As admirable as Dions efforts are, his vocals, while pleasant, lack the sheer power needed to give these songs the sheer grit they deserve. He's proof positive of the timeless power the blues possesses in gifted hands his deep soulful vocals as potent with an acoustic as his Strat. Huge mistake to suggest including an album we did not review. Info-video With a record-breaking number of votes from fans, from the Rock and Blues Muse Group, and our editorial staff, our faith in music fans has been reaffirmed. He spent many years backing up classic rock legend Alan Parsons but Greenes time to shine on his own has most definitely arrived. And a damn tasty one at that. The next time you lament the death of the blues due to the neglect from younger generations, just give a quick listen to Memphis Loud by Victor Wainright and the Train and rejoice. Its often said that every blues song is basically about a good man feeling bad. Captured live at a packed music club in Germany, this live set is a raw and real set of blues mixed with rock, R&B, jazz and funk from Allisons collection since he began his solo career in the 1990s. If ever there was a bluesman suited for a bare bones recording style, it is Rush. Mindi Abair & the Boneshakers (blues, blues-rock, R&B, funk, jazz) Saxophonist, singer-songwriter Video Website Josh Smith (blues, blues-rock, rock, funk, jazz) Guitarist, singer-songwriter, producer. Sure, theres humor laced in this tale, but we get the feeling Smither means it. If you like to wash your rock n roll down with just a swig of blues, then youre probably going to dig these guys. Bryant is a rhythm and blues singer who doesnt leave the blues behind. Chris Smither may have a better album in him yet, but thats hard to imagine. Taking influence from British folk, Americana and various flavours of world music as well as the blues, Harleys sound is something of a slow-cooked sonic one pot stew. Meanwhile the stunning ballad Crying guitar features as gentle and warm a touch as its descriptive title would imply. Troy Redfern Although Wilsons voice is the albums centerpiece the finest track Strollin satisfies most when it allows his harmonica to do the singing. Having gained a sturdy online following during lockdown, the dedication of When Rivers Meets fans has recently been proven in the real world as theyve played a string of jam-packed venues on their first ever UK headline tour. Keary, Boy Sit Down is very much a stand-out track with Change with the Time coming in a close second. Philip Sayce, Song Starter Kit: Cant You See What Youre Doing To Me (Live) ft. Kenny Wayne Shepherd from Blues From The Heart Live, Stop Messin Round from The Blues Album, The Best Thing from Reckless Heart. Many people consider King King to be the strongest blues/rock band out there these days and Maverick proves the band is worthy of such profound praise. Denis, Foster soars above her own lofty standards with the big band behind her and showcases the finest female voice in todays roots music scene. If you think you have been blocked in error, contact the owner of this site for assistance. We'll put money on next year being an even bigger one. You make it easier to keep track of all the new music by established and new artists. This is very much the case with Elvin Bishop and Charlie Musselwhites deeply satisfying 100 Years of the Blues. Big riffs and anthemic choruses are very much the order of the day here. Joanne Shaw Taylor Blues With Friends boasts 12 tracks of strong songwriting, musical depth and mastery, along with Dions smooth vocals and skillful craft of blues. Robin Trower Don't miss the latest deals, news, reviews, features and tutorials. Shake your Moneymaker packs the albums most powerful punch as Johnny Iguana bangs the keys into impressive submission. 20 Great New British Artists to Watch - Rolling Stone Music 20 Great New British Artists to Watch Wolf Alice, Lpsley, Stormzy and more By Rolling Stone July 6, 2016 Lady Leshurr & Let's Eat. And in case youre wondering, Johnny Iguana is the right pianist. You introduced me to Larkin Poe and Marcus King off your list, this year, which were two great adds. You can click on the british blues band names to see more information about that particular notable british blues group. All the while Fish retains the blues' storytelling power, rooting her sound in the blues tradition while imagining it anew. This set of 10 originals penned by Simmonds, is energetic blues with spirit and vitality plus serious guitar chops. The Music is the only one thing that support all of us in these mad times! Meanwhile the equally rollicking I Thought She Wouldnt Do it adds some funky drums into the mix. A vintage party that evokes the kind of old-school shindig where you could picture James Dean cutting the rug with Marilyn Monroe. Great list! He went on to play a livestream from the Ryman in Nashville for the cause too before releasing one of his finest albums in October with Royal Tea and the 20th anniversary version of his debut. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Theyd been in Europe on tour but COVID-19 cancelled their gigs. His song writing goes far beyond tried and tested tropes, his licks balance classic vibes with contemporary flair, and his main guitar of choice an Ernie Ball Music Man Eddie Van Halen signature isnt exactly the conventional bluesmans go to. Happy New year 2021 to Blues and Rock.. Long live the blues and all these new and veterans musicians. All Rights Reserved, Best of British: 15 UK Blues Artists to Check Out Today. Larkin Poe website, Southern rock and roll band Robert Jon & The Wreck have been releasing albums since the bands inception in 2011, collecting multiple awards along the way. But the musicians who stood out for you still found a way to reach people in the pandemic with standout albums and performances. For the non-fan, it is also essential and a likely tool for conversion! All told, Royal Tea, is exactly what a fan of Bonamassa has come to expect. Review of Ordinary Madness Another phenomenal young playing and vocal talent that assures us guitar is in great hands. Dions latest venture, Blues with Friends, features yet another change in direction. Uncivil War is a definite high point in her career, and addresses vital issues of society and humanity. Yes, Uncle Eric encouraged the young Johns to pick up a guitar and taught him his very first riff, which was Crossroads, of course. } Theres just too much great music this year. An emerging talent on the UK circuit, Kyla Broxs blues is tinged with jazz, soul, funk and pop elements. This is an uplifting and inspirational record that will put your heart back where it needs to be. Wille and The Bandits are UK festival favourites whose brand of uplifting, rootsy blues rock has been working fields full of music lovers into jubilant frenzies for over a decade. Although not quite aged enough to qualify for legendary status in the blues world, hes established himself as a reliable presence, releasing album after album of gems. Recorded in Memphis by the Idaho born and bred Nemeth, Stronger than Strong engages the listener for all the reasons any great blues album engage the fans. All important, significant and iconic names in british blues music history deserve your votes, so make sure to choose wisely. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); (function() { Kyla Brox Indeed he sounds like he means everything. Awesome, Fantastic , Fabulous!!! Altogether, it was a year of glorious surprises and traditions that havent outgrown their welcome and never will. Fresh from scooping the awards for Acoustic Blues Artist of the Year and Blues Instrumentalist of the Year at the 2022 UKBlues awards, Northern Irelands Dom Martin is very much a musician breaking into his stride. ABOUT THE AWARDS READ THE RULES THE 2023 FINALISTS NOW LIVE This isnt something for a listener seeking a lightweight piece of pop fluff. In time, it may rank as one of the very best blues songs of all time. Review of Uncivil War These Poetic Geniuses Wrote Your Favorite Songs of All Time. With guest vocalists Chris Cote and Michelle Wilson, Blues Bash is as much fun as youd expect an album called Blues Bash to be. The full-voiced tenor has created an album that has its share of weaker moments, but on balance, Take Me Back is a strong work and fine introduction to the fan whod never before experienced his output. event : evt, British husband and wife duo When Rivers Meet have been riding high since they cleaned up at the 2021 UKBlues Awards, taking home four trophies in one night. The harmonies on this album are part of the bands signature sound, along with well-crafted songs and outstanding musicianship. Le Live de Royal Tea est superieur au cd d Abbey Road . Its refreshing to see these instruments sprung from the confines of folk music and given some rock n roll treatment. Another of the albums standouts include Rocking in Louisiana. Fueled by a swamp-rock attack that Creedence Clearwater Revival would envoy, the track reminds us (as CCR did) that a true fondness for Louisiana blues can live in the hearts of those born and raised elsewhere. St. Louis Mike Zitos Quarantine Blues is that album and has a power that will outlast even the stubborn Coronavirus. His unique blend of folk and blues could not possibly belong to anyone else and, for anyone unfamiliar with the legend, More From the Levee would be a wonderful place to start. Zito is a blues/rock monster and this is arguably his best work thus far. 2,625,527 listeners. Quarantine blues is about a good world feeling bad. You can only vote once on this list. Will Johns is one of those artists that can take all the known elements of blues and rock, understand them, respect them, and then apply his own creativity to uplift them. King Size Slim, AKA Toby Barelli, delivers raw, heartfelt, acoustic roots boogie. Did we forget to mention that hes Eric Claptons nephew? Ryan Perry, I always look forward to your year end list and your recommendations during the year. If you enjoy our site, you can help with a small donation. This is as lowdown and real as it gets and is a functional cure for the plastic-hearted music we all hear far too much of. Their fifth studio album, the songs are intense and moody with hints of the Delta. Blues infused Southern rock, the band self-produced this 11 track, all-original album that's fresh with contemporary, expansive sounds and pristine production. With the world of contemporary blues so dominated by guitar heroes (and to a lesser extend harmonica stars) its good to be reminded how expressive a blues instrument the piano can be with the right pianist at the helm. #141 of 185. Joe is always high in this list every year he's the biggest blues guitarist in the world, but also the hardest working. The most obvious example of a timely song is Blues for George Floyd. With a self-explanatory title, it pays gentle homage to a fallen citizen and victim of ignorance who has, for deeply sad reasons, been very much in the news of late. Its seems like only yesterday that Shemekia Copeland was hailed as a prodigy of the blues, an incipient star in a genre often neglected by those of her generation. There are those who believe the blues is a musical idiom that can only be mastered by Americans. Sugaray Rayford King, Mick Jagger, Elton John, Joe Bonamassa, Jimmy Thackery, Tinsley Ellis, Kenny Neal, Lucky Peterson, Matt "Guitar" Murphy, Johnny "Clyde" Copeland, Double Trouble, Joanna Connor, Kim Simmonds, and more. Song Starter Kit: Roll With the Punches from Roll With the Punches, Mojo Fix from Mojo Fix, Blues At My Window from Money Dont Matter. Son of Dave, or Benjamin Darvill as his mother named him, in fact hails from Winnipeg, Canada. Nearing his 80th birthday, Smithers voice shows wear, but this isnt a bad thing. As with any time-tested blues star, Landreth only grows in stature with each passing release. So it doesnt take a Gypsy soothsayer to announce this new album by guitarist and vocalist John Primer & harmonica master Bob Corritore is a top notch effort. 10 questions for Joanne Shaw Taylor (opens in new tab). Memphis Loud is not album without flaws. Rhode Island isnt typically thought of a hotbed of the blues, but the strong presence of Roomful of Blues, a revival jazz/blues band plants a giant feather in the cap of Americas tiniest state. Review of Bless Your Heart listeners: [], After this auspicious start, Johns formidable chops as a guitarist, singer and songwriter were cultivated the hard way: in the trenches of bands, breakups and tours up and down the UK and far beyond. Greene has all the guitar, vocal, and songwriting power anybody could ask for and will no doubt reach the heights of stardom we all dream of. Another touching example is Black Lives Matter.. Thankfully, Fletcher is happy to remind us again and again with solos that bend that mind as deftly as he bends strings. on: function(evt, cb) { Songs From The Road is all about killer contemporary blues. More likely, youll be walking down the street, headphones in, and only become alerted to the fact your gaits developed an unusual slink because people have started staring at you. With armfuls of Blues Music Awards, Living Blues Awards and three Grammy nominations, Copeland has been praised by luminaries such as Jeff Beck and Carlos Santana. It returns the listener to the vintage day of the blues, when all it took to get a juke joint jumping was a good man playing a great harmonica. Young sisters Megan and Rebecca Lovell seem to be on a mission to revive lagging mainstream popularity of the acoustic blues by performing mostly recent pop and rock hits. Having spent most of his career as an R&B songwriter (The Ann Peebles hit I cant stand the Rain is his best known song) the 78-year-old from Memphis, Tennessee has also dabbled in releasing vocal albums. So awesome to see When Rivers Meet made the list!! Here are the blues players you choose as 2020's standouts. All My Dues are Paid is a truly special album. Pushing boundaries, Self Made Man sees sister Rebecca and Megan Lovell sourcing their American Southern heritage, with their own modern day depiction of blues-based roots/rock in the 11 tracks. Songs From The Road shows exactly why certain performances are meant to be captured live and in the moment. Songs from the Road will make a believer of you. A stunning solo debut. Blues Artist of the Year - sponsored by Blues in the South Blues Instrumentalist of the Year - sponsored by Digital Blues We Fly Free, released by One Road Records, is their follow up to EP, Innocence of Youth, also released in 2020, When Rivers Meet possess a clear talent for songwriting as well. The Greatest Entertainers Of All Time. He began as a doo-op singer, peppering the pop charts with such hits as The Wanderer and Runaround Sue, then moved in the direction of folk with the 1968 smash Abraham, Martin and John.. Until rudely interrupted by the global pandemic, Shaw Taylors touring schedule was one of the most tireless in the business, and her gutsy guitar playing and husky vocals are best appreciated live on stage. Song Starter Kit: The Razors Edge from No More Worlds to Conquer, United State of Mind from United State of Mind, Tide Of Confusion from Coming Closer To The Day. You may also want to check out Brave Rival who have just released their debut album. From blue-eyed soul stars ( Amy Winehouse, Sam Smith, Adele) to boy bands (One Direction, Westlife), boyish-faced balladeers (Ed Sheeran, Hozier), garage rockers (Shame, The Struts, Idles) and. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Dont miss the passages where Grace plays slide mandolin. Altogether, Stand Up compares with the best work of the late Amy Winehouse. A British blues/rock duo and husband and wife, When Rivers Meet have the kind of frenetic sound that the blues needs. But What the Hell a challenge to current political/social polarization may be the albums standout track. Led by vocalist/guitarist Robert Jon Burrison, whose voice is one of the most ear-pleasing today, the band includes Andrew Espantman, Steve Maggoria, Henry James and Warren Murrel. English blues band, Savoy Brown has been proving this belief wrong since the mid-sixties. Here we have a slight interloper in the ranks. 25 new blues artists you need to hear! Song Starter Kit: Bluesmans Child from Pain & Glory, If You See Him from Throw Away Your Blues, Beautiful Day from Throw Away Your Blues. Marcus King website, Mike Zito and his smoking band tracked Quarantine Blues while actually in quarantine at the beginning of the pandemic. Guitarist Aaron Bond brings the riffs usually opting for either Gibson Les Paul or a cigar box guitar for slide while Grace takes care of more of the melodic duties on lead vocals, violin and mandolin. King tribute Thank you Lucille and the hilarious album closer Money.. Far from being put on or a stylised affectation, her husky tones can be attributed in part, at least to when she contracted a serious bout of pneumonia in her childhood, resulting in her having to breathe through a tube for 17 days.