Ole Opry, and Gruene Hall.

Their musical exploration continues with the band's twelfth release, Ballad Of The Brothers. It's a record that highlights the similarities between Kevin Bacon (known worldwide as an A-list Hollywood actor) and Michael Bacon (celebrated as an Emmy-winning composer) and the differences, too.

For Michael and Kevin Bacon, their album, Ballad Of The Brothers marks the continuation of a musical partnership that began long ago in Philadelphia, where the two siblings were raised on a soundtrack of 1970s singer/songwriters, Philly soul bands, and classic rock acts. They're creating their own soundtrack now, and like many artistic endeavors, the work is never truly done.

Q Magazine recently premiered the video for "Ballad of the Brothers (The Willie Door)", the album's title track inspired by the infamous Texas roadhouse, Gruene Hall. The historic 145-year-old dancehall is in New Braunfels, Texas, (where Willie Nelson played some of his most memorable shows), that inspired Michael Bacon to write "Ballad of the Brothers (The Willie Door)",

The Bacon Brothers will return to Gruene Hall on January 19, 2024.

2024 is already shaping up to be a banner year for Jesse Dayton, who will release "Night Brain" — his blues-rock follow-up to last month's "Baby's Long Gone" — on Tuesday, January 23.  

Released as both a single and cinematic music video, "Night Brain" arrives two weeks before the 66th Grammy Awards, where Death Wish Blues — Dayton's chart-topping collaboration with fellow songwriter and modern-day guitar hero Samantha Fish — has been nominated for Best Contemporary Blues Album. The momentum will continue this spring with the release of Dayton's upcoming solo record, as well as the final leg of the Death Wish Blues world tour.  

"Night Brain" shines new light on an artist who earned his first Number 1 album three decades ago. Produced by Shooter Jennings, it's Dayton at his very best, kicking off with an acoustic intro that gives way to the stomping sounds of a plugged-in power trio. Dayton has always blurred the boundaries between rock & roll, Texas blues, and old-school country, and "Night Brain" bottles that diversity into a three-and-a-half minutes of sharp songwriting and bombastic performances. It's a song about the long hours after midnight, and it's guaranteed to keep you awake.  

"I first heard the term 'night brain' from music executive Chuck Kaye, who used it to refer to his brain bombarding him with every question and scenario imaginable in the middle of the night," Dayton explains. "Code for insomnia, I realized that I, too, had suffered from this nocturnal ailment and thought, 'Well, this is probably something everyone goes through, right?' So whenever anyone else around my house didn’t get much sleep, I'd ask, 'Got them night brain blues?' Then eventually I wrote the lyrics in one 30-minute sitting around a blues riff that I simultaneously connected the melody to."

Recorded in Hollywood, California, "Night Brain" offers another taste of a full-length album whose loud, bluesy guitar leads were inspired by everyone from Freddie King to Jimmy Page. Jesse Dayton has never been shy about embracing the full range of his influences — you don't become a chart-topping songwriter, guitar shredder, author, movie director, actor, screenwriter, frontman, sideman, producer, and road warrior by being shy — but he's never sounded as authentically himself as he does here. He's a musical lifer at the peak of his powers, and "Night Brain" helps kickstart a new era.

"Ok, fellow insomniacs," Dayton adds. "I hope y’all dig it, 'cause believe me, it’s comin' from real experience!"

JESSE DAYTON ON TOUR
02/04 - 02/10 - SiriusXM Outlaw Country Cruise 2024*
02/14 - Montgomery, AL - Montgomery PAC**
02/16 - Dallas, TX - Majestic Theatre**
02/17 - Austin, TX - Austin City Limits @ The Moody Theater**
02/18 - San Antonio, TX - The Espee***
02/20 - Oklahoma City, OK - Tower Theatre***
02/21 - Little Rock, AR - The Hall***
02/22 - Kansas City, MO - The Truman***
02/23 - St. Louis, MO - Delmar Hall***
02/24 - Nashville, TN - The Ryman**
02/25 - Chattanooga, TN - Barrelhouse Ballroom***
03/08 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Wolf Den***
03/09 - Fall River, MA - Narrows Center for the Arts***
03/10 - Albany, NY - The Hart Ampitheatre***
03/13 - Ridgefield, CT - The Ridgefield Playhouse***
03/14 - Boston, MA - The Wilbur***
03/15 - New York, NY - Beacon Theatre**
04/25 - New Orleans, LA - Broadside Theatre

*Outlaw Cruise - Jesse Dayton Band
**With Samantha Fish supporting Kenny Wayne Shepherd
***Supadupabad Tour w/Sgt. Splendor supporting

Danielle Nicole is pleased to announce the release of her new album, The Love You Bleed, via Forty Below Records.

The Love You Bleed was produced by Tony Braunagel (Taj Mahal, Eric Burdon, Robert Cray) and co-produced by Nicole, with John Porter (B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Bryan Ferry) mixing. The tight-knit quartet on the songs features Danielle on bass guitar and vocals; Brandon Miller (electric, acoustic, pedal steel, mandolin, and 12-string guitar), Damon Parker (keyboards); Go-Go Ray (drums), and Stevie Blacke (violin and cello).

At the beginning of the The Love You Bleed recording sessions; Danielle Nicole knew this new album would be different from those in the past. "Maybe that's because over half the songs are about falling in love and not falling through the destruction of it," she says. The album is full of love, loss, will, determination, and all the other things that go together with love. "Make Love" is about consciously pushing past the pain, choosing love, family, and community in life's difficult moments. It uplifts the message of love and togetherness in the face of hardship." "How Did We Get to Goodbye" with its raw and honest lyrics, document a soured love that bears no hero or villain, asking how you get to such a place of disrepair without even knowing it. And "Love On My Brain", is a potent hybrid of vintage R&B and driving blues, begins as a flirty feeling inside and turns to an overpowering need and deep desire. Right By Your Side is a vintage soul/R&B ballad about never making the mistake of watching "the one" walk away again.

The Love You Bleed gives Nicole a solid place that music has always provided in dealing with love and loss. "It's been a difficult relationship listening to music outside of professional reasons since the passing of my brother Kris," she says. "But just being honest in my writing and direction, I find when I'm the truest to myself, that's when the magic happens. Not trying to find perfection in it so much, but engulfing myself in every moment and being there with the audience is when fun things can happen inside and out." Many of those feelings are captured in all the songs on the album.

There is a powerful sense of self in The Love You Bleed, taking the new songs to the place Nicole envisioned they could go. "I want to consciously move forward in the natural evolution of my songwriting and singing," she says. And as I grow as a person, a woman, a mother."

ABOUT DANIELLE NICOLE
Hailing from Kansas Ciity, MO, Danielle was initially influenced by her parents and recalls seeing her father playing blues guitar and her mother singing with the group Little Eva & The Works. She formed Trampled Under Foot, a popular Midwest band, with her two brothers. Her solo career took off with the release of Wolf Den (2015), which peaked at #2 on the Billboard Blues charts and amassed 7.5 million Spotify streams. Cry No More (2018) debuted at #1 in the Billboard Blues Charts and was nominated for a Grammy. It also amassed over 10 million Spotify streams.

Nicole has been inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame and the South Canada Blues Hall of Fame. In addition, she has received seven Blues Music Awards. She recently did a duet with Dion on the upcoming song "I Aim To Please" and recorded the opening track in the forthcoming Peter Hutchings film "Which Brings Me To You."
 
TRACK LISTING

    Love on My Brain
    Make Love
    Right By Your Side
    How Did We Get To Goodbye
    Head Down Low
    Fireproof
    A Lover Is Forever
    Say You’ll Stay
    Fool’s Gold
    Walk On By
    Who He Thinks You Are
    Love On The Hill

Platinum-selling blues rockers Big Head Todd and the Monsters announce that tickets for their upcoming Blue Arena show in Loveland, CO and will be on sale June 7th (sales schedule below.) Supporting the band will be The Wallflowers and The Freddy Jones Band.

ON SALE SCHEDULE
Artist Presale Begins: Wednesday, Feb 7th - 10AM MT
Purchase at BigHeadTodd.com   Password is BHTM24

Local Presales: Thursday, Feb 8th
On Sale: Friday, Feb 9th - 10AM MT

Tickets go on sale to the Public - Friday, February 9th - 10AM Local
Purchase at BigHeadTodd.com

In addition to the Blue Arena show, is the annual Red Rocks show, taking place on June 8th. Tickets on sale now, purchase here.

Coyote Motel, the Nashville-based cosmic roots band known for their visionary musical landscapes, is thrilled to announce the release of their award-winning soundtrack for the upcoming film, "The River: A Songwriter’s Stories of the South." The soundtrack is set to be released on March 19th, coinciding with the film's premiere screening at Nashville’s iconic Belcourt Theatre. Fans of the band and film enthusiasts alike are eagerly anticipating this double celebration of music and cinema.

In a special treat for Nashville music lovers, Coyote Motel will perform live at WMOT’s Finally Friday series on March 15th, offering a sneak peek into the soul-stirring music from the film.

"The River" is a crowdfunded cinematic journey through the lives, lore, and locales along three of the American South's great rivers: the Cumberland, the Mississippi, and the Tallahatchie. This radical psychedelic and musical experience is the brainchild of Coyote Motel’s pack leader, Ted Drozdowski, a renowned guitarist, songwriter, journalist, and music historian. Directed by Richie Owens of Parlor Films, the film is a unique blend of performance, storytelling, and cultural history, described as a "visionary autobiography" by Grammy-winning music journalist Anthony DeCurtis.

Over 15 Nashville independent artists, including light art creators Darling Lucifer Productions and the aerialists of Suspended Gravity Circus, have collaborated on this project. Drozdowski’s life-long exploration of America’s musical roots and his connection to the cosmic and cultural heritage of the South have culminated in this breathtaking film and soundtrack. "My entire life has been a rehearsal for 'The River,'" says Drozdowski. "This film and its music are the embodiment of my journey and passion."

The film has already garnered critical acclaim, receiving Best Original Feature Soundtrack and Best Experimental Feature awards at Cincinnati’s Queen City Film Festival. It stands as a testament to the rich musical and cultural tapestry of the American South, promising to be an unforgettable experience for audiences worldwide.

Don’t miss the opportunity to witness the premiere of "The River: A Songwriter’s Stories of the South" and celebrate the release of its mesmerizing soundtrack. Join Coyote Motel for a night of music, storytelling, and cinematic brilliance at the Belcourt Theatre on March 19th and get a preview of the magic at WMOT’s Finally Friday on March 15th.

The Memphis Royal Brothers are excited to share their debut single “Brand New Heart” off of the forthcoming self-titled release via Royal Records. The track features vocalists  Jim Lauderdale and Wendy Moten and was premiered by Taste of Country  The song was co-written by Paul Williams and Wes Hamil. Williams is an Oscar, Grammy, and Johnny Mercer Songwriter Hall of Fame winner, and the current President of ASCAP.  The song pushes the edge of Americana, combining blues, gospel, Austin rock, Nashville country and Memphis R&B, fusing the lyrical sound of Nashville with blistering Memphis soul, finding Lauderdale and Moten dueting about real love, found at last. Listen here. Pre-save here.

The project was overseen by Grammy Award-winning producer/engineer Boo Mitchell, son of the renowned producer Willie Mitchell (owner/operator of Hi Records, the label that launched Al Green, Ann Peebles, Syl Johnson, O.V. Wright, and some of the greatest names in the history of Memphis soul) and co-producer Richard Bolen, an astute marketing professional. ; The appropriately dubbed Memphis Royal Brothers boasts a line-up of living legends, six of them are Grammy Award winners, and several are nominees, along with an Academy Award-winning writer.  

Richard and Gary Bolen were originally inspired by the award-winning documentary, Take Me to the River; the brothers brought the idea of creating a namesake band around the studio's iconic environs while enlisting Boo to recruit the musicians and provide the facilities to bring the dream to fruition. Further, Gary Bolen, Richard Bolen's younger brother, composed much of the material in collaboration with Wes Hamil and played guitar in the band.

"Richard and Gary have such great energy and really good hearts and spirits," Mitchell said. "They just felt like family from the first introduction. And when the energy is that good, it always makes me want to go the extra mile, pull out all the stops, and do everything I can to make the project successful."

Boo's enthusiasm was evident from the outset. The musicians he enlisted are part of an extended family that worked closely with his father, and they still retain their ties to Boo and the Royal Recording Studio legacy. Between them, they've played on thousands of albums spawning rock n' roll, blues, soul, R&B, country, jazz, and Americana country, featuring some of the most extraordinary musical acts ever.

What resulted from this incredible combination is an album for the ages. These songs share a timeless tradition, performed by masterful musicians, and produced in a place that reflects one of the essential bloodlines of roots, blues, and rock and roll: Clarksdale, Mississippi. The songs echo those strains of classic American music — Rock, Delta Blues, Memphis Soul, Gospel, and R&B.

Mitchell agrees it is part of a remarkable legacy that spans sixty years of a great Memphis musical heritage that's coming together now to create new musical magic. "There's history here," Boo suggests. "But it's also a continuum. So, the legacy lives on as a testament to a timeless tradition.

MUSICIANS

Jim Lauderdale & Wendy Moten: Lead Vocals

Drums: Steve Potts

Hammond B3: Rev.Charles Hodges

Piano: Lester Snell

Bass: Jackie Clark

Guitar: Gary Bolen, Michael Toles, Luther Dickinson

Background Vox: Sharisse Norman, Shontelle Norman, Candise Marshall

LISTEN | PRE-SAVE

Rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter Philip Sayce is excited to announce the release of his highly anticipated studio album “The Wolves Are Coming.” The album was released by Atomic Gemini/Forty Below Records on Friday February 23, 2024, and is available to order HERE.
 
The album features the new single “Black Moon.” Watch the official music video HERE.
 
Produced by Philip at Station House Studio in Los Angeles, and engineered by GRAMMY award winner Mark Rains (Rival Sons, Shooter Jennings, Tanya Tucker), mixed by Brian Moncarz (Fantastic Negrito, Alice Cooper, Ian Moore), and mastered by Brian Lucey (Lizzo, The Black Keys, Michael Bublé), The Wolves Are Coming features Michael Leasure on drums (Walter Trout, Edgar Winter), Fred Mandel (Queen, Supertramp, Elton John) on keyboards and piano, Bernie Barlow (The Moody Blues, Melissa Etheridge) on background vocals, Aaron Sterling on drums (John Mayer, Keith Urban, Taylor Swift), and Sayce, who provided the vocals, guitars, bass, and piano.

The Wolves Are Coming follows the album Spirit Rising which has over 14 million streams to date. This new album is a career highlight, exemplifying Sayce’s commitment to his craft and using the power of music as a uniting force to welcome in the light during incredibly turbulent times. Philip's new album, is more powerful, unique, and bold than anything he has written or recorded. "These songs and stories came into focus during my darkest times," says Philip.
 
“The new single, Black Moon, is a song about ruthless individuals that often pollute the music business,” says Philip. “It’s about being tricked, violated, hurt, and manipulated but still holding on to my personal power and self-worth, and trusting that these fools will one day end up laying in the bed they’ve made.”
 
On the new album, songs like “Oh! That Bitches Brew” and “Backstabber” hit like hurricanes, while “Lady Love Divine” explores the light in contrast to darkness. Ballads like “It’s Over Now” and the magical instrumental “Intuition” round out Sayce’s signature fuzz tones and sledgehammer mountain-sized drum grooves with delicate, intimate, and dynamic performances.

The bold and brash performance on “Oh! That Bitches Brew” turns out to be a musical interpretation of a memory that came flooding back to Philip one day.
 
“Oh! That Bitches Brew came together quite quickly one evening,” recalls Philip. “I was sitting on the couch and started playing the riff that became the song’s main riff. I dug it and thought, ‘What am I going to say about this? Oh, I know, I remember that time someone gave me a drink at a party called “The Bitches Brew”, and it totally fucked me up.’ And that’s what the song became.  It came together in about ten minutes.”
 
The second single, “Lady Love Divine" is an uplifting, foot-stomping, funk groove that delivers hooks in all the right places. Philip states, "It's a funky, upbeat song about that feeling you get when you instantly fall in love with someone forever. Finding the courage to talk to this person and win their love. The song represents a bridge — a connection between despair and hope — that invites broken spirits to be transformed and healed."

With the release of the third single, Philip gets to the point about 'Backstabber,' "This is a song about fake friends and a ruthless music business. The lyrics speak loud and clear, and the weight of the track conveys the intensity of my feelings. It is a jungle out there; watch your back. This song also speaks to my life-long journey with OCD — named one of the ten most disabling disorders by the World Health Organization — and this burden that myself, and many others live with every day."
 
The recording of The Wolves Are Coming proved to be an unforgettable experience for Philip.
 
“When I first started writing and recording these songs, society was upside down from the pandemic,” says Philip. “The studio became a real spirit-lifter for me during the sessions, a very fun and free atmosphere, as opposed to the outside world. I recorded with GRAMMY winning engineer Mark Rains at Station House Studio in Los Angeles during several different sessions over the course of a year or so.”
 
“I booked some three-day sessions, and we’d try recording the new songs I was writing. Michael Leasure played drums magnificently, tracking live with me during some of these sessions and then I would record overdubs with Mark and decide if a song was going to be a keeper. Mark mixed a few songs on the album including “Intuition” and you can really feel and hear the vibe and sound of the studio during the sessions. Brian Moncarz had brilliantly mixed songs on my previous album, Spirit Rising, so I just had to reach out to him with these new songs. He absolutely nailed it with his mixes taking The Wolves Are Coming to another level. It is a such a pleasure and privilege to work with this wonderful and talented team.”
 
On the forthcoming album, Philip consciously set out to achieve something new and different.  
 
Says Philip, “I’m always striving to do something better today than what I’ve done before. I’m a student of music and life, and my intention for this album was to be more deeply connected to spirit, inspiration, and creativity, and to record and make this music to push myself as an artist.”
 
But what is it that makes “The Wolves Are Coming” so special?
 
“That’s easy, says Philip. “It’s a personal journey and a diary. These new songs and recordings became a lifeline to me during the pandemic and illustrate some of the highs and lows I have been navigating since releasing Spirit Rising in 2020. The Wolves Are Coming was created during the bleakest of times, not knowing if I would ever release these songs, or what being a musician and artist would look like moving forward.”
 
What does The Wolves Are Coming mean?
 
“It has a lot of meanings for me, which are definitely illustrated in some of these songs,” reflects Philip. “The title covers a lot of areas for me, and I encourage listeners to see what comes up for them personally when they hear this title and listen to the new songs. Some of these new songs, such as ‘Backstabber’, have a very obvious and personal meaning and relate directly to the album title, which I’ve discussed openly. While another obvious meaning is…to get myself in gear, to get going, and get moving!”
 
Philip is looking forward to performing the new songs on his upcoming tours.
 
“We’ve already been performing a few of the new tracks live and they feel great,” says Philip. “Oh! That Bitches Brew” was debuted live during our November 2023 UK tour, and we’ve been working up more of the new songs during rehearsals and soundchecks. Sam Bolle and Bryan Head are such outstanding musicians and we’ve been really bonding as a group during our live tours and through playing this new music together.”
 
On the new album, Philip has recorded an acoustic cover of John Lee Hooker’s “This Is Hip” which is deeply moving and a completely different gear from the rest of the album, featuring a duet with legendary pianist, Fred Mandel.
 
“I used to love listening to this song in the car with my father,” recalls Philip. “It was John Lee Hooker’s “This Is Hip” from the album Mr. Lucky, with Ry Cooder on guitar. What a great track and the song just always kind of stayed with me. I’d been playing it during live shows on solo acoustic, so we tracked it and Fred Mandel played exquisite piano on the recording. I think it’s fun!”

ALBUM TRACK LISTING
1. “Oh! That Bitches Brew” (3:29)
2. “Lady Love Divine” (3:04)
3. “Babylon Is Burning” (2:51)
4. “Your Love” (3:18)
5. “It’s Over Now” (5:35)
6. “Black Moon” (2:40)
7. “Blackbirds Fly Alone” (5:37)
8. “The Moon Is Full” (3:43)
9. “Backstabber” (3:54)
10. “Intuition” (3:19)
11. “This Is Hip” (2:46)

The Bacon Brothers, featuring Michael and Kevin Bacon, are excited to announce the release of their new video, "Losing The Night", from their forthcoming album, Ballad Of The Brothers. The album will be released on April 19th via Forosoco Music / Forty Below Records and is available for pre-order here on CD, Vinyl, and digital download. Pre-save "Losing The Night" here.

Premiered by Taste of Country, "Losing The Night" was written by Casey Beathard, Michael Bacon and Kevin Bacon. Michael said “We were with Casey Beathard who is a monster Nashville writer who did “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem” and “Boys of Fall”, and it was really a thrill to sit down with him and write it."
 
In discussing "Losing The Night," Kevin stated, "We have a term in the movie business "losing the light," which is when you're about to lose the shot because the sun is about to go down. We thought it'd be cool to write a song called "Losing the Night" about this couple in a motel room having problems, and they know that if they don't figure their problems out by the time the sun comes up, that's it for their relationship.”
 
The video was filmed by Bradley Wagner and the audio engineer was Juan Soria at The Space in Westbury, New York.

The siblings have spent the best of three decades creating their own mix of folk, rock, soul, and country music. They call that diverse sound "forosoco," it's taken them worldwide, from headlining gigs in Japan and Europe to American performances at iconic venues like Carnegie Hall, the Grand Ole Opry, and Gruene Hall.

Their musical exploration continues with the band's twelfth release, Ballad Of The Brothers. It's a record that highlights the similarities between Kevin Bacon (known worldwide as an A-list Hollywood actor) and Michael Bacon (celebrated as an Emmy-winning composer) and the differences, too.

For Michael and Kevin Bacon, their album, Ballad Of The Brothers marks the continuation of a musical partnership that began long ago in Philedelphia, where the two siblings were raised on a soundtrack of 1970s singer/songwriters, Philly soul bands, and classic rock acts,. They're creating their own soundtrack now, and like many artistic endeavors, the work is never truly done.

TOUR DATES
Jun 22-----Primm, NV--------Star of the Desert Arena
Jun 24-----Lehi, UT-----------Margaret Wines Park
July 19----Alexandria, VA---Birchmere
July 20----Alexandria, VA---Birchmere
July 25----Westport, CT-----Westport Country Playhouse
July 26----Batavia, NY-------Batavia Downs Gaming
July 27----Clayton, NY-------The Clayton Opera House
Sep 22----Louisville, KY-----Bourbon & Beyond

Grammy-nominated artist Jesse Dayton is set to unveil his highly anticipated album, The Hard Way Blues, on May 31st, via Hardcharger / Blue Élan Records. Produced by the acclaimed Shooter Jennings, this album marks a deeper exploration into Dayton's blues influences, following his recent Grammy nomination for "Contemporary Blues Album of the Year" together with Samantha Fish. Accompanying the album announcement is the release of the title track, "The Hard Way," alongside an energetic music video. Currently, Dayton is on the road previewing his new music while completing the final legs of the Death Wish Blues tour with Samantha Fish. Next week, Dayton will unveil headline tour dates for the first leg of his record release tour, which kicks off in June with his first Western U.S. shows in three years.
 
Jesse Dayton stands out as a dynamic figure in the landscape of Outlaw Country, positioned among the esteemed ranks of Texas's musical icons alongside luminaries like Billy Joe Shaver, Doug Sahm, and Kinky Friedman. Renowned for his virtuoso guitar skills and distinctive style, Dayton blazed trails by seamlessly blending Texas Rockabilly and Country with Punk Rock through his band, the Road Kings. This innovative fusion opened doors for Dayton to collaborate with legends such as Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson early in his career. Beyond these early triumphs, Dayton's musical journey has been eclectic, venturing into punk with the band X and crafting memorable soundtracks for Rob Zombie films under alter egos like Banjo & Sullivan and Captain Clegg. His expansive repertoire spans outlaw country, rockabilly, punk, honky-tonk, blues, and soul, defying genre boundaries while staying true to his distinct sound.

Crafted under the expert guidance of producer Shooter Jennings, known for his Grammy-winning albums with Brandi Carlisle and Tanya Tucker, The Hard Way Blues represents a significant milestone in Jesse Dayton's esteemed career. Recorded in the heart of Hollywood, Dayton and Jennings meticulously sculpted this rootsy gem, drawing from the timeless influences that shaped the Americana genre. Inspired by the raw authenticity of '70s Dylan, the soulful melodies of old Texas blues, and the legendary guitar sounds of influences from Freddie King to Jimmy Page, the album is a testament to Dayton's versatility and artistry. With storytelling prowess reminiscent of John Mellencamp, The Hard Way Blues seamlessly refines Dayton's signature rowdy sound into an irresistibly melodic collection of American music.

Alongside the album reveal comes the debut of the title single, "The Hard Way," a roots anthem that delves into the wild and rebellious journey of Jesse Dayton. The song encapsulates a tale of making one's way with a bit of recklessness and swagger. Paired with a lively music video, Dayton's restless spirit is vividly portrayed against a backdrop of motorcycles, barrooms, and jailhouses. "Of course, the lyrics, like all my songs, are built around situations I'm surprised I lived through growing up on the Texas/Louisiana border," jests Dayton. "We captured the band's energy live on a rainy night in LA, with Shooter producing, and this was the third take!"
 
Jesse Dayton is gearing up for an electrifying record release tour, commencing with a series of concerts spanning the Western United States in June. Stay tuned for forthcoming details on tour dates. In the interim, Jesse is crisscrossing the globe, rounding out the final legs of Death Wish Blues alongside Samantha Fish. Additionally, he's treating audiences to an intimate series of solo dates in April, offering a first glimpse into his new music.

Platinum-selling rockers Big Head Todd and the Monsters unveil "Thunderbird," the new single off their 12th studio album, Her Way Out, due May 31st on their own Big Records.

In discussing the new single, Todd Park Mohr said, "Inspired by the film American Graffiti, “Thunderbird” is a collection of one-liners from the film, knit together with a beat poet vibe - No one catches the Thunderbird in the end.  It has an AC/DC-like guitar riff and a cinematic style vocal.  “Thunderbird rising at the edge of town”, it’s all about drag racing and love never caught.  “Spread out your wings and fly” - we know you will like this song."

Stream "Thunderbird" here.

To date, the band has released two singles, "Crush" and "Her Way Out." Both tracks are off their forthcoming album, Her Way Out. This will be the band's first studio release since 2017s New World Arisin'.

The band looks forward to joining longtime friends Blues Traveler for a second summer in a row, playing all new cities. The 16 show Blue Monsters tour kicks off in El Dorado, Arkansas on July 30th. They look forward to performing selections from their vast catalog of songs, now spanning over three decades. Don't miss this tour

TICKETS ON SALE FOR BLUE MONSTERS TOUR
April 2 @10AM Local Time
Purchase at BigHeadTodd.com

TOUR DATES - BIG HEAD TODD & THE MONSTERS
Purchase at BigHeadTodd.com
May 25                    Deadwood, SD                 Outlaw Square
Jun 4                       Durango, CO                    Community College Hall at Durango
Jun 7                       Loveland, CO                   Blue Arena
Jun 8                       Morrison, CO                    Red Rocks Amphitheatre               SOLD OUT!
Jun 28                     Winter Park, CO               Blues From The Top Festival

BLUE MONSTERS TOUR
Featuring Blues Traveler & Big Head Todd and the Monsters
July 30                    El Dorado, AR                   MAD Amphitheater
Aug 1                      Houston, TX                      713 Music Hall
Aug 2                      Irving, TX                           The Pavillion at Toyota Music Factory
Aug 3                      Oklahoma City, OK            Zoo Amphitheatre  
Aug 6                      Wichita, KS                        Wave Outdoor
Aug 8                      Jefferson City, MO             CRMU Healthcare Ampitheater
Aug 9                      Decatur, IL                         Devon G. Buffett Amphitheater
Aug 10                   Peoria, IL                            CEFCU Peoria Riverfront
Aug 13                   Fort Wayne, IN                   Foellinger Theatre
Aug 14                   Grand Rapids, MI               Venue TBA
Aug 16                   Lewistown, NY                   Artpark
Aug 17                   Fairport, NY                        Perinton Center Park Amphitheater
Aug 20                   Cohasset, MA                     South Shore Music Circus
Aug 22                   Middlefield, CT                   Powder Ridge
Aug 23                   Vienna, VA                          Wolf Trap
Aug 24                   Quakertown, PA                 Univest Performance Center