JUNO-nominated and Maple Blues Award winner Spencer Mackenzie has released his fourth single, Don’t Know Where I’m Going, taken from his upcoming studio album Empty Chairs. The track is out on Friday 16 January and is available across all streaming platforms and on YouTube.
Mackenzie turns up the heat with a fast, driven take on Rory Gallagher’s acoustic blues classic. While the spirit of the original remains intact, this new version leans into thick guitar tone, a hard-charging rhythm section, and the raw edge that has become central to Mackenzie’s sound. It is a confident step forward as momentum builds toward the full album release.
Empty Chairs will be released on 20 February 2026 via Gypsy Soul Records. The album is produced by Ross Hayes Citrullo, guitarist of The Commoners, who is a two-time JUNO nominee and Emmy Award-winning producer.
The album finds Mackenzie digging deeper into the blues while drawing influence from modern blues-rock. The result is a focused, stripped-back record built around sharp guitar work, steady grooves, organ textures, and direct vocals. It is introspective without losing energy and rooted in tradition without sounding fixed in the past.
Although his phrasing and tone often invite comparisons with classic blues players, Mackenzie comes from Southern Ontario, not Beale Street. Over the past decade he has built an international reputation through touring and festival appearances across Canada, Europe, and the United States. His live shows are known for their intensity and clarity, with nothing held back once he steps on stage.
Producer Ross Hayes Citrullo describes the sessions as direct and honest, focused on capturing performances that feel alive in the room rather than polished for effect. That approach runs through Don’t Know Where I’m Going, which sounds urgent, unguarded, and purposeful.
With Empty Chairs due next month, Mackenzie continues to position himself as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary blues-rock, grounded in tradition but moving forward at pace.
NEW STUDIO ALBUM – “EMPTY CHAIRS”
RELEASED FRIDAY FEBRUARY 20, 2026
PRE-ORDER CD & VINYL | PRE-SAVE DIGITAL
