Blues with a Feeling - The Official Podcast

“Christone “Kingfish” Ingram stands at the crossroads of legacy and innovation. A native son of Clarksdale, Mississippi — a city steeped in blues history — he channels the spirit of the Delta while fearlessly reshaping its future. With Hard Road, his most introspective and ambitious project yet, Kingfish reflects on a journey that’s taken him from local prodigy to global torchbearer for a new era of blues. Kingfish’s music has always honored the past. His mastery of the guitar, steeped in the tones of B.B. King, Albert King, and Buddy Guy, first turned heads when he was still a teenager. But what sets him apart is how he’s expanded the form — blending in funk, soul, hip-hop, pop, and jazz to create a modern blues fusion that resonates across generations and genres. His debut album Kingfish earned a Grammy nomination and topped the Billboard Blues Chart for 91 weeks. His follow-up, 662 (titled after his Mississippi area code) won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album in 2022. Then came Live in London, a fiery, sold-out performance captured abroad, earning him yet another Grammy nomination and solidifying his reputation as one of the genre’s most dynamic live performers. With Hard Road, Kingfish returns not just as a virtuoso, but as a storyteller. Via support from three producers – Tom Hambridge, Patrick “GuitarBoy” Hayes, and Nick Goldston – the album marks a shift lyrically, emotionally, sonically and thematically. The songs explore love, loss, identity, perseverance, and personal growth. There’s a harder edge to the sound, a fusion of rock and R&B sensibilities, but the heart of it is blues: vulnerable, honest, resilient.” With Christone Ingram on his way to Australia for gigs in February and March, I was thrilled to sit down for a chat with the Blues worlds most exciting young star just last week. And of course, there’s plenty of his wonderful music to spice things up. With tracks from his three studio albums “662”, “Kingfish” and his latest “Hard Road. Plus new releases from Eric Bibb, Kim Wilson, Tinsley Ellis, Laura Chavez, Billy Branch & The Sons of Blues, Young Rell Davenport, Shane Pacey & Darren Watson.        

“Five-time GRAMMY-nominated guitarist and songwriter Kenny Wayne Shepherd returns to Australia for the first time since 2018 to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of his landmark debut Ledbetter Heights. Shepherd’s fiery tone and emotive phrasing have cemented him as one of modern blues-rock’s leading voices. This anniversary tour showcases both the evolution and vitality of his craft, spanning hits like Blue on Black and new material from his acclaimed recent releases. Expect a high-octane masterclass in guitar-driven blues and rock.” With news of Kenny Wayne Shepherds visit to Australia, as part of his Ledbetter Heights which begins in the US in just weeks, I was thrilled to welcome Kenny to the show this week, to talk about this remarkably successful album, about what to expect from the shows, and also about his Grammy nominated 2025 release Young Fashioned Ways with Bobby Rush  

Classic Album feature & Interview After a much needed break over Christmas, I’m back for Blues With A Feelings 32nd year with an all time classic, Kim Wilsons first solo album and his debut for Antones Records Tigerman. With a crack bunch of the hottest players on the scene, this record was a big part of my early Blues education and I’m thrilled to feature it this week. And to add a little something for the pot, I’m joined for a chat by the man himself Kim Wilson. Plus tracks from Kims latest release Slow Burn. #blueswithafeeling #blueswithafeelingpodcast #bluespodcast #kimwilson #tigerman #antonesrecords #thefabulousthunderbirds  

“In the studio, Sam Cooke was a consummate pop crooner, whose delicate, caramelized voice charmed the reserved and mild. By the early sixties, his success and stature as a groundbreaking R&B crossover sensation loomed large in the music business. But when Cooke stepped into Miami’s Harlem Square Club on the warm night of January 12, 1963, he let his hair down. He delivered a blistering 37-minute set that showcased his raw, gospel-rooted R&B spark before a predominantly African American audience. Backed by late great saxophonist King Curtis and Cooke’s road band, which notably included guitarists Clifton White and Cornell Dupree, bassist Jimmy Lewis, drummer Albert “June” Gardner, pianist George Stubbs, and saxophonist Tate Houston, Cooke exudes a burst of hell-raising, down-home energy that feels neither measured nor rehearsed. The interaction between the performer and the enlivened Miami audience is natural and uninhibited all at once, as Cooke’s candor shines with each phrasing he sings and interjection he utters. If that quality isn’t enough to prove how dynamic his showmanship was, his distinctive voice and the peerless musicianship certainly is. Cooke attains a delectably gritty timbre that compellingly matches the fire and precision of his backing band, as they prowl through a reinvigorated run of his hit singles. When this storied Miami show finally surfaced in 1985 as Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963, it garnered universal reverence not only as a watershed in soul music history, but in the realm of famed live recordings as well. It best represents Sam Cooke as one of soul music’s undisputed progenitors. One full listen to it and you’ll never want the feeling to end. You’ll most likely repeat it.”  Brandon Ousley    With one show remaining for the year, I‘ve gone deep into the Blues With A Feeling record library to feature for you, possibly the greatest live recording of all time. Plus songs from the very best of the years new releases, including Buddy Guy, Bobby Rush & Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Maria Muldaur, Janiva Magness, Charlie Musselwhite, Mike Henderson, Southern Avenue Monster Mike Welch, Jo Harman, Tommy Castro, TajMo, The Alexis P Suter Band, Tad Robinson, Jon Cleary and Tad Robinson.    

  “It's been over 30 years since world-class musicians guitarist Little Charlie Baty and harmonicist/vocalist/songwriter Rick Estrin first teamed up and took hard Chicago blues, jump, Texas swing and jazz and mixed it with rockabilly, proto-rock'n'roll, jumping jive, bebop and Estrin's sharply original lyrics, creating a sound one critic described as "Charlie Christian playing in Little Walter's band." Their utter mastery of American roots music is fueled by Baty's jaw-dropping guitar acrobatics and driven by Estrin's captivating original songs, cutting vocals and brilliant harmonica playing. The story of Little Charlie & The Nightcats began back in the early 1970s when Baty--a harmonica-playing UC Berkeley student--first met Estrin. With Rick already an accomplished harp player, Baty decided to switch to guitar full-time and the two formed a blues band. After relocating to Sacramento, Baty quickly reinvented himself as a take-no-prisoners, one-of-a-kind guitarist. With the addition of a drummer and a bass player, Little Charlie & The Nightcats were born. In 1986 the band sent an unsolicited tape to Alligator Records. Alligator president Bruce Iglauer was blown away. He flew to Sacramento to see the band perform and was sold. Their debut album, All The Way Crazy, was released in 1987 to overwhelming success. Almost immediately they went from playing small Sacramento blues clubs to performing concerts and festivals around the country and around the world.” I’m beyond excited to feature for you this groundbreaking record this week. And to add context, my guest this week is the bands singer, songwriter and harp player Rick Estrin, who was kind enough to turn his memory back to 1987 and share all sorts of stories about the bands earliest years. Plus new releases from Eric Bibb, Roomful of Blues, Tinsley Ellis, The Alexis P Suter Band, Darren Watson and Sally King & the Repeat Offenders.   

"Billed as her most personal statement, this may well be Mavis Staples’ finest solo effort to date. In 2004, the powerhouse lead singer of the famed Staple Singers released the rootsy Have A Little Faith on Alligator. Here, producer/guitarist Ry Cooder places the reigning queen of gospel’s voice in an even more intimate setting, paring the instrumentation down to the bare essentials. But it’s the repertoire that makes the album so personal, not to mention riveting. She goes not just back to the church but back to the type of “freedom songs” that made the Staple Singers an inextricable part of the Civil Rights Movement of the ’60s – as Rep. John Lewis writes in the liner notes, “the soul of that revolution.” Just as her family band had something to say then – with songs like “Why Am I Treated So Bad,” “Long Walk To D.C.,” and the hit “Respect Yourself” – Ms. Staples mixes traditional gospel tunes and originals to comment on the state of things in 2007. The program opens with the biting social commentary of unsung blues poet J.B. Lenoir’s “Down In Mississippi,” with Ladysmith Black Mambazo providing vocal backing to Cooder’s guitar and mandolin and the heavy backbeat of his constant collaborator, Jim Keltner. Mike Elizondo, who played on Cooder’s Chavez Ravine, is back on bass and keyboards, with Ry’s son, Joachim, who provided percussion on the acclaimed Buena Vista Social Club. Cooder’s big-toned slide leads off a version of “Eyes On The Prize” that will make the hair stand up on the back your neck. But the autobiographical “My Own Eyes” – recalling her father, Roebuck, and Martin Luther King (singing, “If he can preach it, we can sing it”) is perhaps Mavis’s finest hour. Sure to be on numerous Top 10 lists for 2007." Vintage Guitar    A particular favourite of mine, it’s a thrill to feature for you this week, this sublime record.   Plus new releases from Buddy Guy, Eric Bibb, Roomful Of Blues, Kim Wilson, Bobby Rush & Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Billy Branch & The Sons Of Blues, Tinsley Ellis, Eddie 9VT, Sally King & The Repeat Offenders, Darren Watson, The Alexis P Suter Band and John Primer &Bob Corritore.  

Live Focus – Mike Henderson – Last Night At The Blue Bird - Live “Mike Henderson's long musical career saw him tour with Mark Knopfler, record with Emmylou Harris, John Hiatt and Kelly Willis. His song writing skills have been showcased by the Dixie Chicks, Trisha Yearwood and Patty Loveless, and he's played in numerous bands over the years including The Steel Drivers with Chris Stapleton. He first started playing regular shows at Nashville's Bluebird Café in 1986 while a member of The Kingsnakes. ‘Last Nite at the Bluebird – Live’ brings to close a thirty year relationship with the famous venue and documents the late musician in an intimate venue he knew and loved. A gentle ribbing of the venue and the famous singer-songwriter sessions it hosts gets his audience warmed up as he opens the album with his own composition, ‘Weepin’ & Moanin’.  Not letting up, the boogie shuffle of ‘Matchbox’ quickly follows.  However, things really step up a gear with the searing slide guitar on ‘Too Much Alcohol’, a song made famous by the late Rory Gallagher.  This version finds Henderson playing with the fire of Elmore James and Jeremy Spencer combined. Other highlights include ‘When I Get Drunk’, the harmonica soaked ‘Have A Good Time’ and ‘Pay Bo Diddley’ from Henderson’s old band, The Bluebloods. ‘Last Nite at the Bluebird – Live’ is well produced live recording that highlights Henderson’s raw energetic guitar skills and ability with work with an intimate audience, anyone who was lucky enough to catch any of these shows really did witness something special and as this recording proves, catching lightning in a bottle is possible.” Folk and Tumble Really excited to present this crackin live set this week. Plus new music from Billy Branch & the Sons Of Blues, Kim Wilson, Eric Bibb, Maria Muldaur, GA20, Chambers DesLaurier Band, Lloyd Spiegel, Darren Watson, The Alexis P Suter Band and Candice Ivory.    

Classic Album Feature – The Paladins – Years Since Yesterday   “Hottest roots rock band on the West Coast; terrific guitar from Dave Gonzales. Minimalist and raw as hell. "Beat for beat, there's no better band than The Paladins. This lineup is lethal!"--L.A. WEEKLY   The Paladins' own way of making music has earned them fans from many quarters. They have toured often with Los Lobos and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Texas guitar hotshot Anson Funderburgh and The Fabulous Thunderbirds' Kim Wilson worked on the band's self-titled debut album. The Los Lobos connection continues on Years Since Yesterday, which was produced by Lobos saxman/producers Steve Berlin and engineer Mark Linett.”   I’m excited to feature for you this incredible album from one of the very best bands I’ve ever seen this week. Plus new releases from Buddy Guy, Roomful Of Blues, Maria Muldaur, Kim Wilson, Eric Bibb, Fiona Boyes, Greg Nagy, The Alexis P Suter Band, Dave Keller, Darren Watson, John Primer & Bob Corritore and GA20.

“David Johansen is a true musical chameleon. Whether fronting the influential punk band the New York Dolls, lounging it up as Buster Poindexter or invoking the blues with the Harry Smiths, he has always demonstrated his unique talent for taking a musical style and making it his own. On David Johansen and the Harry Smiths, David and his first-rate band summon the spirit of the blues through American musicologist/folklorist Harry Smith. Featuring gripping performances of songs by Muddy Waters, Mississippi John Hurt and Bob Dylan.” A favourite of mine when It was released back in 2000, Im excited to feature for you this week, this extraordinary record.   Plus new releases from Buddy Guy, Kim Wilson, Harrell “Young Rell” Davenport, Eric Bibb, Sue Foley, Shirley Johnson, Greg Nagy, Fiona Boyes, Alexis P Suter Band, Lloyd Spiegel and Darren Watson.

The first live album from the King of Texas Roadhouses. Raw rockers, soul ballads, driving band. A best seller. "Breathtaking, hardcore roadhouse rhythm & blues"--Rolling Stone I’ve long been a fan of this classic live set from Delbert and his amazing band and now, for the first time, I’ll be featuring it in its entirety on the show. Plus new music from Buddy Guy, Roomful Of Blues, Eric Bibb, Sue Foley, Kim Wilson, Fiona Boyes & The Fortune Tellers feat. Hubert Sumlin, Monster Mike Welch, Billy Branch & The Sons Of Blues, John Primer & Bob Corritore, Mike Henderson, Darren Watson, Young Rell Davenport and Johnnie Johnson and Friends.

A favourite band of mine from back in the very early days, a copy of this incredible live show has recently made its way back into the Blues With A Feeling record library and I’m beyond excited to be featuring this album for you this week. Plus tracks from the latest releases by Buddy Guy, Jimmy Burns, Mike Henderson, Shirley Johnson, Kirk Fletcher, Bily Branch & The Sons of Blues, Fiona Boyes & The Fortune Tellers feat. Hubert Sumlin and Raphael Wressnig.   

  “Blues Is My Wailin' Wall is the debut album by the American musician Mighty Mo Rodgers, released in 1999. Rodgers referred to his music as "nu bluez"; he was also working on a master's thesis titled "Blues as Metaphysical Music (Its Musicality and Ontological Underpinnings)". He initially released the album on his label, North Star Records, in December 1998. Rodgers supported the album with a North American tour. He was nominated for a W. C. Handy Award for "Best New Artist Debut". Exclaim! wrote that the album "is no revivalist camp ... but a richly musical charge that recalls the work of the late Curtis Mayfield... Rodgers' deep, warm vocals embrace gospel and R&B, and his voice alternates between a powerful growl and a gentle caress across arrangements designed around solid hooks that first seduce the listener before driving home their message."The Daily Herald noted that, "where most contemporary blues songs are riffs built around hogging guitar solos, Rodgers brings a literate, philosophical punch to the genre."The Edmonton Journal said that "slices of soul, dips into R&B, some rootsy roadhouse arrangements and a voice that has lived every lyric, amounts to an impressive 11 songs.” Long a favourite of mine, I’m excited about featuring this remarkable record for you this week. Plus new releases from Buddy Guy, Roomful of Blues, Billy Branch & the Sons of Blues, Alexis P Suter Band, Mike Henderson, Fiona Boyes & the Fortune Tellers feat Hubert Sumlin, Monster Mike Welch, Jimmy Burns, Shirley Johnson, Tom Hambridge, Raphel Wressnig, Darren Watson and Kirk Fletcher.  

“Walter “Wolfman” Washington, a New Orleans guitarist and singer… played his mix of funk, blues, soul and jazz in the city’s clubs for six decades. A quintessential local luminary, Mr. Washington held down long-running weekly residencies at clubs including the Maple Leaf and d.b.a, where he recorded a live album with his band, the Roadmasters, that was released in 2013. He was also a member of a durable trio, with the keyboardist Joe Krown and the drummer Russell Batiste Jr., that released “Live at the Maple Leaf” in 2008. Between New Orleans gigs, Mr. Washington toured clubs, particularly around the South, and worked an international circuit of blues clubs and festivals. Mr. Washington’s guitar playing was lean, light-fingered and harmonically rich, conveying a relaxed authority as it teased and jabbed. His voice could convey flirtatiousness, amusement, heartache or wily agility, and his syncopated phrasing was as close to jazz as to traditional blues, leaping easily into falsetto or letting loose a vulpine howl.” Its long been an ambition of mine to spend some time featuring this incredible musician Walter “Wolfman” Washington and this week, its all coming together as I feature this incredible release “Funk Is In the House” .   Plus new releases from Buddy Guy, Mike Henderson, Billy Branch & The Sons Of Blues, Candice Ivory, Kirk Fletcher, The Alexis P Suter Band, Monster Mike Welch, Roomful of Blues, GA 20, Darren Watson, Shirley Johnson and Raphael Wressnig.  

“Young blues guitar slinger teams up with rough-hewn soul singer from the Motor City for a set of rockin’ blues in a kind of Stevie Ray Vaughan-meets-Rod Stewart (or maybe, more accurately, David Lee Roth) vein. Most of this will appeal more to rock fans than hardcore blues fans, although straight shuffles like “Face Down In The Blues” and Bangham’s slow blues instrumental “My Turn To Talk” should register with both camps. Bangham also scores big points with guitar fanatics with his revved-up Hammond B-3 organ-fueled instrumental romp, “Kid Stuff.”   A favourite album of mine for many reasons, I can’t wait to feature this wonderful release with you this week. And to add a little something, I invited Kid Bangham himself to join me for a chat about this record, his first following his departure from the Fabulous Thunderbirds. Plus glorious new releases from Buddy Guy, Mike Henderson, Billy Branch & the Sons Of Blues, Roomful of Blues, Raphael Wressnig and Alexis P Suter Band.

“The Sky Is Crying gathers ten previously unreleased tracks that Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble recorded between 1984’s Couldn’t Stand The Weather and 1989’s In Step, their final album before Vaughan died in a helicopter crash. Mobile Fidelity has released all five recordings, including the debut, Texas Flood, on outstanding SACDs (Analogue Productions has the vinyl covered).   Though each of these recordings displays Vaughan’s jaw- dropping talent, The Sky Is Crying most reveals the many styles he soaked up like a musical sponge. Check out Vaughan’s jazz chops on Kenny Burrell’s “Chitlins Con Carne,” and Hendrix’s “Little Wing,” arguably this collection’s most staggering achievement, alternately whisper-sweet and screamingly fierce.   Other tips of the hat are to Muddy Waters, Lonnie Mack (“Wham”), Elmore James, and Albert King (the title track), yet each song is pure, unleashed SRV. The sound is big, bold, up front, and clean as a whistle. Vaughan’s different tonal shadings—from warmly purring, to raggedly distorted, to wasp-tailed sting, plus a rare acoustic turn on the gorgeous closer, “Life By The Drop”—are all superbly captured, and the drums and bass have plenty of clarity and wallop. A brilliant musical document…if a sad reminder.”   With what would been Stevie’s birthday last week, I’m excited to feature for you this extraordinary collection of songs on Blues With A Feeling this week. Plus new releases from Buddy Guy, Mike Henderson, Fiona Boyes & The Fortune Tellers feat Hubert Sumlin, Billy Branch & the Sons Of Blues, Monster Mike Welch, Kirk Fletcher, The Alexis P Suter Band, Jimmy Burns & Soul Message Band, Shirley Johnson, Chris Wilson, Tom Hambridge, Kent Burnside, Raphael Wressnig and Mud Morganfield.

Like the force of nature that she was, GRAMMY-winning Koko Taylor, the undisputed "Queen of the Blues," was in a league of her own. With her exuberant, deeply soulful, good-time style and her tough-as-nails band, she could be counted on to make the reluctant fans dance and the quiet ones jump for joy. When Taylor passed in June of 2009, the world lost a musical icon. "Koko Taylor," according to Rolling Stone, was "the greatest blues singer of her generation." With Koko Taylors birthday falling this week, I couldn’t resist the urge to feature for you, her 2000 release for Alligator Records Royal Blue.   Plus new releases from Buddy Guy, Roomful Of Blues, Tom Hambridge, Monster Mike Welch, Candice Ivory, The Alesis P Suter Band, Kent Burnside, Billy Branch & The Sons Of Blues, Mud Morganfield, Mike Henderson, Kirk Fletcher and Raphael Wressnig.

“Recorded in Chicago's Cook County Jail on a hot fall day in 1970 and released the following year, the recording of this historic event was named #499 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, hitting #1 on the Billboard R&B charts, #3 on the Jazz charts and #25 on the Top 200. One of several live albums King released, it features a selection of his best-known songs. Includes "How Blue Can You Get?", "Please Accept My Love" and his signature classics "The Thrill Is Gone" and "Every Day I Have The Blues". Couldn’t be happier to be featuring this incredible record with you this week, in honour of BB’s 100th birthday.   Plus new releases from Buddy Guy, Roomful Of Blues, Johnnie Johnson, Mike Henderson, Billy Branch, Alexis P Suter Band, Kirk Fletcher, Monster Mike Welch, Mud Morganfield, Tom Hambridge, Jo Harman, GA 20, Raphael Wressnig, Chris Wilson and Kent Burnside.

“No way was Dr. John was going to let Katrina pass into history without saying what he had to say. But no way could anyone have seen this coming. City That Care Forgot is at once the most fervent, acerbic, livid music Mac Rebennack has ever made; the most eloquent and probably the funkiest, too. Dr. John has never been one for grand statements or even topicality, but he’s rightfully, righteously pissed. His city, his people, those who made New Orleans home and love it as much as he does, were knocked down hard, but not out: that’s his message. “All you gotta do is want it bad enough,” he repeats in “You Might Be Surprised.” Others have said it in music since the catastrophic events, but perhaps none with as much clarity, force, optimism, fight and, ultimately, love. He wanted this record to be an event, so Dr. John brought in some heavies to augment his regular band: Eric Clapton is swampy and biting on three tracks; Terence Blanchard blows his trumpet with a heart full of soul on two. Willie Nelson lends his voice, Ani DiFranco hers. But it’s not the visitors who get noticed here; it’s the singer who names names and points fingers and demands closure. Dr. John may be the first artist ever to rhyme hurtin’ and Halliburton, but in this “second battle of New Orleans,” as he calls the city’s efforts at resurrection, in this place of “‘drowning victims’ full of bullet holes” (extra quote marks his-to indicate major skepticism), there is care after all. It comes from those, like Dr. John, who refuse to see their home die, and it’s all wrapped up in quintessential NOLA music that leaves no doubt this city’s still got plenty of living to do.” Jeff Tamarkin With it being 20 years in August since Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc on New Orleans, I thought it was long overdue for me to feature this classic album. Plus new releases from Buddy Guy, Maria Muldaur, Janiva Magness, Mike Henderson, Candice Ivory, Kirk Fletcher, Alexis P Suter Band, Raphael Wressnig and Kent Burnside.

  “Anders Osborne “Coming Down” was his first studio recording in over five years. On Coming Down Anders sings about his two great loves, his wife and New Orleans. The CD finds Anders in a sparse setting that showcases his songwriting. One of the highlights of the CD is the song “Katrina.” Anders and his family moved backed to New Orleans six weeks after the devastating hurricane. Recorded in Nashville and New Orleans, Coming Down was co-produced by Anders and Troy Verges (BMI country songwriter of the year).” He's created one of the best albums of the year. Paste Magazine I’ve been hunting my copy of this sublime record for a decade and its finally returned to my hands and I can’t wait to feature it  for you this week. Plus new releases from Buddy Guy, Maria Muldaur, Charlie Musselwhite, Janiva Magness, Tom Hambridge, Candice Ivory, Mike Henderson, Kent Burnside, Kirk Fletcher, GA20, Chambers DesLaurier, Willie Buck & Bob Corritore, Monster Mike Welch and the Alexis P Suter Band.            

“Known to music fans around the world as the “King of the Boogie,” John Lee Hooker endures as one of the true superstars of the blues genre: the ultimate beholder of cool. His work is widely recognized for its impact on modern music – his simple, yet deeply effective songs transcend borders and languages around the globe. Each decade of Hooker’s long career brought a new generation of fans and fresh opportunities for the ever-evolving artist. He never slowed down either: As John Lee Hooker entered his 70s, he suddenly found himself in the most successful era of his career – reinvented yet again, and energized as ever, touring and recording up until his passing in 2001.”   John Lee Hookers been on my mind in August,  after his birthday a couple of weeks ago and I thought I’d celebrate together by putting together a classic collection of his earliest and most successful songs, plus tracks from 1989s chart topping The Healer.   Plus new releases from Buddy Guy, Maria Muldaur, Bobby Rush & Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Charlie Musselwhite, Mike Henderson, Larry McCray, Candice Ivory, Monster Mike Welch, Alexis P Suter Band, Raphael Wressnig, Chambers DesLaurier and Willie Buck & Bob Corritore.

“The ultimate “blues brother”, Eric Bibb is known and revered globally as a fiery singer- songwriter with true soul, grounded in the folk/blues tradition but with contemporary sensibilities. Testament to his endurance as one of the most relevant, leading bluesmen of our time, Eric’s most recent album, Ridin’, has received a Grammy nomination in the Best Traditional Blues Album category. It sits in the Top 10 of multiple blues and roots charts, has over three million Spotify streams and been lauded by critics as his “late life classic” and “a fervent gospel-backed blues manifesto”. The past twelve months alone has seen his entire catalogue clock up 15 million streams. It is easy to point to Eric’s accomplishments. A five-decade career recording with folk and blues royalty. Three Grammy nominations and multiple Blues Foundation awards. A following that not only crosses borders, it crosses continents.” I’m super excited to feature Eric incredible 1999 Ruf Records release Home To Me this week. Plus new releases from Buddy Guy, Maria Muldaur, Mike Henderson, Candice Ivory, Willie Buck & Bob Corritore, Raphael Wressnig, Roomful Of Blues, Alexis P Suter Band, Jo Harman, Tom Hambridge and Monster Mike Welch.  

“Slant 6 Mind is Greg's thirteenth album on Red House Records and a Grammy nominee! It's got a swampy, funky, lowdown sound that ranges from driving rhythms to sensuous folk and back again. The musicians are great and the combination of guitar players Greg, Kelly Joe Phelps, and Bo Ramsey is superb. The feel of Slant 6 Mind reaches back to Greg's earlier albums, such as Down in There as it evokes the landscape and people that created him a world he sketches with the artistry of writers like William Faulkner, Bruce Springsteen or Robert Frost.” I’m excited about sharing this wonderful record with you this week. Plus plenty of the most exciting new releases hitting my inbox right now. With songs from Buddy Guy, Maria Muldaur, Charlie Musselwhite, Bobby Rush & Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Candice Ivory. Monster Mike Welch, Mike Henderson, Chambers DesLaurier, Willie Buck & Bob Corritore, Raphael Wressnig and Jo Harman.      

  “Blues scholar Guy Davis is an equally adept player, singer and storyteller in the tradition of his mentor, Taj Mahal. On Skunkmello, named for a legendary chicken thief who was caught and hanged for his crimes around 1900, rootsy troubadour Davis travels from the straight country-blues of “Natural Born Eas’Man” and his Piedmont-flavored original “The Chocolate Man” to the gritty South Side Chicago blues of “It Takes Love to Make a Home” without missing a beat. He blows some mean harmonica on a cover of the classic “Going Down Slow,” accompanied by former Paul Butterfield Blues Band keyboardist Mark Naftalin on Hammond B3 organ and John Platania of the Van Morrison Band on some piercing electric guitar. And he summons up some commanding Howlin’ Wolf-ish vocals on the haunting “Shooting Star.” Davis, a naturally gritty soulful vocalist, also demonstrates some authentic claw-hammer banjo technique on two old-timey unaccompanied numbers, “Shaky Pudding” and “Blackberry Ramble,” and also on the folkloric title track. The chilling closer, “Uncle Tom Is Dead (Milk ‘n’ Cookies Remix),” is an educated, old-schooler’s indictment of rap music that carries an important, socially charged message for a generation that has lost its sense of history.” Bill Milkowski 2006 I’m beyond excited to finally feature for you this uncredible record this week. Plus new releases from Buddy Guy, Mike Henderson, Maria Muldaur, Bobby Rush & Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Janiva Magness, Willie Buck & Bob Corritore, Kirk Fletcher, Chambers DesLaurier and Larry McCray.

The roots of the style that would become Otis Taylor’s most recognizable contribution to blues can be found on Truth Is Not Fiction (Telarc Records) released in 2003. Music critics were both enthralled and a bit mystified by Taylor’s signature “Trance Blues” electric, psychedelic style. Truth is Not Fiction earned a top 10 album of the year listing from the New York Times and was also featured with rave reviews from USA Today, Washington Post and NPR, and the record culminated in a Downbeat critics award for “Blues Album of the Year.”   Im excited to feature this 2003 from classic from Otis Taylor this week. Plus new releases from Buddy Guy, Mike Henderson, Janiva Magness, DK Harrell, Bobby Rush & Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Maria Muldaur, Kent Burnside, Willie Buck & Bob Corritore, Gerald McClendon, Chambers Deslaurier and Garry Burnside.   

“Tony Joe White's 2013 album is awash in danger, spiritual uncertainty and environmental fury. Hoodoo's lyrical concerns are matched by a particularly intense strain of White's trademark swamp funk. Hence the title's double edged meaning: 'hoodoo' referring both to the songs' ominous tone and the palpable vibe that filled the studio as the songs were cut. Cut mostly live to tape - vocals and all - much of Hoodoo consists of first takes. Culled from an initial stack of 17 tunes, the 9 songs that comprise the album come alive in the haunting atmosphere and intensity of the stripped down recording process…” With Tony Joe Whites birthday last week, I’m thrilled to feature this wonderful album this week. Plus new releases from Buddy Guy, Charlie Musselwhite, Janiva Magness, Maria Muldaur, Bobby Rush & Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Southern Avenue, Little Charlie Baty, Kent Burnside, Jon Cleary, Kirk Fletcher, Tad Robinson, Larry McCray and Garry Burnside.

The return of the legendary harmonica giant from the 1950s Chicago blues scene. "A triumphant comeback"—Billboard   Billy Boy Arnold is back. With his 1992 Alligator Records debut, Back Where I Belong, Arnold firmly reestablished himself as one of the foremost practitioners of classic Chicago blues. His wailing harmonica playing and soulful vocals are a perfect match for his streetwise songwriting. The combination of Delta-influenced blues with a more urban sophistication not only defines Arnold's sound, but was also a significant contribution in the early, formative days of rock and roll.    I’m excited about featuring this wonderful record for you this week. With Billy Boy backed by a crack group of young West Coast hotshots, he sounds like he’s having the time of his life. Plus new releases from Charlie Musselwhite, Buddy Guy, TajMo, Janiva Magness, Bobby Rush & Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Larry McCray, Chambers DesLauriers, Eric Gales, DK Harrell, Brandon Santini and Terry Hanck.

“Cotton’s long, fabled career is unrivaled in terms of its historic import….a name that is mentioned alongside some of the very best performers ever to play the instrument. Cotton’s playing has cemented his place in the top tier of blues harmonica masters: that muscular tone, those brawny wails, the stinging high note bends. …sends a shiver down the spine. Fiery, inimitable, ferocious attack, dominance and power. The well of talent he draws from is as deep as the blues he plays.” – Living Blues   With the great James Cottons birthday in July, I’ve pulled together a collection of some of the great mans finest tunes. And to put it all in context, I’m joined by another monster of the blues harmonica Kim Wilson, who was kind enough to share with us his memories of the man from Tunica Mississippi.   Plus tracks from the latest releases by Buddy Guy, Janiva Magness, Taj Mo, Charlie Musselwhite, Southern Avenue, DK Harrell and Hat Fitz & Cara Robinson.  

Albert Collins Classic Album Feature – Cold Snap “This Grammy-nominated album features some of Albert's most popular tracks like I Ain't Drunk, Lights Are On But Nobody's Home and Too Many Dirty Dishes. The Master of the Telecaster's last Alligator release, and his favourite, finds him backed by a hand-picked all-star band featuring organist Jimmy McGriff and guitarist Mel Brown, plus the Uptown Horns.” I’m excited to be featuring this Collins classic this week. Plus new releases from Buddy Guy, Southern Avenue, Charlie Musselwhite, Janiva Magness, TajMo, Bobby Rush & Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Larry McCray, Hat Fitz & Cara Robinson, Brandon Santini, Jon Cleary, DK Harrell, Terry Hanck, Carolyn Wonderland and All Things Swamp.  

  “Genius doesn't even begin to describe the greatness of The Genius Sings the Blues. Comprised of a dozen songs Ray Charles made between 1952 and 1960, the collection was released in 1961 by Atlantic Records to counter the singer's migration to rival ABC Paramount. What Atlantic originally underestimated is that the album contained many of Charles' greatest works, all unified by their bluesy emotions and stirring arrangements. A classic of the soul and R&B canon, The Genius Sings the Blues is a snapshot of the evolution of timeless American music captured by the pianist's indelible rhythmic pace, gospel roots, jazz backgrounds, and Southern-styled accents.” Thrilled to feature for you this wonderful collection from Ray Charles this week. Plus new releases from Buddy Guy, Jania Magness, Charlie Musselwhite, Larry McCray, Southern Avenue, Christone Kingfish Ingram, TajMo, Jon Cleary, Terry Hanck, Kid Ramos, John Primer, Harrell Davenport and Bobby Rush & Kenny Wayne Shepherd.

Taj Mahal Classic Album Feature – Dancing The Blues   “Songs from Fats Domino to Louis Jordan. Etta James joins in on the classic “Mockingbird” along with a “slamming” band including Texacali Horns, Tony Braunagel, Chuck Domanico, Mick Weaver, Johnny Lee Schell, and Bill Payne & Ritchie Hayward from Little Feat. Dancing The Blues will get ya shakin’ your tail feathers!”                                                                                                             Tajmahal.com I’m excited to feature this wonderful record this week, a favourite of mine from the very early 90s, this is Taj Mahal sounding as good as it gets. Plus new releases from Bobby Rush & Kenny Wayne Shepherd, TajMo, Charlie Musselwhite, Southern Avenue, DK Harrell, Hat Fitz & Cara, John Primer, Harrell “Young Rell” Davenport, Larry McCray, Terry Hanck and Dave Specter.

 “The first of Freddie King’s three albums for Leon Russell’s Shelter label set the tone for his work for the company: superb electric blues with a prominent rock/soul influence. The massive Texan and the longhaired Oklahoman got it right the first time around with the aptly titled Getting Ready LP. Recorded at the legendary Chess studios in Chicago, it might well rank as Freddie King’s most creatively satisfying work.”   I’m super excited about featuring this classic from Freddie King from way back in 1971. Plus new releases from TajMo, Janiva Magness, Southern Avenue, DK Harrell, Tad Robinson, Jon Cleary, Bobby Rush & Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Dave Specter, Charlie Musselwhite, Brandon Santini, Hat Fitz & Cara Robinson and Terry Hanck.

“Muddy "Mississippi" Waters Live - 1979 brings you the electrifying and unforgettable live performance of one of blues' most legendary artists, Muddy Waters. Capturing his raw energy and soulful presence, this live album is a testament to Muddy Waters’ profound influence on the blues genre. Featuring classic tracks like "Hoochie Coochie Man" and "Mannish Boy" this collection offers an intimate experience of his unforgettable stage presence.” I’m excited to present this classic live set from Muddy Waters and his incredible band this week. Plus new releases from DK Harrell, Charlie Musselwhite, Southern Avenue, TajMo, Jon Cleary, Janiva Magness, Poppa Chubby, Tad Robinson, Brandon Santini, Bobby Rush & Kenny Wayne Shepherd, GA20, Hat Fiz & Cara Robinson, Bernard Allison, Terry Hanck, Carolyn Wonderland and Dave Specter.  

“When they referred to consistently amazing guitarist Snooks Eaglin as a human jukebox in his New Orleans hometown, they weren't dissing him in the slightest. The blind Eaglin was a beloved figure in the Crescent City, not only for his gritty, Ray Charles-inspired vocal delivery and wholly imaginative approach to the guitar, but for the seemingly infinite storehouse of oldies that he was liable to pull out on-stage at any second -- often confounding his bemused band in the process!” All Music Can’t wait to share this wonderful record with you this week. His final studio album saw Snooks joined in the studio by Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen and the results are just glorious. Plus new releases from TajMo, Janiva Magness, Charlie Musselwhite, Bobby Rush and Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Tad Robinson, Hat Fitz & Cara Robinson, Jon Cleary, DK Harrell, Terry Hanck, Dave Specter and Harrell “Young Rell” Davenport.  

“The Blues Foundation has announced its 2025 Blues Music Awards winners. The winners were revealed on Thursday, May 8, in Memphis, Tennessee. Big winners from the night included Ruthie Foster, Sue Foley, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Curtis Salgado, and John Primer, who all took home multiple awards. Ronnie Baker Brooks led the way with three wins.” With the announcement of the Blues Music Awards winners a couple of weeks ago, I thought it was overdue for me to shine a light on the winners. Featuring songs from the latest release from each, it’s easy to hear why they walked away with an award. Plus new releases from Charlie Musselwhite, Bobby Rush and Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Janiva Magness, Brandon Santini and Hat Fitz and Cara Robinson.

“Magnificent, staggering, almost beyond belief.  Utterly Blues approved.” --“GUITAR PLAYER” MAGAZINE, U.S.A.   “There’s no more explosive Blues guitar player in the world.” --“ESQUIRE”, U.S.A.     “DAVE HOLE is a musician whose time has finally come. In fact, considering the acclaim he's received in the past few months, it's hard to understand why he has remained unknown for so long. The reason is simple-Dave developed his amazingly intense slide guitar sound and strange playing style in almost total obscurity in one of the most isolated cities in the world: Perth, Australia. After playing professionally for over twenty years, Dave has finally broken out as the "overnight" phenomenon he deserves to be. A rave review of Short Fuse Blues in Guitar Player (which almost never reviews records available only as imports) led to a feature story in the same magazine. Buoyed by both stories, Dave has suddenly emerged into the international spotlight. Not only has he toured the cities of eastern Australia, but he'll be making his European debut later in1992.” I’m excited to feature this landmark album this week. Dave Holes break out release Short Fuse Blues. And to put it in perspective, I’ve enlisted the assistance of Alligator Records boss Bruce Iglauer, Guitar Player magazine editor Jas Obrecht and Dave Hole himself, to share their memories of this amazing moment in Blues history. Plus new releases from Charlie Musselwhite, Janiva Magness, Bobby Rush & Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Hat Fitz & Cara.  

“One of the world's greatest rock 'n' roll bands ever to strut the 50 States, these sharp-dressed Texas titans-Billy F. Gibbons, Frank Beard, and Dusty Hill-are a righteously hell raisin' power trio boasting a 30-plus year hit-making legacy, both in the studio and at concert arenas. With their revved up blues 'n' boogie, they always make the most of their Texas birthright with with a distinctive sound that shakes up rock, blues, soul, garage-funk, Americana, and more. Nowhere is their force of nature musicianship better displayed than on this classic album, revved up with red-hot bonus rarities. "You know what I'm talkin' about...an how how how how." With ZZ Tops mega Australian tour coming to a close, I’m into the final chapter of my deep dive into the bands earliest releases. This week featuring 1975s chart topper Fandango. Plus new releases from Taj Mo, Janiva Magness, Jon Cleary, Bobby Rush & Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Charlie Musselwhite, John Primer, Tad Robinson, Carolyn Wonderland, Poppa Chubby, Hat Fitz & Cara, Larry McCray, Brandon Santini and Hussy Hicks.      

On the Jimmy Reed Highway began as an Omar Kent Dykes album, but once Jimmie Vaughan came into the studio “the songs took on their own life,” remembers Omar. “I figured Jimmie would come in and play a couple of solos, but he got so excited about it he stayed for the rest.” Ain't nobody can do Jimmy Reed like Jimmy Reed could. But this drive down Jimmy Reed Highway with fellow Mississippian Kent "Omar" Dykes at the wheel with Jimmie Vaughan riding shotgun and folks like, Kim Wilson, Miss Lou Ann Barton, James Cotton, Delbert McClinton, and Gary Clark, Jr., joining the duo, comes mighty close. Joe Nick Patoski With the news of the pending release of “On the Jimmy Reed Highway” for the first time on vinyl, I thought it might be fun to feature this classic from 2007. Plus new releases from TajMo, Southern Avenue, Jon Cleary, Charlie Musselwhite, Bobby Rush & Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Janiva Magness, Larry McCray, John Primer, Hussy Hicks, Tad Robinson, Johnny Rawls, Carolyn Wonderland and Brandon Santini.  

The center of Clarence Gatemouth Brown's taste is post-World War II jump blues and R&B with a distinctly Southwestern feel. Tasty as his guitar playing is, he likes to add horns and even a bit of country fiddle to the mix. As its title indicates, Back to Bogalusa particularly investigates the Louisiana influences… notably on the tracks "Going Back to Louisiana," "Breaux Bridge Rag," "Bogalusa Boogie Man," and the Cajun-styled "Louisian'." He adds in some sympathetic songs by writers of a later generation, notably "Lie No Better," co-written by Delbert McClinton and Little Feat's "Dixie Chicken," co-written by Lowell George. And he sounds most at home in the funky instrumentals "Grape Jelly" and "Slap It”… with a singing and playing ability that belies his years he sounds like he's having a wonderful time.                                                                                            Allmusic With Jazzfest in New Orleans in full swing, I’m thrilled to present for you this week, this quite wonderful classic from Clarence Gatemouth Brown. Plus new releases from Jon Cleary, Tad Robinson, Hussy Hicks, Davis Coen, Bernard Allison, Kid Ramos, Southern Avenue, Larry McCray, TajMo, Carolyn Wonderland and Bob Corritore.    

"Basic and bare-boned West Coast jump blues, down home Texas grit, and Memphis rockabilly . . . wild, funky and menacing." -- Guitar Player "Sizzling roots rock . . . gutbucket power . . . no-holds-barred excitement." -- Billboard Music writers have likened The Paladins' high-energy blend of rock 'n' roll, R&B, swing and rockabilly to the music of Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Fabulous Thunderbirds and other hard-working roadhouse rock bands. A Washington Post critic may have described The Paladins' music best, however, when he wrote, "If musicianship, dedication, soul and the ability to express raw emotion were all you needed to gain fame and wealth, The Paladins would be known in every home in the land, and they'd have enough money to buy New York." With Bluesfest making a highly successful return over the Easter weekend here in Australia, I’m casting my ears back to the earliest days of the festival and revisting the band that changed it all for me, the Paladins. Featuring three of the bands earliest records Years Since Yesterday, Lets Buzz and Ticket Home. And to put it in context, I’ll throw in some choice cuts from my interview with the bands Dave Gonzales. Plus new releases from Jon Cleary, Southern Avenue, Tommy Castro, Kid Ramos, Bernard Allison, GA 20, Early James, Bob Corritore and plenty more.

“Smokey is difficult if not impossible to categorize. Possessor of a powerful voice, he can bellow like Wolf or cry sweetly like B.B. King. Smokey's guitar playing is equally diverse as he romps through the stylings of Elmore James and Jimmy Reed (which Smokey calls "countryfied blues") one song and then polished urban blues the next. He also digs into the soulful side a la Z.Z. Hill and Tyrone Davis, which was extremely popular with the patrons of the Pioneer Club. Smokey's singing and playing bear the influences of these greats, not by impersonation, but by the fact that Smokey is the genuine article.” With Bluesfest beginning this week with easter upon us. I’m reeling back the years to revisit this 1983 classic by Smokey Wilson 8th Street  Blues. Plus new releases by Jon Cleary, Bob Corritore, Kid Ramos, TajMo, Bernard Allison, Early James, Southern Avenue, Polythythmics, Tommy Castro, GA20, Eric Johanson and Frank Bey.

  “Clarke's timing and music are right on the money, with the great Alex Schultz on lead guitar. There is no doubt that Clarke is one of the few modern bluesmen who are exploring and extending the amplified blues harp tradition without violating any of its principles. No one plays chromatic blues harp with this kind of passion and sheer conviction.”                                              All Music   A classic album from the early 90s, William Clarkes debut for Alligator records stands as a modern blues classic and I’m thrilled to to feature it for you this week, in the new extended 2hr version of Blues With A Feeling. Plus new releases from Southern Avenue, TajMo, Kenny Neal, Jon Cleary, Tommy Castro, Kid Ramos, Bernard Allison, Bob Corritore, GA 20, Early James, Canyon Lights and Polyrhythmics.

“The band were at the peak of their powers as a live unit at this point, so it made sense that their next release should reflect that; the self-explanatory Live was recorded at a rapturously received gig held at Cincinnati Gardens on 23 May 1986. Including firm favourites such as ‘Who Do You Love?’, ‘I Drink Alone’ and ‘Madison Blues’, the LP was a terrific snapshot of The Destroyers in viciously good nick and – after climbing to No.33 on the US Billboard 200 – the LP eventually earned itself a platinum certification.”                                                                               Udiscovermusic With George Thorogood & The Destroyers arrival in Australia now just weeks away, I’ve reached back to 1985 to feature this gem, the bands chart topping, platinum selling album “Live”. It was huge here in Australia and across the world, spending an amazing 42 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart. Plus  another crackin couple of sets of new releases from TajMo, Southern Avenue, Kid Ramos, Jon Cleary, Carolyn Wonderland, Bernard Allison, GA20 and Canyon Lights.

"Recorded in both Memphis and Texas and prominently featuring the amazing Bill Willis on Hammond B-3 (who doubles on bass pedals -- leaving this as one of the few blues albums without an official bassist), Jimmie's more subtle approach leaves lots of spaces to nail a groove that gets deeper as the album progresses. Guests like James Cotton on harp and longtime associate singer Lou Ann Barton (who just about steals the show on the songs where she duets with Vaughan) inject extra spice, but the singer/guitarist has crafted a compelling slice of contemporary blues that blends traditional elements in a distinctive way....Rootsy yet polished tracks like the R&B swamp of "Without You" and the Texas soul of Johnny "Guitar" Watson's "In the Middle of the Night" (featuring Stevie Ray's Double Trouble rhythm section) crackle with taut energy and low-down soul. By forging an individual musical style, Jimmie Vaughan not only avoids all Stevie Ray comparisons, but has produced a remarkable album that truly sounds like no one else." ~ Hal Horowitz, AllMusic.com With Jimmie Vaughan celebrating a birthday on the 20th, I couldn’t resist the temptation to pull out this modern classic for a BWAF feature. Plus new releases from Kenny Neal & Micah Willis, Jon Cleary, Bernard Allison, Southern Avenue, Tommy Castro, Carolyn Wonderland and Bernard Allison.

“He was one of the most gifted blues guitar players of all time. A mere thirty two years old at the time of his passing, Fats had already made a big splash in this small pond. His playing however continues to make waves and has had an impact on blues guitar players worldwide.” David Mac Blues Junction Productions With the legendary Hollywood Fats birthday this week, I thought I was long overdue to feature The Hollywood Fats Bands debut album “Rock This House” on the show. Plus new releases from TajMo, Charlie Musselwhite, Keny Neal and Micah Willis, Jon Cleary, Tommy Castro, Ian Siegal meets Johnny Mastro, Early James and Polyrhythmics.

“That Little Ol’ Band From Texas” has been at it for well over a half century, delivering rock, blues and boogie on the road and in the studio to millions of devoted fans.  With classic songs such as “Sharp Dressed Man”, “Legs” and “Gimme Me All Your Lovin” and iconography as distinctive as their sound, ZZ TOP is virtually synonymous with beards, hot-rod cars, spinning guitars and that magic keychain, all of which transcend geography and language. With ZZ Top heading to Australia in April, I’m continuing my exploration into the bands back catalogue this week, by featuring their 1972 release “Rio Grande Mud”. Plus new releases from TajMo, Jon Cleary, Tommy Castro, Southern Avenue, Kenny Neal & Micah Willis, Ray Beadle, Bob Corritore, Canyon Lights, Polyrhythmics and Early James.

“A soul-blues revivalist who isn't strictly a traditionalist, Eli "Paperboy" Reed synthesized several strands of 1960s soul, marrying gritty Southern funk with gutsy Chicago blues.” With Eli “Paper Boy” Reed set to tour in Australia in May, I sat down for a chat with him about 20 years in the biz, about those amazing times chasing his muse following school, and our favourite Sam Cooke album. Plus songs from four of his incredible albums, released since 2005.

"Thorogood deals strongly in early '50s style rock and timeless blues and this album captures him at his slidin', pickin', wailin' best." Cashbox With the announcement that George Thorogood & the Destroyers will return to Australia in April for a month of gigs, I’m digging deep into the bands incredible multi-million selling back catalogue to feature the bands debut album “George Thorogood & The  Delaware Destroyers” Plus new releases from Charlie Musselwhite, Ruthie Foster, Tommy Castro, Southern Avenue, Ian Siegal & Johnny Mastro, Bob Corritore and Early James.

“This captures Magic Sam and his band in more laid-back form, playing a small, booze-free venue rather than a rowdy bar or a festival audience in the thousands. Magic Sam may be in a more relaxed temper here, but his guitar work is absolutely on point; Sam's agile, incisive lead work, his dazzling string bends, and his fiery solos in which he fires off notes with the precision of a machine gun are all on display, confirming Sam's status as one of the most exciting and underrated players on the Chicago blues scene at the end of the '60s.” I’m remembering the legendary Magic Sam this week, by featuring this obscure live recording from 1968  ‘Live at the Avant Garde’ that sounds quite incredible. Plus new releases from Tommy Castro, Ian Siegal and Johnny Mastro, Ray Beadle and Early James.   #blueswithafeelingpodcast #shakeyshaun_ #bluespodcast #magicsam #delmarkrecords #tommycastro #earlyjames #raybeadle #iansiegal #johnnymastro

  “The Taj Mahal Sextet’s Swingin’ Live at the Church in Tulsa won the Best Traditional Blues Album Grammy Award. The award was announced on February 2, 2025. Swingin’ Live at the Church in Tulsa captures a live performance at the historic Tulsa studio once home to Leon Russell. The album features ten tracks spanning multiple genres, performed by his long-time quartet, bassist Bill Rich, drummer Kester Smith, and guitarist/lap steel player Bobby Ingano, along with dobro player Rob Ickes and guitarist/vocalist Trey Hensley.   Ruthie Foster’s tenth studio album, Mileage, won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album.  Mileage, reflects on her journey from singing in rural Texas churches to earning Grammy nominations and collaborating with artists like Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks. Produced by Tyler Bryant, the album grew from conversations about her life, shaping a collection rooted in storytelling and personal experience. The title track was inspired by a casual remark about her years on the road, while the lead single, “Rainbow,” delivers a message of love and acceptance."                                                                                                                                              World Music Central   With Taj and Ruthie taking away Grammy awards this year, I’ve put together a show this week featuring tracks from both winning records. Plus new releases from Charlie Musselwhite, Southern Avenue, Maria Muldaur & Benny Turner, Tommy Castro, Bob Corritore and Bobby Rush, Ian Siegal & Johnny Main, Ray Beadle and Early James        

“After detours into jazz, pop and country, Etta James is back in the smoking eye of an R&B maelstrom, singing with controlled fury and vinegary bite.  Surrounding this queen bee of the blues are two fresh princes: sons Donto and Sametto, who produced and engineered, and played drums and bass, respectively. The young bloods balance classic and contemporary approaches, leaving Mama free to breathe fire into an intriguing mix of tunes… Matriarch of the Blues finds Etta James reclaiming her throne — and defying anyone to knock her off it.”                                                                                                           Rolling Stone   With Etta’s birthday last week, I’m celebrating by digging deep into her catalogue and featuring this Grammy nominated 2000 Private Music release “Matriarch Of The Blues” Plus new releases from Tommy Castro, Frank Bey, Ian Siegal & Johnny Main and Early James