Winning Ways With WILLIAM BELL
William Bell is one of the USA’s most important soul-blues musicians, a true survivor. And after over sixty years in the business, he has been awarded the 2020 National Endowment for the Arts Award, an award that recognises the cultural significance of his work and its importance in the musical heritage he helps promote and […]
RUTH PATTERSON Releases Sink or Swim
Campaigner, activist and ambassador for disabled people’s access to live music, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ruth Patterson has just released her debut single as a solo artist in her own right. She is well known as the co-founder of the popular folk, blues and rock band, Holy Moly & The Crackers. Ruth has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome […]
Q&A with BAD TOUCH
BAD TOUCH LOCKDOWN THE GROOVES by STEVE YOURGLIVCH Most of the world might be surviving in lockdown but Norfolk based rock revivalists Bad Touch are flourishing. They have just released Kiss The Sky, an album full of high energy, feel-good tunes designed to lift the spirits and get everyone into party mode. Not content with […]
SHEMEKIA COPELAND Uncivil War
Award-winning blues and Americana vocalist Shemekia Copeland releases her timely new song, Uncivil War, on Friday, June 19th. It is a courageous statement pleading for unity in a time of disunion and is unlike anything Copeland has previously recorded. Uncivil War takes no sides and speaks to every person’s desire to be safe and free. Featuring […]
DIANA REIN Livestream Review
Gig Review for Diana Rein – Live on the “Can’t Stop The Blues” Facebook page – Thursday 2nd April 8 pm ET (1 am UK Time). Like most of the rest of this troubled planet, I’d got a few good things lined up before it all went pear-shaped. Listening to music online is great and […]
RORY GALLAGHER 25th Anniversary 14/6/2020
Sunday the 14th June, will mark the 25th anniversary of the passing of the late, lamented musician Rory Gallagher. With the current lockdown restrictions, understandably, events have had to be curtailed for the occasion; with the postponement of the unveiling of a statue outside of the Ulster Hall in Belfast, and the annual Rory Gallagher four-day music festival, in Ballyshannon, Ireland plus other planned […]
WALTER TROUT To Release Ordinary Madness
Walter Trout returns with his brand new studio album Ordinary Madness, which will be released on 28th August via Provogue. For Walter Trout, there is no ‘us’ and ‘them’. Across his five-decade career, the great US bluesman’s music has always been a lifeline and call-to-arms, reminding listeners they are not alone. Now, as the world seeks solace from a tragedy […]
KERN PRATT – Greenville Ms, …What About You?
Album Review for Kern Pratt – Greenville MS, …What About You? – Released on Endless Blues Records. With more than sixteen musicians playing on the 10 songs on the album, there is a mismatch of styles and no real musical cohesion, but it is still an excellent and largely upbeat collection of blues songs. With three […]
DENNIS SIGGERY & NEIL SADLER – Half & Half
Album Review for Dennis Siggery & Neil Sadler – Half & Half – Released via Southside Music. Dennis and Neil have a history of working together going back many years mostly on several Eric Street Band releases. Anyone familiar with that band will know that Dennis has a distinctive style of delivery and that he writes […]
In Conversation With DON MCLEAN
Don McLean – American Pie by Iain Patience. Don McLean. Is hardly known for his blues work or output. But as the guy who wrote one of the most important songs of a generation, around fifty years ago, with ‘American Pie,’ he hit the global charts, the airwaves and the world for a cert home-run. […]