Album Review – David Lumsden & Friends – Hues Of Blues. Release – Independent From the explosive opening track, Earl Hooker’s You Got To Lose with its scorching guitar work its
R.I.P. EDDIE C. CAMPLBELL
Eddie C. Campbell – May 6th, 1939 – November 20th, 2018. Eddie C. Campbell’s passing has left a huge hole within the West Side blues community. However, fans around the
JOCK’S JUKE JOINT Various Artists
Jock’s Juke Joint – Various Artists – Independent Release. Jock’s Juke Joint Volume 4 along with the previous three albums in the series further highlights the quality, richness and diversity of
SUGARAY RAYFORD Somebody Save Me
Sugaray Rayford Brings Vintage Soul Vibe To New Album. On March 1st, Forty Below Records will release Somebody Save Me, the new studio album from soul-blues singer, Sugaray Rayford. On the album’s opening track,
JARED JAMES NICHOLS Interview
On his recent UK tour, American guitarist, Jared James Nichols talked to Blues Matters writer Nicholas John. YOU DO A LOT OF TOURING IN THE UK AND YOU’RE CURRENTLY ON
BANJO BONES Ghostly Musings From The Delta
Album Review for Banjo Bones – Ghostly Musings From The Delta. Released on Boneyard Records. Banjo Bones is described as an exponent of “Americana” which in essence is an amalgam
THE PROVEN ONES Wild Again
Album Review for The Proven Ones – Wild Again. Released on Roseleaf Records. That’s Proven Ones in the sense of proven track record – drummer Jimi Bott and guitarist Kid
EDINBURGH BLUES CLUB Presents…
Yet again, in the blink of an eye, Christmas is almost upon us and the year’s end is nigh. At Edinburgh Blues Club, we have two fantastic shows left before
GERAINT WATKINS Interview
Geraint Watkins – Keys To The Highway. Geraint Watkins – ‘Geraint Watkins & the Dominators’ (1979), ‘Watkins Bold As Love’(1997) – the first two, quite different albums of his lengthy career have been reissued.
SMOOTH GENTLEMEN
Album Review for Smooth Gentlemen – Album Title – Smooth Gentlemen. Released on Flower Records Smooth Gentlemen are two Polish musicians, celebrated piano and Hammond organ player, composer, Bartłomiej Szopiński
DENNIS JONES BAND – WE3 Live
Album Review for Dennis Jones Band – WE3 Live Released on Blue Rock Records The sixth album by this Los Angeles power trio was recorded at a gig in Montana
ORION AND THE CONSTELLATIONS Alive
Album Review for Orion and the Constellations – Alive Released Independently Orion DiFranco on vocals and guitar, is a former steel worker from Columbus, Ohio, who worked hard by day
Keeping The Blues Alive Award Recipients Announced for 2019
The Blues Foundation announces the recipients of 2019’s prestigious “KEEPING THE BLUES ALIVE” Awards. On Friday, January 25, 2019, The Blues Foundation will honour 11 individuals and organizations at its Keeping the Blues Alive
ROCKIE CHARLES – Born For You
Album Review for Rockie Charles – Born For You Released on Orleans Record With a sweet soulful voice, close to Sam Cooke’s in terms of emotive power, a laid-back funky
THE BENNET BROTHERS – Not Made For Hire
Album Review for The Bennet Brothers – Not Made For Hire Released on American Showplace Music The Bennet Brothers (Jimmy & Peter) come from the South West Corner of Bay
JEFF JENSEN Wisdom & Decay
Album Review for Jeff Jensen – Wisdom & Decay Released on – Swingsuit. Memphis, Tennessee as everybody accepts was the birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll under the guidance of producer
R.I.P. Tony Joe White
They don’t come any more authoritative or authentic than Tony Joe White. I found him a fascinating conversationalist – never in a hurry to say anything glib, he would ruminate
AUSTIN GOLD – Top 10 Blues
Austin Gold – Our Top Ten Blues Choices Writer Pete Sargeant asked English blues-rockers AUSTIN GOLD to tell Blues Matters which recordings really turned them on, so here are their
R.I.P. Tony Chilcott – Red Lick Records
It is with heavy hearts that we inform you of the passing of much-loved blues aficionado Tony Chilcott, of Red Lick Records in Cardiff, Wales. Tony Chilcott was the Managing Director
BILLY GIBBONS
Catching up with ZZ Top’s legendary frontman, Billy F Gibbons, as he passes through London was the easy part. Pinning him down for interview time is always tricky with a
Danish Blues Heaven Festival Wins International Festival of the Year Award 2018
French media company Zicazic to present an award for: ‘International Festival of the Year’ to Danish Blues Heaven Festival at this year’s event in November. Each year world-renowned photographer and writer, Fred
LONNIE MACK Roadhouses & Dancehalls
Album Review for LONNIE MACK – Roadhouses & Dancehalls Released on RetroWorld Even back in the days long ago when most of the blues press focussed almost exclusively on African-American
PAUL FILIPOWICZ Unfiltered
Album Review for PAUL FILIPOWICZ – Unfiltered Released on – Big Jake Records This is Paul’s tenth recording since he started playing the Blues in the late 1960’s, at which
Green on Blues – Leo Green talks about BluesFest 2018
Lee Green talks about BluesFest 2018 to writer Pete Sargeant. We had been fishing for a while for a quick chat with BluesFest director and musician Leo Green and as the
R&B Festival, Colne, Lancs by Jennifer Noble
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Crowdfunder Launched Today For UK Representative KYLA BROX Band
UK artist Kyla Brox was recently declared the winner of the 5th UKBlues Challenge which took place at Worthing Pier’s Southern Pavilion on Saturday 8th September 2018. Kyla Brox and her band will now go
BRYAN LEE Sanctuary
Bryan Lee – Sanctuary Released on Ear Relevant Records “This is the Blues/Gospel record I always wanted to make,” says the Braille Blues Daddy. “Sanctuary” first came to Bryan Lee
WILY BO WALKER Almost Transparent Blues
Album Review for WILY BO WALKER – Almost Transparent Blues Released on Mescal Canyon Records Wily (pronounced Whiley) Bo Walker was born in Scotland but has contrived to play and sing
FANTASTIC NEGRITO Please Don’t Be Bead
For More Info on Tours etc – Fantastic Negrito SUBSCRIBE to Blues Matters Magazine today and never miss an issue!
EDINBURGH BLUES & ROCK FESTIVAL 2018
Edinburgh Blues And Rock Festival – Edinburgh Corn Exchange – Saturday 22nd September 2018 This was the third of its kind, but the first, fully run by UKBlues Award-winning Edinburgh Blues
EDDIE BOYD The Singles Collection 1947-62
Album Review for EDDIE BOYD – The Singles Collection 1947-62 Released on Discovery Records If you are not familiar with Eddie Boyd, then this is the perfect way to start
MARIA MULDAUR releases 41st album Don’t You Feel My Leg
Maria Muldaur’s Don’t You Feel My Leg: The Naughty Bawdy Blues of Blue Lu Barker. Released by The Last Music Company, the album sees the vocalist, and revered interpreter of
GREG COULSON What’s New
Album Review for GREG COULSON – What’s New? Released Independently Greg Coulson is a very talented multi-instrumentalist, who has performed at the Great British Rock and Blues Festival, the Top
ROY BUCHANAN My Babe
Album Review for ROY BUCHANAN – My Babe Released on Angel Air Records One of the great moments in guitar playing history occurs when Telecaster man Roy Buchanan seems to
DAMON FOWLER The Whiskey Bayou Session
Album Review for DAMON FOWLER – The Whiskey Bayou Session Released on Whiskey Bayou Records With a thumping rhythm section, funk blues guitar riffing, and inventive song craft The Whiskey Bayou
SARI SCHORR Never Say Never
Album Review for SARI SCHORR – Never Say Never Released on Manhaton Records One of the first things that strike the listener when playing this new album is the quality
BIG HARP GEORGE Uptown Cool
Album Review for BIG HARP GEORGE – Uptown Cool Released on Blues Mountain Records This is my first experience of Big Harp George even though this is his third album
RAINBREAKERS Face To Face
Album Review for RAINBREAKERS – Face To Face Released Independently The first impression I had listening to this Shrewsbury based quartet is that their sound crosses many borders. Their performance
NICK STEED 5 Feeling For The Blues
Album Review for NICK STEED 5 – Feeling For The Blues Released Independently What we have here is a thoroughly professional outing, featuring strong musicianship from all concerned – but
CHARLES LLOYD & THE MARVELS + LUCINDA WILLIAMS Vanished Gardens
Album Review for CHARLES LLOYD & THE MARVELS + LUCINDA WILLIAMS – Vanished Gardens Release on Blue Note There are times like this when it soon becomes clear that whilst
VICTORIA GINTY Unfinished Business
Album Review for VICTORIA GINTY – Unfinished Business Released on Blue Door Records Formed in the Spring of 2015, Victoria Ginty and her band Ladyhawke have been getting a lot
MICHAEL KAESHAMMER Something New
Album Review German-born pianist Michael Kaeshammer – a fixture on the jazz scene in his adopted home of Canada for over two decades – has come up with an 11-song
MEMPHIS SLIM Live In Paris 27th May 1961
MEMPHIS SLIM LIVE IN PARIS MAY 27TH 1961 Released by Body and Soul Considering this live recording is slightly older than me, it’s amazing just how fresh it sounds. From
THE HARDCHANGERS Scarecrow
THE HARDCHARGERS Scarecrow Released by Marketsquare Music In my naivety, I did not expect to be reviewing a blues album where the principals came from Northern Ireland. More fool me
GIULIA MILLANTA Conversation With A Ghost
GIULIA MILLANTA CONVERSATION WITH A GHOST Ugly Cat Music This is the sixth album release by Giulia. A very thought-provoking album that is so dependent on the message conveyed through
LITTLE BOYS BLUE W/ KID MEMPHIS Hard Blue Space
LITTLE BOYS BLUE WITH KID MEMPHIS HARD BLUE SPACE Vizztone For an R’n’B band led by a harp player, Little Boys Blue have a remarkably mellow sound – don’t expect
JETBONE Come Out And Play
JETBONE COME OUT AND PLAY BMG Jetbone, are a hard-working band of young men from Sundsvall in the north of Sweden, they formed in 2012 when Alin Riabouchkin Vocals/Guitar and Gustav
TRUE STRAYS Where Wild Things Hide And Hunt
TRUE STRAYS WHERE THE WILD THINGS HIDE AND HUNT Independent In an era of overproduced music, where slick production and session musicians prevail, it is a true joy to hear
JOHN CLIFTON Nightlife
JOHN CLIFTON NIGHTLIFE Rip Cat Records The John Clifton Blues Band are one of those utterly efficient hard-working outfits known throughout the US and Europe. Clocking up 150 gigs per
JORDAN OFFICER Three Rivers
JORDAN OFFICER THREE RIVERS Spectra Musique Singer, guitarist and songwriter Jordan Officer is from Montreal in Canada and began playing violin and drums as a youngster. This is relevant to
KID RAMOS Old School
KID RAMOS OLD SCHOOL Ripcat Records This album kicks off with a tribute to the legendary B.B. King and the Kid himself demonstrates his own guitar playing and if he’s
GEOFF CARNE AND THE HATZ 4 Play
GEOFF CARNE AND THE HATZ 4 PLAY Advision UK Geoff Carne has been around for a while – he had a solo album out in 2014 – and Mick Hatz
ANDY WATTS Blues On Fire
ANDY WATTS BLUES ON FIRE Independent Release I’m familiar with Andy Watts as an outstanding guitarist with his regular band Blues Rebels, so I was very pleased to receive a