Award-winning blues artist Selwyn Birchwood will release his sixth studio album, Electric Swamp Funkin’ Blues, on Friday 27 March 2026 via Alligator Records. The album will be available on CD, translucent yellow vinyl, and all digital platforms.
Widely recognised for forging his own path in modern blues, Birchwood once again writes, performs, and shapes the music on his own terms. Rolling Stone has described him as “a remarkable, contemporary bluesman” and this new release continues that trajectory with clarity and purpose.
The album’s first single, The Church Of Electric Swamp Funkin’ Blues, is out now, accompanied by a new music video directed by Birchwood himself. The track acts as a mission statement and an open invitation, with Birchwood framing music as both purpose and release. As he puts it, the song celebrates “the creation of joyful jubilation” through sound and connection.
Recorded in Florida and self-produced, Electric Swamp Funkin’ Blues features ten original tracks that balance raw blues feeling with modern themes and groove-led arrangements. Songs such as Damaged Goods and The Struggle Is Real explore emotional honesty and daily pressures, while All Hail The Algorithm and Talking Heads reflect on the pace and tension of modern life. Elsewhere, Labour Of Love looks at the challenges of parenting, while Soulmate slows things down with warmth and restraint.
This is Birchwood’s first Alligator album produced entirely by himself. He explains that taking control in the studio allowed him to shape the sound fully, creating a record that sits between traditional blues and contemporary rhythm-driven music. The result feels deliberate and grounded, with space for both grit and clarity.
Birchwood’s reputation as a live performer continues to grow. Known for his barefoot stage presence, lap steel playing, and commanding vocals, he connects easily with blues and jam band audiences alike. His signature Caladesi lap steel remains a key part of his sound, lifting songs into extended, immersive moments. Joe Bonamassa has praised Birchwood as one of his favourite discoveries, noting the impact of his live shows.
With Electric Swamp Funkin’ Blues, Selwyn Birchwood delivers a focused and personal statement that sounds like no one else. It is rooted in the blues but speaks firmly in the present tense.
