Erja Lyytinen – 50th Birthday Live 2026: Review
Bluesland Productions Erja Lyytinen turns 50 with her guitar turned up, her slide smoking and the blues-rock dial firmly set to maximum. Recorded at Helsinki’s legendary House of Culture on 21 March 2026, 50th Birthday Live 2026 captures Finland’s “Queen of Slide Guitar” in celebratory, full-flight form. The release arrives as a lavish double CD/DVD […]
Blues Matters Issue 166 out now with Danielle Nicole, Robin Trower, Sari Schorr and more
The October 2026 issue of Blues Matters is out now, with Danielle Nicole on the cover of Issue 166. This month’s edition features in-depth interviews with Danielle Nicole, Robin Trower, Sari Schorr, Ben Poole, Katie Knipp and Singa B, alongside features on Susan Santos, Michael Messer, Gilbert O’Sullivan, Max Hightower and Sloe Train. There is […]
The Whisky Flowers win UK Blues Challenge
The Whisky Flowers have won the 2026 UK Blues Challenge, earning the opportunity to represent the UK at both the International Blues Challenge in Memphis and the European Blues Challenge in Portugal. The competition took place on Saturday 26 September in front of a sold-out audience, with five acts competing for the title: Bison Hip, […]
Beth Hart announces September 2027 UK tour
Beth Hart will return to the UK in September 2027 for four major concerts, including her first Royal Albert Hall performance in almost a decade. The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter will play Manchester, York, Glasgow and London during the short run, beginning at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall on 21 September and ending at the Royal Albert Hall on […]
Richard Thompson – live review
Saint George’s Church Hall, Beckenham: August 21st, 2026 What to say about this guy, Richard Thompson. In a career spanning six decades, he’s continued to surprise and stun in equal measure, with skilful song-writing and simply superb guitar picking that always excites and commands attention and admiration. With a new album, ‘Hippies, Thugs & Heroes’ […]
Ben Poole releases ‘Post-Midnight Behaviour’ and teams up with Elles Bailey
Ben Poole has released his new album Post-Midnight Behaviour, his first studio record of entirely new material in eight years, alongside new single ‘Runaway Souls’ featuring Elles Bailey. Released today, 25 September, through Gypsy Soul Records, the album finds the British guitarist, singer and songwriter expanding beyond the blues-rock sound that established his reputation. Across […]
Sari Schorr releases ‘Running Wild’ ahead of new album and European tour
Sari Schorr has released ‘Running Wild’, the title track from her forthcoming album, ahead of an extensive 46-date European tour beginning in London later this month. The New York singer-songwriter’s new album Running Wild will be released on 9 October in Europe and 30 October in the USA through Provogue Records / Artone Label Group. […]
Transilvania Blues Festival returns to Brașov for first outdoor edition
Transilvania Blues Festival returns to Brașov from 25 to 27 September 2026, bringing three days of international blues to the historic Weavers’ Bastion. Now in its eighth edition, the festival is moving outdoors for the first time, placing artists from Italy, the UK, the United States and Romania inside one of Brașov’s best-preserved medieval fortifications. […]
Ross Harding reworks ‘Seven Nation Army’ as dark blues
Ross Harding has taken one of the most recognisable guitar riffs of the past 25 years and pulled it somewhere considerably darker. The South African-born, UK-based guitarist and singer has released ‘Seven Nation Army (Dark Blues Version)’, a brooding reworking of The White Stripes classic that strips away some of the original’s swagger and brings […]
The Van Morrison Alumni Band – Live review
The Emerald Theatre, Victoria Embankment, London 01/09/26 By Paul Davies As a remarkably storied solo artist, Van Morrison is also an extraordinary bandleader. There are innumerable musicians and vocalists, who are masters of their craft, that have passed through and contributed to the abundant artistic eras of Van’s oeuvre. It is also well known that Morrison […]