It’s Spring 2013 (no, really, I can see the daffodils and that stranger, the sun, is out). Perhaps better still, the UK is about to experience a friendly invasion of top quality Blues and Rock acts from the United States of America.
Transatlantic cousins you should look out for near you include:
- Two great, award-winning sons of the Blues, Mud Morganfield (son of Muddy Waters) www.mudmorganfieldblues.com and John Lee Hooker Jr (son of, well, you work it out) www.johnleehookerjr.com/tour.html. We interviewed them both for a double cover feature in issue 69
- The must-see Billy Walton Band www.billywaltonband.com/shows.html. Billy brings to British shores his New Jersey sound, a wonderful mix of influences and reminiscent of Springsteen, Bo Diddley, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and even the effervescence of 10CC. Billy is an amazing guitarist with a cracking band and a deep sound, thanks to the fabulous Mr Taz on sax
- Stacie Collins, from Nashville Tennessee, Country Blues Rock, a terrific show-woman, memorable harmonica player and singer, and with Al Collins from Jason and the Scorchers powering the band on guitar www.staciecollins.com/calendar
- P-A-U-L LAMB and the Detroit Breakdown. Paul is a striking figure, a tall tower of Blues, with a strong band and the fiercest lady drummer we’ve seen www.p-a-u-lmusic.com/tour-dates
- Skinny Molly www.skinnymollyrocks.com/tour.cfm – strange name, perhaps, but a real in your face, Rockin’ outfit with good original tunes and with Mike Estes, formerly of Lynyrd Skynyrd, leading, their covers of “Freebird” and “Sweet Home Alabama” are top notch
While we’re at it, let’s not completely forget British artists. OK, I’ll cheat – US musicians to watch out for based in the UK include Kat and Company (Kat hails from Los Angeles) www.katandco.co.uk and Marcus Malone www.marcusmalone.com (another Detroit man). And yes, there are likely to be more US artists on their way. Remember, if they can afford to travel across the Atlantic in the first place, they’re likely to be worth seeing!
If you see one or more of the acts above, why not email us for our letters page and tell us what you thought of them? Even if we don’t publish what you write, we’ll be interested in your views, and don’t forget our Twitter – @Blues_Matters.
Darren Weale
April 2013
